Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has expressed “top level interest” in the UK airline Virgin Atlantic, according to reports.
According to the Sunday Times newspaper, the chief executive of Etihad has written to Deutsche Bank, who Virgin Atlantic hired last year to examine the aviation market and identify growth opportunities, to express his interest in acquiring the airline.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has so far refused to comment on the reports.
Virgin Atlantic’s founder Richard Branson said recently that he might sell his 51 per cent in the carrier, the remaining 49 per cent of which is owned by Singapore Airlines. It is understood that the entrepreneur still intends forVirgin to join a global airline alliance.
Virgin Atlantic is the second-largest long-haul carrier at London’s Heathrow airport
Etihad’s fleet of 54 aircraft operates close to 1,000 flights per week, serving 64 destinations in 42 countries. In 2009, the airline saw passenger numbers rise from 6.0 million to 6.3 million. Etihad’s revenue exceeded $2.3 billion in 2009.
Founded in 1984 and based at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports, Virgin Atlantic operates long-haul services to 30 global destinations. The company employs over 9,000 people worldwide.
