British Airways Plc says it’s in talks about a merger with Qantas Airways of Australia. The combination would involve a dual-listed company structure, London-based British Airways said in a statement today, without providing other details. “There is no guarantee that any transaction will be forthcoming and a further announcement will be made in due course, if appropriate,” British Airways said in the statement.
The two airlines are discussing a combination after the Australian government eased restrictions on the ownership of Sydney-based Qantas, the Australian Financial Review reported earlier. The two companies would retain their individual brands and national identities, the newspaper said, citing nobody. British Airways rose as much as 24 pence, or 17%, to 163.7 pence in London trading and was up 16% at 1:07 p.m. The U.K. carrier said it remains in merger discussions with Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA of Spain.
