BA sets sights on new acquisitions

All British Airways (BA) chief executive Willie Walsh wants for Christmas is another airline or twelve.

The head of the carrier purportedly has a list of twelve airlines he would like to buy upon the completion of BA's merger with Iberia, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Despite not specifying which airlines he is after, Mr Walsh told the newspaper that he and Iberia chief executive, Antonio Vazquez, have been discussing eventual targets "for months" so as to ensure that the structure of their new consolidated holding company, International Airlines Group (IAG) would allow takeovers of other airlines.

"In creating IAG we want to make sure it's scaleable and attractive to other airlines…and we've tried to identify structures to put in place that will make that happen," Mr Walsh said to the newspaper.

"We specifically chose a name that would not restrict us."

The two airline heads had initially started with 40 "takeover candidates", but ruled out airlines that would be difficult to buy due to "regulatory and competition hurdles".

Mr Walsh made clear to The Daily Telegraph that IAG is after 100 per cent ownership of the airlines.

"It's with a view to full merger or acquisition," he said.

According to the Guardian, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power thinks LAN Airlines is the most likely candidate to be bought by, or merged with, IAG, listing 9/4 odds.