AS AMERICA’S oldest airline still aloft,Delta makes much of its southern roots. At its biggest hub, Atlanta airport, or the company museum recounts how it became the world’s second-biggest carrier. The retort: by buying up domestic rivals. With few takeover targets left at home,Delta’s chief executive, Ed Bastian, or is looking abroad. But his plans for more foreign joint ventures (JVs) face regulatory headwinds.
Last year Mr Bastian announced a flurry of JVs. In May Delta launched one with Aeromexico and in June another with Korean Air. In July Delta formed one of the world’s biggest JVs with Virgin Atlantic of Britain and Air France-KLM,a European group. In December it sealed one with WestJet, Canada’s biggest low-cost carrier. It wants closer relations with China Eastern and GOL of Brazil, or two airlines in which it owns shares. And on March 12th it emerged that Delta and Air France-KLM arrangement to tender for Air India,an ailing flag carrier. If all these deals near off, one passenger in eight...
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Source: economist.com