BA beefs up 'oneworld' alliance

BRITISH Airways countered the threat of a merger between Air France, Holland's KLM and Alitalia by adding Swiss (the rump of Swissair) to its 'oneworld' alliance.

BA said it saw its European partners - which include Aer Lingus, Finnair and Iberia - as eventual takeover targets.

Chief executive Rod Eddington says: 'European aviation consolidation is necessary and will happen. For us the basis of that consolidation will be our oneworld alliance.'

He admits it may be years before Brussels clears the runway with sweeping regulatory changes.