LUFTHANSA TAKING OVER AUSTRIAN AIRLINES.
German carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG is to complete the takeover of Austrian Airlines AG Thursday by signing the final contracts in Vienna, said Stefan Lauer, a member of Lufthansa’s executive board. With this deal, the Lufthansa group is to become Europe’s biggest carrier, surpassing French-Dutch airline AirFrance-KLM in terms of passenger numbers.
The ailing Vienna-based flag carrier is to retain its network of destinations, as was the case when Swiss, British Midland and Brussels Airlines joined the Lufthansa group, the manager said.