Turkish media has reported rumours that Lufthansa may seek a closer relationship with the country’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines, or Turk Hava Yollari (THY), in a bid to thwart competition from airlines in the Middle East. Indeed, Turkish newspapers, Haberturk and Sabah, have both reported that a merger between the two airlines is under consideration.
Although a merger between Lufthansa and THY would cause much consternation in Brussels, closer cooperation via extended codeshare agreements could be a more feasible option for the German airline.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that “a strong codeshare makes strategic sense” for Lufthansa and Turkish, although he countered that a “merger would be nonsense for Turkish right now.”
It has also been reported that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has suggested the two airlines move closer together during Erdogan’s recent visit to Germany.
Lufthansa and THY merger rumours abound
