While he believes that global consolidation will arrive eventually, Iberia chief executive Fernando Conte believes mergers within continents are a more realistic possiblity for the time being.
Conte spoke at the UK's Aviation Club in London, the day after Iberia suitor British Airways disclosed it was also in merger talks with Australia's Qantas Airways.
"The fact is that, if you want to do something between two different continents today, it is too complex," says Conte.
Consolidation in Europe has been successfully achieved, he says: "It has been done within the region and that has been proved - we haven't proved anything besides that.
"We can say that the merger between BA and Iberia, if it takes place, will be one of the most important steps in the consolidation process of the European airline industry, and probably will set the scenario for a more global one."
He denies that, for BA, there is a case of "either-or" when it comes to finalising a large merger deal with Iberia or Qantas.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
