Lufthansa backs consolidation as SAS, Condor touted as targets

Lufthansa CE Carsten Spohr said the carrier wants to play a role in the further consolidation of Europe’s airlines, while suggesting that full mergers aren’t the only option. Responding to reports that Lufthansa is exploring bids for SAS and the Condor arm of Thomas Cook Group, Spohr said Friday that the stories “have the wrong sources,” without elaborating. “We’ve said consolidation in Europe is needed, and that we want to be a part of it,” the CE said. “So we are speaking with everyone, and everyone is speaking to us.” Acquisitions could allow Lufthansa to expand its Eurowings discount arm even as a transfer of flights from its main brand is opposed by unions. At the same time, they’d add complexity when Spohr is trying to simplify operations, and full-service carriers like SAS would most likely increase rather than cut costs. <br/>