German airline TUIfly says no plans to link up with EasyJet

TUIfly has denied suggestions that the airline is planning to link up with EasyJet but declined to comment directly on a report that another European airline was interested in buying the airline. A German magazine report said Thursday that EasyJet was close to taking a stake in TUIfly, part of travel and tourism group TUI, as a way to secure flying rights within the EU should Britain leave the EU and not agree access to the bloc's single aviation market. But a TUIFly board member representing the labour force said Friday a second European carrier could be interested in buying the airline. Martin Locher, a TUIfly pilot and supervisory board member declined to name the airline Friday, but said it was a non-EU carrier. He also said it was not clear if talks with EasyJet were continuing. <br/>