No merger with Etihad, UK remains vital market: Emirates

Emirates has again denied reports that it is in talks with Etihad around a potential acquisition, saying that it is instead focused on small scale partnerships with local airlines. The carrier dismissed a Bloomberg News report in September that suggested the pair were discussing a merger, stating there was no truth to the rumour. While Emirates has rejected speculation around the issue repeatedly for a number of years, the two airlines did sign agreements in January to cooperate in a handful of areas. One of Emirates’ most senior executives has said that such low-level partnerships are all the airline is interested in. “We can make it very simple, very easy: There’s no truth to the rumour. No truth,” said Hubert Frach, the company’s head of commercial operations for the Americas and Europe. <br/>