The duo of Etihad and Emirates Airlines have denied that the latter plans to take over the operations of the former.
A deal which would have become the largest airline by passenger traffic was denied by the two airlines as untrue.
Bloomberg had reported yesterday evening (Nigerian time) that Emirates is looking to take over Etihad Airways, and create the world’s biggest carrier by passenger traffic.
Bloomberg reported that talks are at a preliminary stage, would see Emirates acquire the main airline business of Etihad, according to the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is confidential. The negotiations could yet fall through, they said.
However, Etihad and Emirates have jointly dismissed the report as untrue.
An Etihad Airways spokesperson told Arabian Business, a local news website in the GCC that there is “no truth to this story.”
The medium also quoted the spokesperson for Emirates said, “There is no truth to this rumour.”
Arabian Business also alluded to Emirates president Tim Clark, who said in June this year that he didn’t envisage a merger taking place in the “short-term, medium-term”.
