MADRID, Dec 15 (Reuters) - International Consolidated
Airlines Group (IAG) and its Spanish unit Iberia will
hold board meetings this week to decide whether to go ahead with
the acquisition of Spanish carrier Air Europa, Spanish news
website ElConfidencial said on Tuesday.
IAG, which also owns British Airways, agreed to buy Air
Europa for 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in November 2019, but
has been seeking to reduce the price amid the travel crisis
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both IAG and Iberia declined to comment, while officials at
Globalia, the owner of Air Europa, were not immediately
available for comment. The deal was designed to enhance IAG's
operations on routes to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Last month, the Spanish government announced a 475 million
euro aid package for Air Europa.
El Confidencial, which cited only unnamed sources, also said
that IAG's board meeting on Wednesday or Thursday would assess
the potential impact of Britain's exit from the European Union
on its business.
Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news
conference that Iberia should not have any problems operating in
the European Union's airspace after Brexit.
IAG shares were down 1.5% in early trade in London, almost
erasing their modest gains since the start of the month.
($1 = 0.8226 euros)
(Reporting by Jesús Aguado in Madrid and Sarah Young in London;
editing by Andrei Khalip and Keith Weir)
International Airlines (IAG)
