British Airways says it is not looking for a stake in struggling Swiss International Air Lines, contradicting a report in a Swiss newspaper over the weekend.
"We are not actively seeking to invest in Swiss ... our focus is on our core business," said a spokeswoman for BA , which has been slashing jobs and revamping operations to compete with low-cost carriers and a fall-off in long-haul travel.
The report in the SonntagsZeitungsaid the two airlines were seeking to make a deal with loss-making Swiss to kickstart what many analysts see as the inevitable consolidation of the European industry.
Quoting an internal source, the SonntagsZeitungsaid Swiss management had been to Frankfurt in recent days to discuss a firmed-up offer from Lufthansa to take over the airline in full.
A spokesman for Lufthansa, which is a key member of the Star Alliance, said: "We have no comment on such speculation."
The SonntagsZeitungquoted spokesman, Mr Michael Blunt, for oneworld, the rival alliance led by BA, as saying that Swiss had received a written invitation to join the alliance.
Shares of Swiss International rose today after reports that Germany's Lufthansa is eying a full takeover while BA is offering to take a major stake.