Virgin Atlantic: Is Delta an interested buyer?
鈥� Singapore Airlines said Monday it's in talks to sell its 49 percent stake in billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin聽Atlantic.
The airline said in a statement it's in discussions with "interested parties" about a sale.
A person with knowledge of the possible deal told The Associated Press that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. is in talks with Singapore Airlines about buying the聽Virgin聽Atlantic聽stake. The person requested anonymity because the talks are ongoing.
Virgin聽Atlantic聽is the second-biggest airline at London's Heathrow airport, behind British Airways and BA is a partner with Delta competitor American Airlines. Takeoff and landing rights there are limited, a barrier for airlines that want to add flights.
A Delta partnership with聽Virgin聽Atlantic聽on U.S.-London routes would allow it to benefit from聽Virgin's聽established position at Heathrow.
Some 51 percent of聽Virgin聽Atlantic, which was founded in 1984, is owned by Branson's聽Virgin聽Group. Singapore Airlines bought its stake from Branson in early 2000 for 600.3 million British pounds.
Singapore Airlines said in its statement that the talks may or may not result in a deal.
The London-New York route is one of the world's major air corridors, and Delta has been undertaking a major expansion of its hubs at New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports.
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AP Airlines Writer Joshua Freed in Minneapolis contributed.
