BERLIN (Reuters) - Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) is in contact with Norwegian Air Shuttle (NWC.OL), also the subject of bid interest from British Airways owner IAG (ICAG.L), the German group’s chief executive told a German daily, sending Norwegian’s shares higher.
“In Europe, everyone is talking to everyone. There’s a new wave of consolidation approaching. That means we are also in contact with Norwegian,” Carsten Spohr was quoted as saying by Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Monday.
When asked whether Norwegian would fit with the group, Spohr responded: “Takeovers are always a question of strategic value, the price and anti-trust. There are no easy answers.”
Norwegian Air’s shares opened 10 percent higher in Oslo and by 0708 GMT traded 7.5 percent higher at 267.6 crowns.
Reporting by Victoria Bryan, additional reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Gwladys Fouche
