Speaking to Reuters, Clark said there was “value to be had working more closely” with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad in areas like joint purchasing. He admitted, however, that regulators in overseas markets would have concerns about this.
He told the newswire: ““There are many areas that the airlines could work together on, like procurement. But we have to go the first jump first to understand what it is we could do and I‘m simply the manager of one of the businesses.”
Clark said the decision would not be down to him. “It is my superiors who have to make that call, not me.”
He added that a full merger, similar to that between Air France and KLM, was unlikely, but said shareholders would make the ultimate decision.
