DFS confirms it is pursuing stake in NATS

Germany's Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS) CEO Klaus-Dieter Scheurle confirmed the company is pursuing an acquisition of a stake in UK air navigation service provider NATS and said the company is waiting on a response from the first phase of bidding (Bloomberg, 05-Jun-2013). The company is interested in acquiring the stake held by The Airline Group, a consortium of seven partners including British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, Thomas Cook Group and Lufthansa. DFS is "keen to get access to more detailed data and participate in the second round" said the DFS CEO. According to Mr Scheurle, a combination of NATS and DFS would handle approximately 80% of trans-Atlantic traffic operating into Europe and in the end it is a "political process" in determining where the stake will be sold.