Emirates confirms there are no plans for a merger with Etihad Airways

Emirates CEO, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, stated there are no plans for a merger with Etihad Airways or to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) (Arabian Business, 26-Oct-2009).

Emirates: "There is nothing like that. There is always a lot of rumour, people will try and put things together. People have the right to say what they think but the problem is sometimes they believe it themselves. They come up with something and they believe it that it is happening. There is no such plan. A lot of reporters usually push that [IPO] story. Anything is possible. If you want to do an IPO you have to find the right time and price but it is not something on my desk," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO. Source: Arabian Business, 26-Oct-2009.