British Airways, Iberia Unions Support Merger

Unions representing British Airways and Iberia pilots said they are in favor a proposed merger of the two airlines.

At a joint news conference in Madrid on Wednesday, the Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Lineas Aereas (SEPLA), and the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said a merger would enable BA and Iberia to better compete with Air France-KLM and Lufthansa.

British Airways and Iberia agreed to merge in August and expect to finalize the deal sometime in 2009.

The carriers would continue to operate separate airlines, expecting to save money through cost and route synergies. The two pilot unions said a merger would save British Airways-Iberia about $567 million in 2010.