BMI being taken over by Lufthansa

BMI being taken over by Lufthansa

BMI is being taken over by Germany’s Lufthansa.

Lufthansa, which already owns a 30 per cent stake in BMI minus one share, is buying the 50 per cent of the company owned by BMI chairman Sir Michael Bishop.

The deal will give Lufthansa control of more flights from Heathrow than any airline except British Airways.

The remaining 20 per cent of BMI is currently owned by Sweden-based Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

Lufthansa said it intended to complete the deal by 16 January. Earlier this year it bought a 45 per cent stake in Brussels Airlines.