VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Virgin Atlantic [VA.UL] plans to decide within six months on how to replace seven Boeing 747s it flies from London’s Gatwick airport, and could expand its overall fleet in the process, the British airline’s chief executive said Thursday.

New CEO Christoph Mueller's plans for troubled Malaysia Airlines - including a new brand, a smaller fleet and one third less staff - are widely seen as a promising blueprint for a fresh start.

Loss-making Malaysia Airlines is set to undergo a complete overhaul as it is restructured into a new company, with a rebranding that will be unveiled next week and changes planned to its fleet and network strategies.

Ireland's government expects International Consolidated Airlines Group (ICAG.L) (IAG) to make a further offer to convince it to sell its 25 percent stake in Aer Lingus (AERL.I), Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton said on Thursday.

The owner of British Airways is running out of time to secure Ireland's Aer Lingus as questions over its commitment to keep jobs and key Heathrow routes stoke opposition from politicians facing a tough election next year.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said the concerns of its fellow Aer Lingus shareholder, the Irish government, on the potential sale of the airline to the owner of British Airways are misplaced.

The owner of British Airways must provide some sort of "cast iron permanent guarantee" on flights to Ireland if the government is to even consider its bid for Aer Lingus (AERL.I), Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Sunday.

The owner of British Airways has made a third takeover approach to Aer Lingus (AERL.I), offering to pay 2.50 euros per share, or around 1.3 billion euros in total for the Irish airline, Sky News reported on Saturday.

Ryanair's third attempt to purchase Aer Lingus refused by EU regulators.

Mergers under review by the European Commission and a brief guide to the EU merger process