THE HAGUE, Jun 06, 2012 (AFP) - Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad Airways is in talks to buy a stake in struggling Franco-Dutch airline Air France-KLM, Netherlands newspaper De Telegraf reported on Wednesday.
"Etihad is still staking out Air France-KLM," the daily said, adding that "the course is set" for a buy-in.
A KLM spokesman told the paper that collaboration talks were still uderway, but that the airline would not comment on specifics.
Qatar Airways is also interested in taking a stake in the European airline, but for now has been kept on the sidelines, De Telegraf said.
Etihad has been on a buying spree, increasing its stake in Air Berlin to almost 30 percent. It also owns 40 percent of Air Seychelles and is looking to boost its stake in Virgin Australia to 10 percent.
Struggling Air France-KLM has launched a major cost-saving programme after posting a loss of 809 million euros ($1.0 billion) for 2011 and a first quarter net loss in 2012 of 368 million euros.
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