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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/virgin-circled-by-rival-airlines.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Virgin Atlantic is being circled by a number of airlines as consolidation in the beleaguered sector looks set to continue" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/min-virgin-circled-by-rival-airlines.jpg" alt="Virgin Atlantic is being circled by a number of airlines as consolidation in the beleaguered sector looks set to continue"/></a></p>
<p>Virgin Atlantic is being circled by a number of airlines as consolidation in the beleaguered sector looks set to continue, it has been reported.</p>
<p>Air France-KLM and America&#8217;s Delta are understood to be trying to tempt Sir Richard Branson&#8217;s airline to join their transatlantic SkyTeam alliance, according to the Sunday Times.</p>
<p>The joint venture, which was set up in May 2009, allows partners to share revenues and costs and to co-ordinate their flight schedules.</p>
<p>But the consortium, which is being advised by Goldman Sachs, faces competition from airline Etihad, which is owned by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.</p>
<p>The group has previously expressed an interest in Virgin Atlantic and it has drafted in Bank of America Merrill Lynch to advise it on a possible deal.</p>
<p>A Virgin spokeswoman said: &#8220;Virgin Atlantic is a strong, independent business with a good growth position at both London Heathrow and Gatwick, so we are not surprised that there is interest in us.&#8221;</p>
<p>Sir Richard hired Deutsche Bank in November last year to look at the options for his 51% stake in the airline he founded.</p>
<p>He was forced to review the airline&#8217;s future after British Airways formed its own transatlantic alliance with American Airlines and merged with Iberia, making it harder for Virgin to compete at Heathrow.</p>
<p>Analysts speculated at the time that the tie-up would mean Virgin either had to bring in wealthy investors or Sir Richard may have to sell his stake altogether.</p>
<p>Singapore Airlines owns the remaining 49% of shares in Virgin and it has previously indicated that it would be prepared to sell its holding at the right price.</p>
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