One of world's strongest airliners in making - merger of "British Airways" and "Iberia Airlines"

- British and Spanish air transportation companies "British Airways" and "Iberia Airlines", respectively, reached the merger agreement yesterday (November 12, 2009) - the British airliner announced.

The stockholders of "British Airways" will take control of 55% of the combined group, while the rest will be controlled by the stockholders of "Iberia".

The new company will be run by Willie Walsh, the chief executive of "British Airways".

The final agreement will be signed in the first half of year 2010.