Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. made an offer for BMI a unit of Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA), in United Kingdom, following its main rival British Airways parent IAG has also offered to acquire the airline.

According to Claudia Lange, Lufthansa’s spokeswoman, told, both carriers are meticulously pursuing it with their own proposals and both are having an equal chance of winning the bid.  As per the records, International Consolidated Airlines Group SA also proclaimed its bid last month.

Deutsche Lufthansa has been looking for a buyer for BMI subsequently it failed to turn around an airline added under coercion when the then owner Michael Bishop implemented a “put option”.  The German carrier also said two months ago it has received various proposals and there were multiple bids it used to consider and explore various strategic options and disposals for BMI.

The purchase of BMI would enable its acquirer to the 8.5% of landing and takeoff slots that it manages at London’s Heathrow airport.  Already, the British Airways is the top operator there and in September, has increased its holdings with the purchase of six of BMI’s slots.

Virgin Atlantic the biggest rival at Heathrow, has been looking at a bid of its own subsequently the founder Richard Branson followed a tie-up for over a decade.  According to Andrew Fitchie, an analyst, who rated with a ‘hold’ on Lufthansa and ‘sell’ on IAG.

Lufthansa anticipates completing the sale by the finish of Q-1, but didn’t disclose the offer price from either IAG or Virgin Atlantic.

BMI had incurred an operating loss of 154 million euro or 205 million USD during the first nine months, extending from 90 million euro last year.