Global travel bookings firm Amadeus has bought from Iberia a 66 percent stake in their jointly-owned Spanish unit Savia Amadeus for EUR82.3 million (USD$108.7 million).

Iberia is one of Amadeus's main shareholders, along with Air France and Lufthansa. Amadeus operates in Spain and Portugal through Savia Amadeus.

Amadeus bought Air France out of a similar partnership at the end of last year, paying the French carrier EUR85.8 million for its 66 percent stake in the French national marketing company.

The airlines which control Amadeus are in exclusive talks with two private equity firms about forming a new company to buy out all of Amadeus for some EUR4.3 billion and then to delist its shares.