AIR BERLIN / EUROWINGS - A320-200 - D-ABHA

FPP - Lisboa

EUROWINGS - A320-200 - D-ABFP (ex Air Berlin)

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

Wet-leased airberlin A320s begin service for Eurowings

Three airberlin Airbus A320s operating in Eurowings colors launched Feb. 10 from Hamburg to Manchester, Stuttgart and Nuremberg. The flights are part of a six-year wet-lease agreement between airberlin and the Lufthansa Group, which was approved unconditionally at the end of January by federal antitrust authorities.

Under the wet-lease agreement, airberlin will lease 38 Airbus A319/A320 aircraft—which are stationed at German and Austrian airports—to Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Eurowings and Austrian Airlines. Eurowings will take 33 of the aircraft and Austrian will take the remaining five. The deal also includes a codeshare between Lufthansa and airberlin equity parent Etihad Airways.

Airberlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann said, “The wet-lease agreement with the Lufthansa Group is a significant milestone for airberlin by providing job security with ultimately 38 aircraft flying for the Lufthansa Group.”

The airberlin wet-leased A320s will be delivered to the Lufthansa Group in phases by the end of April and all aircraft will carry the wording “operated by airberlin” on their fuselages.

“According to the agreement with airberlin, Eurowings is the fastest-growing carrier compared to any other airline brand in Europe,” CEO of Eurowings and Aviation Services Karl Ulrich Garnadt said in a statement. The wet-leased aircraft will be operated in Eurowings colors and its cabin design.

Up to 20 airberlin A320s will replace the oldest Eurowings aircraft of the same type.

The increased aircraft capacity allows Eurowings to offer 23,000 additional flights per year and more than 60 new connections. The airline also estimates it will carry three million additional passengers annually.

Four of the 33 wet-leased aircraft will be based in Munich beginning from this summer. “More than 50% of the 60 additional new connections will be offered from Lufthansa’s second hub Munich,” Garnadt said.

Two former airberlin A320s will be based in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), increasing the number of aircraft to four (in Palma) starting from this summer, while the remaining aircraft will strengthen Eurowings’ existing bases in Cologne Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Vienna.

Star Alliance member Brussels Airlines, which operates 51 aircraft, should be integrated into the Eurowings Group from 2018. Including Brussels, the total Eurowings fleet is expected to reach 160 aircraft.

Kurt Hofmann hofmann.aviation@netway.at

Eurowings: Wet lease of airberlin A320s a challenging task

Eurowings Europe, which is adding 33 wet-leased airberlin Airbus A320s to its fleet by the end of April, said the additional aircraft will create operational challenges for the Lufthansa Group low-cost subsidiary (LCC).
Eurowings MD Michael Knitter told ATW that one of several challenges facing the LCC is training airberlin flight attendants to Eurowings standards. “We started cabin crew training on Jan. 10. Airberlin needs five to six crews per aircraft. Also, at the same time, we have to bring together two different operations [airberlin and Eurowings fleets] into the same traffic control center,” Knitter said.

On Dec. 16, 2016, Lufthansa Group and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group finalized a codeshare deal and a six-year wet-lease agreement for 38 airberlin Airbus A319/A320 aircraft operating for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines. Of the 38 former airberlin aircraft, Eurowings will operate 33 and Austrian Airlines will operate five. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has a 29.2% stake in oneworld member airberlin.

Another challenge Eurowings faces is to sell additional seat capacity from the wet-leased fleet. “Eurowings is growing faster than the [European aviation] market itself,” Knitter said. “For example, we also exchanged 90-seat Bombardier regional jets with 180-seat A320s. In addition, every week six A320s [from airberlin] will join our operations.”

Knitter said consolidation in the European aviation business creates opportunities. “However, we have to manage to sell our additional capacity. In 2016 we transported 9% more passengers compared to the year before.”

Four of the 33 wet-leased A320s will be based in Munich, two will be based in Palma de Mallorca, and the remaining airberlin aircraft will be used to expand existing bases.

“The wet-leased airberlin aircraft creates new action options for us,” he said.

Several German media outlets have speculated that Lufthansa could consider taking over airberlin completely. Lufthansa Group chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr told ATW on the sidelines of the company’s digital aviation forum in Frankfurt Jan. 10 that selling airberlin—no matter to which type of investor—would be very difficult.

“First, the debts of airberlin are much too high to attract an investor. Besides that, airberlin’s [operating] costs are still too high. Also in terms of competition [authority] cartel, this could create a problem,” Spohr said. Airberlin has debts of about €1 billion ($1.05 billion).

Kurt Hofmann hofmann.aviation@netway

Photos:Pedro Filipe - Duss

Air Berlin ends in-house B737 operations

Air Berlin (AB, Berlin Tegel) has ended commercial B737 operations in which its crew man the operating aircraft. According to World Airline News, the last such flight - AB6208 Munich-Berlin Tegel - occurred on Friday, October 28 with B737-800 D-ABMP (msn 37779) the aircraft concerned.

Air Berlin's two remaining owned B737-800s - D-ABMP (msn 37779) and D-ABBK (msn 33013) - have been withdrawn from revenue service as of Monday, October 31.

As it stands, the thirteen remaining B737s in Air Berlins service (five B737-700s and eight B737-800s) are those wet-leased from TUIfly .

ch aviation

Photo:Pedro Filipe - Duss

Airberlin to wet-lease aircraft to Lufthansa as part of restructuring

German carrier airberlin has released details of its restructuring plan, which hinges on placing up to 40 Airbus A320s with Lufthansa Group and reducing employee positions by up to 1,200.

In a statement released Sept. 28, airberlin said it would refocus its operations on being a network carrier serving higher-yield markets from Berlin and Dusseldorf using a fleet of 75 aircraft.

The airline’s leisure business will be folded into an independently operating unit, airberlin said.

The restructuring plan, widely anticipated, will be “far-reaching,” airberlin CEO Stefan Pichler said.

Airberlin is Germany’s second-largest airline, carrying more than 30.2 million passengers in 2015, and a member of the oneworld global alliance. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has a 29.2% stake in the airline. Airberlin reported a €446.6 million loss ($485.5 million) for 2015, deepened from a €376.7 million loss the year before. It then reported an €89.1 million net loss for the 2016 second quarter, widened from a €37.5 million loss in 2Q 2015. For the 2016 first half, losses totaled €271.5 million loss.

Lufthansa Group has been in talks for some months to potentially buy routes and acquire aircraft from airberlin so that it can more rapidly grow its low cost carrier unit Eurowings.

Of the up to 40 A320s that will be placed with Lufthansa Group, up to 38 aircraft will be provided under a six-year wet-lease agreement, airberlin said.

Lufthansa Group said in a statement that the agreement, which is subject to its board’s approval, would enable Eurowings to significantly expand its capacities and strengthen its position in the European point-to-point air transport market. It said 35 of the aircraft would fly in Eurowings livery while five would be leased by Austrian Airlines, a Lufthansa Group carrier.

Eurowings currently operates a total fleet of 90 aircraft, all Airbus manufactured. The additional aircraft will be based at seven airports in Germany, Vienna and Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Airberlin’s core fleet, meanwhile, will consist of 17 Airbus A330s 40 A320s and 18 Bombardier Q400 turboprops from the summer of 2017.

Redundancy talks will begin with the aim of confirm voluntary and compulsory layoffs by February 2017, airberlin said.

“We are faced with significant external market pressures, which dictate a change to our current complicated business model. Airberlin has sought to serve all market segments with one operating platform, covering both business and leisure travelers,” Pichler said.

“The core airberlin proposition in future is now clear: a dedicated focused network carrier serving higher-yielding markets from two hubs in Dusseldorf and Berlin. A leaner, fitter, stronger airberlin has a bright future.”

Under the new plan, airberlin’s profitable long-haul operations will be expanded with new routes and additional frequencies, particularly to the US while its short- and medium-haul operations will concentrate on business markets in Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe as well as growing its domestic German business market.

Karen Walker karen.walker@penton.com

ATW

Photo:Ton Jochems - PMI

Beam me up… airberlin unveils Star Trek jet

New livery and in-flight goodies to mark 50 years of sci-fi series

airberlin’s Star Trek-themed A320

airberlin is celebrating Star Trek’s 50th anniversary with the launch of a special themed aircraft.

The popular sci-fi series turns 50 on 8 September 2016, and airberlin has created a special aircraft livery to mark the occasion. The new paintwork features a raised hand showing a traditional Vulcan 

greeting, and a logo proclaiming ’50 Years of Star Trek’.
The Airbus A320 aircraft has already entered service on the Dusseldorf-Rome route and will be deployed across the German carrier’s European network in September.

The aircraft will also feature Star Trek headrest covers and will carry 100,000 limited edition “Spock bags”, which will be offered to passengers

Written by:Mark Elliott - Travel News

AIR BERLIN - A321-200Sharklets - D-ABCO

Ton Jochems - PMI

AIR BERLIN - A320-200Sharklets - D-ABNM - "Flying home for Christmas"

Air Berlin

Air Berlin loves Dusseldorf

Minister-President, Hannelore Kraft, and airberlin Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Pichler, unveil an "airdüsseldorf" aircraft – a special symbol of a close relationship 

With over 7.1 million passengers in 2014, airberlin is clearly the number one airline at Dusseldorf airport, the main hub in North Rhine-Westphalia. airberlin has seen steady growth at the airport, flying to over 80 summer and winter destinations worldwide from the city on the Rhine this year alone.

In Hall 7 at airberlin technik in Dusseldorf, Chief Executive Officer Stefan Pichler today confirmed how important Germany's third largest airport – measured in passenger numbers – is for airberlin. Together with Hannelore Kraft, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Dusseldorf's Lord Mayor, Thomas Geisel, he unveiled an Airbus A321 bearing the name "airdüsseldorf", in special recognition of his airline's commitment to Dusseldorf airport. The aircraft visually affirms airberlin's special relationship with the airport and visibly emphasises this close partnership, both on the ground and in the air. This aircraft is and will remain unique in the airberlin fleet and will of course continue to bear the airberlin colours.

Stefan Pichler: “Today's event is in recognition of Dusseldorf airport. We look forward to continuing our partnership and hope the airport does, too. The airport's commitment provides the necessary basis for us to actively develop our hub here, for which we also rely on the support of Lord Mayor Geisel. We would like to thank the region's Minister-President for her dedicated commitment to North Rhine-Westphalia as an aviation location.”

Minister-President Hannelore Kraft: “We want to improve the competitiveness of the aviation sector in North Rhine-Westphalia whilst minimising pollution for the population and the environment as much as possible. This aeroplane is more efficient than its predecessors and represents exactly what we need to do to achieve this. I hope this investment will help airberlin be successful in the future. And for its employees, in particular, I hope that today marks the start of a new beginning.”

As Dusseldorf's largest long-haul carrier, airberlin provides almost half of all the available seats on all the airport's long-haul aircraft. A number of attractive long-haul services, to the US, United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean, for example, are connected via numerous feeder flights from throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, so that passengers can reach their destinations quickly and conveniently.

Together with its strategic partner, Etihad Airways, airberlin operates flights from Dusseldorf to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Its close partnerships with Alitalia, Air Serbia and oneworld® partners (Iberia, British Airways, Finnair) supplement the wide range of destin

Air Berlin

airberlin kicks off its Christmas activities: the 2014 Christmas aircraft arrives in Berlin

Air Berlin

AIR BERLIN - A320-200 - D-ABNB "USA Discover America"

Ton Jochems - AYT

AIR BERLIN - A320-200 - D-ABFK

Paul Bannwarth . - BSL

AIR BERLIN - A320-200 - HB-JOZ

Paul Bannwarth - BSL

airberlin and Etihad Airways announce expansion of partnership and unveil joint livery aircraft

Two airlines unveil Airbus A320 aircraft in unique joint livery

New Moving Forward media campaign launched for 2014

Almost 900,000 passengers carried since partnership began two years ago

Scale brought through equity partnership reducing costs for both airlines

Revenue of EUR 200 million through common codeshare network

Growing worldwide joint network – new destinations in India, South Korea and Australia

Increase to 49 weekly flights in February 2014 between Germany and Abu Dhabi

airberlin and Etihad Airways today unveiled an Airbus A320 aircraft in specially designed joint livery, symbolising the close ties between the two airlines and marking the launch of a new Moving Forward media campaign.
At the event in Berlin, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, airberlin’s Chief Executive Officer, and James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Berlin PLC, gave details of how air travellers will continue to benefit from the special partnership and the progress made in the first two years.
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, said: “The comprehensive commercial partnership with Etihad Airways has brought many benefits to airberlin, including our shares of joint revenues of EUR 200 million, which is integral part of our turnaround program.
Partnerships are vital in today’s aviation industry. Our partnership provides significant benefits to Etihad Airways, airberlin, as well as to our guests. Not only do we provide an expanded offering of destinations and services, we also have developed synergies through the entire value chain.
This means an increasingly attractive offer with numerous benefits for customers, and continuously improved productivity and lower costs. The positive response from our guests illustrates that we are on the right path.”
Following the implementation of joint codesharing across the networks both airlines will strengthen the commercial partnership in 2014. That will include the expansion of joint sales operations, building on the current services provided by 17 joint sales offices located around the world, and representation in more than 50 international markets.
The airberlin touristic expertise, an important pillar in airberlin’s business, will also continue to be central to marketing the combined network.
The developments in the commercial partnership are set to further increase the number of passengers who fly on the airberlin and Etihad Airways network, which currently serves 228 destinations in 84 countries.
James Hogan said: “Since the launch of the partnership two years ago, commercial ties between Etihad Airways and airberlin have deepened significantly. This has increased the destinations and flight options for guests and enabled both airlines to carry nearly 900,000 guests across the two networks.
During this time airberlin’s new business strategy has made great progress and Etihad Airways continues to place its full support behind the airline and its management. We are confident that airberlin is on the right path back to profitability and the next phase in the airline’s proud history.”
A new joint “Moving Forward” media campaign will be launched in January and run until March 2014 and will see the new partnership logo of the two airlines featured in advertising and marketing across Germany.
James Hogan added: “During its 35 years of operations, airberlin has established itself as one of Europe’s leading business and leisure airlines, regularly carrying more than 30 million passengers each year.
This strong history and heritage, as well as its great potential, attracted Etihad Airways to make the equity investment and establish the commercial partnership, and this long term commitment remains key to the Etihad Airways business strategy.”
airberlin and Etihad Airways operate 42 weekly flights between destinations in Germany and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This will increase to 49 weekly flights in February 2014 when a second daily Munich flight commences.
In 2013, 563,000 common codeshare passengers flew across the two networks, a 74 per cent increase on the previous year. Currently, 66 airberlin routes carry Etihad Airways’ EY code and 33 Etihad Airways’ routes carry airberlin’s AB code.
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer announced new routes for this year: “We shall continue to expand the joint route network with Etihad Airways and look forward to offering airberlin guests new codeshare destinations in India, Australia and South Korea.”

AIR BERLIN - B737-800 - D-ABMS

José Ramon Valero - MAD

airberlin: only German airline with an aircraft decorated for Christmas

Every single day airberlin provides connections between individual people and whole continents. airberlin is once again operating its aircraft decorated in Christmas livery under the motto “Flying home for Christmas”. The Boeing 737-800 will continue to be out and about on the airline’s European route network right into January. Anyone who flies home for the holiday season with airberlin on a regular basis has a good chance of travelling in the festively-decorated aircraft. The inaugural flight for airberlin’s Christmas aircraft will go from Dusseldorf to Copenhagen. “I am delighted to have the opportunity of operating the first flight this year in airberlin’s Christmas colours. It’s always a special occasion, bringing flight guests home to their families and friends in airberlin’s Christmas aircraft,” First Officer Andreas Graute explained.

This year the design of the Christmas plane resembles a string of fairy lights. There is a candle-like light for each day of Advent. “The windows of the aircraft constitute the flames of the candles. For the first time we have a Christmas design that achieves a completely different effect at night to that created during the daytime. The aircraft has an especially atmospheric ambience on evening flights,” said André Rahn, Senior Vice President Marketing. The design was created by RAPP Germany. The interior of the plane is also decorated in festive mood with specially-designed headrest covers.

The Boeing with the registration D-ABMS, which is affectionately known as “Merry Santa”, arrived at Hangar 7 at Dusseldorf Airport on 13th November. First of all, the fuselage of the aircraft was thoroughly cleaned. On 14thNovember the seven-man airberlin technik team started work. The first step was to once again clean all the surfaces to be decorated with special detergent. Next the sheeting, which is certified for aviation and specially UV-resistant, was mounted on the fuselage of the aircraft. Finally, an edge sealer was applied to the leading edges in order to prevent the sheeting from peeling away and to guarantee optimal airflow. The sheeting with the fairy light design is just 80 micrometres thick, measures 15.32 m in length and is 1.87 m high.

In 2010, the airberlin Christmas aircraft appeared for the first time in digital form on airberlin.com. In response to requests from numerous guests, the first actual airberlin aircraft in Christmas livery took to the skies in November 2011. airberlin is the first German airline to have a Christmas aircraft.

AIR BERLIN

AIR BERLIN - B737-800, D-ABME

João Luis Pessoa - Lisboa

Air Berlin changes EMB-190 fleet strategy

Photo:Ton Jochems - ANT

Air Berlin has made adjustments to its strategy to move all seven EMB-190s of subsidiary Niki to Germany for the upcoming summer schedule. Only three of the seven aircraft will now be transferred to LGW - Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter  for operations on behalf of Air Berlin from Dusseldorf International

Niki will continue to operate four EMB-190s from its Vienna hub.

LGW to operate Niki EMB-190s on behalf of Air Berlin

Flying Photos

LGW - Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter  will take over the seven EMB-190s currently operated by Niki  from Vienna International by the end of March and then operate the aircraft on a wet-lease basis on behalf of Air Berlin The aircraft are expected to then be based at Berlin Tegel and Dusseldorf International. LGW already operates ten Dash 8-400s on behalf of its close partner Air Berlin