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airberlin
IATA ICAO Call sign
AB BER AIR BERLIN
Founded1978
HubsBerlin-Tegel International Airport
Nuremberg Airport
Düsseldorf International Airport
Son Sant Joan Airport
Focus citiesMunich International Airport
Hamburg Airport
Hanover/Langenhagen International Airport
Frequent-flyer programtopbonus
Fleet size126 (incl. LTU jets) (+ 155 orders, 10 options)
Destinations80
HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
Key peopleJoachim Hunold, Elke Schütt and Karl Lotz
Websitehttp://www.airberlin.com/
A Boeing 737-700 in the new livery of Air Berlin
An Airbus A319 in the interim livery of Air Berlin
A Boeing 737-800 in the old livery of Air Berlin

Air Berlin PLC (FSE: AB1), operating as airberlin, is Germany's second largest airline after Lufthansa.[1] It is based in Berlin, Germany, and operates extensive semi-low-cost services to holiday destinations on the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and North Africa, as well as to major cities in Europe from 20 German airports. Its main base is Berlin-Tegel International Airport, with hubs at Düsseldorf International Airport, Nuremberg Airport and Son Sant Joan Airport, Palma de Mallorca[1].

airberlin is publicly traded (ticker symbol is AB1, ISIN is GB00B128C026)[2]. It has 8,400 employees (at March 2008)[1]. The airline carried over 28.2 million passengers in 2007.

History

In 1978 a former Pan Am captain formed airberlin as a US supplemental carrier and incorporated it under the name Air Berlin, Inc. in Oregon, USA. airberlin traded as Air Berlin USA until the end of the Cold War on October 2, 1990.[3][4]

West Berlin's special political status during the Cold War era (April 8, 1945 - October 2, 1990) meant that all air traffic to and from the Western half of Germany's divided former and present capital was restricted to the airlines of the three Western victorious powers of World War II, i.e. only those headquartered in the US, UK and France. In addition, all flightdeck crew, i.e. pilots, flight engineers and navigators, flying aircraft into and out of West Berlin through the Allied air corridors were required to hold American, British or French passports.[5]

The newly formed airline's first aircraft was a Boeing 707-331, which it had acquired second-hand from TWA.[2] This aircraft was stationed at Berlin's Tegel Airport. It was assigned to fulfill a lucrative charter contract to operate a series of short- to medium-haul IT charter flights to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands on behalf of Berliner Flug Ring, at the time West Berlin's leading package tour operator.[6] airberlin had taken over this contract from Aeroamerica, another US supplemental carrier, which had been based at Berlin Tegel from 1974 until 1979.[6] In addition to operating inclusive tour (IT) charter flights from Berlin Tegel under contract to Berliner Flug Ring, airberlin also operated a weekly scheduled service from Tegel via Brussels to Orlando, Florida, USA, for a brief period during the early 1980s.[7]

airberlin initially augmented its fleet through the acquisition of additional, second-hand Boeing 707s. These were replaced with more modern, second-hand Boeing 737-200 "Advanced", which were more appropriate for the airline's IT operations from Berlin, from the spring of 1981.[8]

Eventually, airberlin transitioned to a fleet entirely composed of brand-new Boeing 737-300/400s during the late 1980s.[9] This coincided with the introduction of a new livery.[9]

Following Germany's [re-]unification on October 3, 1990, German investors acquired a majority stake in the company and Joachim Hunold, a former LTU manager, became the CEO. The airline was re-registered under German law and renamed Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG.[3] The airline joined IATA and started scheduled flights to European business capitals, such as London, Zurich, Vienna and Barcelona in 1997. In January 2004, airberlin announced cooperation with former Formula One driver Niki Lauda's newly founded airline Niki and took a 24% stake in Niki.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page)..

Later in 2006 airberlin announced that it had acquired 100% of the shares in dba, subject to regulatory approval.[10]. In August 2006, dba was acquired. The two airlines continue to operate under their separate identities, but while dba will continue to operate as an independent company under the umbrella of airberlin, it will be marketed as airberlin "powered by dba"[1].

In March 2007, airberlin took over German charter airline LTU International, creating the fourth largest airline group in Europe in terms of traffic. Between them the airlines carried 22.1 million passengers in 2006. The take over was driven by the prospect of branching into long-haul operations and the chance to establish a stronger presence at Düsseldorf International Airport. LTU will retain its name for the foreseeable future, while its routes will be integrated into airberlin's European network.[11]

At the same time, airberlin acquired a 49% shareholding in Swiss airline Belair owned by tour operator Hotelplan, to enable an increase in its activities in the Swiss market.[11]

In 2007, a new livery was brought in first shown on Airbus A319.[12]

On 20 September 2007, airberlin announced that it would acquire its competitor Condor Airlines in a deal that would give Thomas Cook a 30% stake in airberlin.[13]

On June 2008, Air Berlin's General Manager , Joachim Hunold, wrotes in Air Berlins Magazine that the government of Balearic Islands was trying to impose Catalan language in the communication skills in their flights from and to Mallorca. He said that Air Berlin is an International Flight Company and it's not necessary for them to use this language. Finally criticize the linguistic policy in Catalonia and add that there are many children in catalan speaking areas in Spain that they don't learn Spanish. The president of Baleric Islands, Francesc Antich said that their government only send them a letter with the purpose to encourage Flight Companies thats works Balearic Islands to use also catalan language and offer them help to do it.

Services

airberlin does not operate with a pure low-cost carrier model: most notably, instead of just point-to-point service, airberlin offers guaranteed connections via its hubs. The airline also offers services including inflight meals and drinks,[14] newspapers on board,[15] assigned seating[16] and a frequent flyer program.[17] As such, airberlin's model follows that of US low-cost carriers rather than European ones.

Codeshare agreements

Destinations

Main article: airberlin destinations

File:Airberlindestinations.png

Fleet

Air Berlin Boeing B737-700 in Boeing livery
Air Berlin Boeing B737-800

The airberlin fleet (including LTU and Belair) consists of the following aircraft (at 24 May 2008):

Air Berlin Fleet incl. LTU
Aircraft Number Seats Notes
Airbus A319-100 11
 144/150
Airbus A320-200 32
 174
Airbus A321-200 4
 210
Airbus A330-200 10
 323C/Y operated by LTU
Airbus A330-300 3
 361C/Y operated by LTU
Boeing 737-300 7 136 operated by dba/Germania
Boeing 737-700 15 144 8 operated by Germania
Boeing 737-800 35 186
Boeing 757-200 2 209 operated by Belair
Boeing 767-300 1 operated by Belair
Boeing 787-8 28 (Ordered)
10 (Options)		 280 3 leased from ILFC
Fokker 100 8 100 operated by Germania
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 [10 order] 76 to replace Fokker 100 (4 in 2008 and 6 in 2009)
Total 127

As of 3 June 2008, the average age of the airberlin fleet is 6.9 years ([3]).

In November 2004 airberlin and its Austrian partner Niki announced the joint purchase of 110 Airbus A320s. A firm order for 70 aircraft was placed, 60 for delivery to Air Berlin and 10 for FlyNiki. The deal included an option to purchase an additional 40 aircraft.[4]

On November 28, 2006, Boeing announced that airberlin intended to purchase 60 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 and also identified an order placed earlier in 2006 for 15 Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The combined value of the 75 airplanes would be $5.1 billion at list prices. Apparently, airberlin also has 10 unfilled 737-700s from a dba order announced in 2005. airberlin expects to take delivery of a total of 85 737s, starting in November 2007.[5] All 85 737s will be equipped with blended winglets, which significantly improve fuel efficiency.

On July 7, 2007, airberlin announced an order for 25 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with options and purchase rights for more. [18]. Three more B787-8 will be leased from ILFC and will start its service in 2011.

Newspaper reports in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on the 18th of June 2007 indicated a purchase of 25 Airbus A330 and 25 Airbus A350 aircraft.

Polemic with Catalan language

On June 2008 airberlin's CEO, Joachim Hunold, published an editorial[19] where he attacks the use of the Catalan language, saying that it is "like going back to the Middle Ages" and "using Spanish is enough". As in Catalonia this kind of speech is linked to the fascist regimes of the 20th century, this political attack made by an important German company caused a big scandal[20][21]. In 2007 airberlin had attacked using similar words the possibility that the Spanish government invested less in the Madrid airport and a little more in Barcelona's El Prat[22].

Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-03-27. p. 53.
  2. ^ airberlin.com:Investor Relations
  3. ^ a b airberlin.com:History
  4. ^ "World Airline Directory 1979". Flight International. March 1979.
  5. ^ Berlin Airport Company, Monthly Timetable Booklets for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, various editions April 1968 - October 1990
  6. ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, April 1979 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1979
  7. ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1980 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1980
  8. ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1981 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1981
  9. ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, April 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989
  10. ^ airberlin acquires dba
  11. ^ a b David Kaminski-Morrow (2007-04-03). "Air Berlin LTU move driven by access to Düsseldorf". Flight International. p. 9.
  12. ^ "airberlin unveils its new livery with an Airbus A319" Flight Global, 29/08/07
  13. ^ "airberlin seeks to buy Condor, give T. Cook stake" Reuters, Frankfurt, 20-Sept-2007.
  14. ^ airberlin.com:Gourmet Meals
  15. ^ airberlin.com:Onboard Service
  16. ^ airberlin.com:Seating
  17. ^ airberlin.com:topbonus
  18. ^ Boeing: Boeing, Air Berlin Announce Order for 25 787 Dreamliners
  19. ^ Air Berlin editorial attacking the Catalan language
  20. ^ Reactions to the Air Berlin attack against the Catalan language (in Catalan)
  21. ^ Reactions to the Air Berlin attack against the Catalan language (in Spanish)
  22. ^ Air Berlin wants no more inversions in Barcelona's airport

References

  • Berlin Airport Company - Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, several issues (German language edition only), 1968-1992. West Berlin, Germany: Berlin Airport Company.
  • "Flight International". Sutton, UK: Reed Business Information. ISSN 0015-3710. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) (various backdated issues relating to Air Berlin, 1979-2007)
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