airberlin restructuring is official!
#1
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airberlin restructuring is official!
airberlin announced their drastic restructuring:
- focus on Berlin and Duesseldorf hubs with 75 planes, including all their A330, with focus on US, Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe;
- up to 40 A320 will be wet leased to Lufthansa Group (probably Eurowings)
- up to 30 planes & crews will be put into tourist business unit (maybe sold later?) including seasonal destinations
- 1,200 lay-offs
For travelers/topbonus members:
Good news: in short-term, topbonus earn/redeem/benefits remain on AB & partner flights, all existing award tickets honored;
in long-term, hopefully better connections with Etihad/Alitalia, better service as full-service airline, instead of full-service/low-cost hybrid
Bad news in long-term: a LOT fewer AB/OneWorld flights, especially if you don't live/travel from Berlin or Duesseldorf
the press release is here
details and impact analysis is here
- focus on Berlin and Duesseldorf hubs with 75 planes, including all their A330, with focus on US, Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe;
- up to 40 A320 will be wet leased to Lufthansa Group (probably Eurowings)
- up to 30 planes & crews will be put into tourist business unit (maybe sold later?) including seasonal destinations
- 1,200 lay-offs
For travelers/topbonus members:
Good news: in short-term, topbonus earn/redeem/benefits remain on AB & partner flights, all existing award tickets honored;
in long-term, hopefully better connections with Etihad/Alitalia, better service as full-service airline, instead of full-service/low-cost hybrid
Bad news in long-term: a LOT fewer AB/OneWorld flights, especially if you don't live/travel from Berlin or Duesseldorf
the press release is here
details and impact analysis is here
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Gdynia, Poland
Posts: 631
Thanks for this information.
I'm supposed to fly AB in November (AUH-BER) and January (BER-FNC-BER). I don't think there'll be any problems with the first flight, but I'm concerned about the second one. Considering that it departs from BER, it should be fine. However, FNC is one of "tourist" destinations (from the point of view of press release), so I wonder if it's not one of routes which will be abandoned (moved to separate company) by AB?
I'm supposed to fly AB in November (AUH-BER) and January (BER-FNC-BER). I don't think there'll be any problems with the first flight, but I'm concerned about the second one. Considering that it departs from BER, it should be fine. However, FNC is one of "tourist" destinations (from the point of view of press release), so I wonder if it's not one of routes which will be abandoned (moved to separate company) by AB?
Last edited by tropikey; Sep 29, 2016 at 12:09 am
#3
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This is all intended. Basically, Etihad wants to completely reduce AB's European routes in favour of intercontinental routes. Since Etihad is facing trouble securing slots in US markets, they are going to use Air Berlin as a way to expand into US markets.
It's good. Air Berlin will look more like a real traditional carrier, feeding DUS/TXL as a hub, than whatever ridiculous arrangement they have now: flights all over the place, flying to low-yield leisure markets, running a confused business class product, trying to be a LCC, and so forth.
It's good. Air Berlin will look more like a real traditional carrier, feeding DUS/TXL as a hub, than whatever ridiculous arrangement they have now: flights all over the place, flying to low-yield leisure markets, running a confused business class product, trying to be a LCC, and so forth.
#5
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How does this relate to the news yesterday that SN is being purchased?
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Sep 29, 2016 at 1:27 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Gdynia, Poland
Posts: 631
I have nothing against this restructuring, particularly that I like AB (well, "used to like" is more appropriate due to the fact that they refuse to give me back 75 EUR of undue charge and that they decided to cancel TXL-GDN connection ). I wish AB all the best but I wish also, their efforts will not affect my personal plans in negative way.
#7
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#8
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The markets may not be there though (BOS has double daily DXB and daily DOH - MIA would have better potential) and AB is a good way of getting feed in BOS and MIA.
Would love to see BOS-TXL, even if its seasonal 3-4 weekly) come out of this restructure though.
#9
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airberlin announced their drastic restructuring:
- focus on Berlin and Duesseldorf hubs with 75 planes, including all their A330, with focus on US, Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe;
- up to 40 A320 will be wet leased to Lufthansa Group (probably Eurowings)
- up to 30 planes & crews will be put into tourist business unit (maybe sold later?) including seasonal destinations
- 1,200 lay-offs
- focus on Berlin and Duesseldorf hubs with 75 planes, including all their A330, with focus on US, Italy, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe;
- up to 40 A320 will be wet leased to Lufthansa Group (probably Eurowings)
- up to 30 planes & crews will be put into tourist business unit (maybe sold later?) including seasonal destinations
- 1,200 lay-offs
#11
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The American carriers are fighting tooth and nail to keep the Gulf carriers out of America.
(Apparently, that's "Diplomacy in Action")
http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/othr/ata/u/ae/114502.htm