airberlin topbonus - Germany Extends Air Berlin/Condor Merger Deadline

December 30, 2007

Air Berlin said that the German cartel office had extended the deadline for its evaluation of Air Berlin's merger with Condor.

Source: http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1199005452.html

What does Air Berlin plan to do with all these new airlines. Merge them all slowly into the Air Berlin name? Is this just going to mean the Air Berlin name to more holiday destinations?

Very interesting article in german including speculation on various future partners for troubled Air Berlin.

http://www.manager-magazin.de/magazin/artikel/0,2828,513449,00.html

Very interesting article in german including speculation on various future partners for troubled Air Berlin.

http://www.manager-magazin.de/magazin/artikel/0,2828,513449,00.html

How is Air Berlin troubled? They've posted consistant profits, are gobbling up foundering airlines that would otherwise collapse under the weigt of Lufthansa & giving some of the highest service levels in Europe for the price of a LCC!

Also, is there an english translation for that link?

They seem to be in a bit of a potential cash crunch. Manager Magazin states that they will have a negative free cash flow for the next couple of years and will thus be dependent on banks and PE investors.

Die Beteiligungsfirma Vatas ist zum größten Einzelinvestor der Fluggesellschaft Air Berlin geworden. Zum 2. Januar habe Vatas einen Anteil von 15,4 Prozent gehalten, teilte Air Berlin in Berlin mit. Einer der Geschäftsführer von Vatas ist der einstige Vorzeigeunternehmer Lars Windhorst. Die Berliner Investmentfirma Vatas hält auch Anteile am Internet-Dienstleister freenet

In English (SHORT VERSION): VATAS is the new biggest shareholder at AirBerlin. On Jan 2nd they owned 15,4 Perzent of the shares. One of the directors at VATAS is Lars Windhorst

OT:
(Didn't WINDHORST just have a crash landing on a flight from Hannover to Hongkong at a stop in Almaty with a private jet...????)