Lufthansa is interested in taking over airberlin
#46
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: MM, EK, HH, etc.
Posts: 381
Clear statement yesterday that LH doesn't want to take over AB, but is open to expanding the ACMI deal it already has for 38 A320.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-l...-idUSKBN19F0RK
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-l...-idUSKBN19F0RK
#48
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany
Programs: Miles & More, Amex
Posts: 678
German newspapers are reporting that LH seems to negotiate with the leasing companies reagarding leasing/buying the AB planes. AB Crew shall then be hired on EW terms and conditions.
Other parts of AB could be taken by U2.
But currently, this is nothing more than (well informed) rumors.
Other parts of AB could be taken by U2.
But currently, this is nothing more than (well informed) rumors.
#49
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
Earlier this year LH already renegotiated and reassigned the leases of 15 from the 38 aircraft that AB wetleased to EW. The leasing companies knew of the financial troubles behind AB and wanted a better deal. When EY put in 250 million in February, that activity reduced again. LH is probably waiting for the lessors to get cold feet and then makes a deal.
#50
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: MM, EK, HH, etc.
Posts: 381
Earlier this year LH already renegotiated and reassigned the leases of 15 from the 38 aircraft that AB wetleased to EW. The leasing companies knew of the financial troubles behind AB and wanted a better deal. When EY put in 250 million in February, that activity reduced again. LH is probably waiting for the lessors to get cold feet and then makes a deal.
#51
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
I doubt LH is super happy about the current situation. So far AB was a competitor they knew and could keep at bay. FR and DY are a different animal. AB going away makes room for them. Repurposing AB's assets for EW isn't going to solve the FR/DY threat.
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Do we have thread somewhere about speculation along the lines of which routes might end up with whom? The only longhaul route AB had that I used was to RSW, as we have a vacation place nearby. I'd love to see that going to LH but I suspect if they keep it it'll end up with EW (so no thank you).
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,742
Originally Posted by Irish Independent
While O'Brien was pulling Ryanair's punches away from the DAA, it has a new target in its sights - Germany - and the airline is still seething over what it sees as a 'stitch up' over the future of insolvent Air Berlin's assets. Jacobs doesn't see why Irish passengers, and others, have to frequently connect with large cities via Lufthansa's two chosen gateways: "Why do I have to fly through Frankfurt or Munich to get to anywhere?" he asked. "You have a city like Berlin, with two airports with 33 million capacity between those two airports, which is going to one airport - whenever that opens - which will have 27 million capacity. And the mayor of that city thinks that's a great thing and that Ryanair shouldn't have an opinion on this."
<snip>
Meanwhile Jacobs added, in a bout of realpolitik: "We're giving Germany a hard time today, but at some in point in time do we want to be feeding the long-haul operations of Lufthansa? Absolutely. And every other airline in Europe."
<snip>
Meanwhile Jacobs added, in a bout of realpolitik: "We're giving Germany a hard time today, but at some in point in time do we want to be feeding the long-haul operations of Lufthansa? Absolutely. And every other airline in Europe."
#55
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
I guess nobody is stopping Ryanair to fly to anywhere in the world from Berlin (TXL, SXF or BER in 2019) even today...?
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
#57
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
An Irish carrier can fly to the US thanks to the US-EU open skies... DY is busy doing that from FRs home market
#58
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 286
What is stopping or at least limiting Ryanair and other carriers (don't know whether this is true specifically for Berlin, it surely is for TXL and other airports like DUS) is the scarcity of slots. And that's the sole reason someone takes an interest in AB because they do have a huge number of slots there.
#59
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
Again, if AB goes away, the FluKo can assign the slots to whoever wants them. There are some criteria for that, and new entrants have a preference in that scheme (4.3. in the attachment). There is no trading scheme for slots at German airports. Even if LH buys all of AB's operations to merge with EW they will file applications for new slots under EW's name (see clause 4.7 in the attachment).
LH has given up quite a few slots in DUS/TXL in the past years and new entrants had no problems getting new ones.
http://www.fhkd-speicher.org/regulation-guidelines/
LH has given up quite a few slots in DUS/TXL in the past years and new entrants had no problems getting new ones.
http://www.fhkd-speicher.org/regulation-guidelines/
#60
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 286
My understanding is that if you acquire an operating part of AB which has slots assigned to it you also keep the slots (assuming AB has managed to retain the rights, i.e. has served a given slot by at least 80% in the previous year's season).
That's the sole reason for any interest in parts of AB.
That's the sole reason for any interest in parts of AB.