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Old 15th Mar 2007, 17:48
  #69 (permalink)  
virginblue
 
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I guess the problem is that for most destinations Air Berlin needs feed through its STN mini-hub as there will not be sufficient point-to-point demand. If they have to rely on additional domestic traffic from London because their feed from Germany is not sizeable enough to fill those planes (remember that a lot pax from Germany get off at STN for London), this pretty much rules out places such as CWL, BRS or BHX. DUB would be fun as Ryanair certainly would be looking for a nice massacre at Air Berlin's expense. I could imagine, though, that DUB would work for Air Berlin because of the feed from Germany. LPL, hmm, not sure. It would probably cannibalize the MAN route. As for other suggestions, NCL might be an option, also ABZ. Problem is if these markets are large enough for an additional carrier. Remember that BFS and MAN only work because there is no competition. At GLA, where they have to fight against Easyjet, the only use a Fokker 100, and GLA certainly has more appeal to most Germans than ABZ or NCL. One other problem is that Air Belrin is cutting back the routes from the continent, thus reducing the available feed for the STN mini-hub. VIE will be gone soon.
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