If my memory does not fail, no airline has ever been able to operate domestic services profitably since the first Lufthansa Convair 340 took off for a domestic flight in April 1955. Which has something to do with the size of the country. Exeptions have been " longhaul " routes, like Munich-Hamburg, or Stuttgart-Berlin, but only on Monday mornings and on Friday evenings, when the loads of Business class passengers were reasonable. Many knew better, many failed. Some have still to learn this. In my view it would be best, if Lufthansa gets the biggest part of the Air Berlin business. They could make the best use of slots, aircraft, and personnel. It has nothing to do with illegal take over, it would just be common sense. Having worked for a large airline, I know very well how important it is to work for a company with sound financing, good working conditions, high safety standards, and a decent pension scheme. Lufthansa would fit into this frame. I did not, by the way, work for LH.