Air Berlin & Niki Luftfahrt to acquire up to 110 A320
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Air Berlin & Niki Luftfahrt to acquire up to 110 A320
AIR BERLIN AND NIKI LUFTFAHRT TO ACQUIRE UP TO 110 AIRBUS A320 AIRCRAFT
NOVEMBER 04, 2004
German low-cost airline Air Berlin and its Austrian partner Niki Luftfahrt GmbH have decided to acquire up to 110 Airbus A320 aircraft in a combined acquisition. The initial agreements, signed during a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, in the presence of Joachim Hunold, Managing Partner of Air Berlin, Niki Lauda, President of Niki and Gustav Humbert, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, will cover firm orders for 70 aircraft, of which 60 will join the fleet ...
NOVEMBER 04, 2004
German low-cost airline Air Berlin and its Austrian partner Niki Luftfahrt GmbH have decided to acquire up to 110 Airbus A320 aircraft in a combined acquisition. The initial agreements, signed during a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany, in the presence of Joachim Hunold, Managing Partner of Air Berlin, Niki Lauda, President of Niki and Gustav Humbert, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, will cover firm orders for 70 aircraft, of which 60 will join the fleet ...
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The chairman of Air Berlin has hinted yesterday in a TV -interview that they will have to acquire on short notice additional aircraft even from Boeing ( more 737-800's ) in oder to introduce new routes and add frequencies to existing ones.He also announced the hiring of 350 staff-mainly cabin and cockpit crews.
It is assumed that AB will ultimately have a two- manufacturer fleet,since the actual aircraft are very recent.
Flyniki is up for ten more A 320's out of the pack (or 319 or 321, since the deal with Airbus specifies flexibility in aircraft-type).Air Berlin should start flights to Paris once the slot-availability is cleared.
It is assumed that AB will ultimately have a two- manufacturer fleet,since the actual aircraft are very recent.
Flyniki is up for ten more A 320's out of the pack (or 319 or 321, since the deal with Airbus specifies flexibility in aircraft-type).Air Berlin should start flights to Paris once the slot-availability is cleared.
Last edited by beaucaire; 6th Nov 2004 at 16:59.
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Donīt know if its such good news. AB does not have the best reputation amongst ths flying commuinity in Germany. Their boss is using very interesting methods to keep his pilots away from any kind of unions. Also, financial situatian is very dubious, considering their initial plans to go public, then retreating and raising money throu new a/c purchases..Letīs wait and see..
Repulo,
Whatever the ethical rights and wrongs of Joachim Hunold's methods to keep employees out of unions, AB is working in a very competitive environment, where the antics of some German trades unions would make their business totally uncompetitive in Europe. Look at the recent IG Metal situation with VW, or Karstadt's attempts to streamline their businesses for example. JH could easily relocate his business elsewhere in the EU where labour is more flexible, and less costly. In any event Air Berlin must surely have a works council of sorts, and employee representation - something a lot of UK employees would die for!
As for buying aircraft, that's a leap of faith I think. 320DRIVER reports they are "acquiring" them. That suggests leasing is a possibility. Do they own the 737 fleet?
Finally, why does the decision to defer stock exchange listing suggest a difficult financial situation? If I were running private business I would look at just about every option for raising capital before allowing someone else to mess around with my business. Richard Branson afterall went to the market, realised it was not interested in anything other than short-term gain, and took the business back into private ownership.
Whatever the ethical rights and wrongs of Joachim Hunold's methods to keep employees out of unions, AB is working in a very competitive environment, where the antics of some German trades unions would make their business totally uncompetitive in Europe. Look at the recent IG Metal situation with VW, or Karstadt's attempts to streamline their businesses for example. JH could easily relocate his business elsewhere in the EU where labour is more flexible, and less costly. In any event Air Berlin must surely have a works council of sorts, and employee representation - something a lot of UK employees would die for!
As for buying aircraft, that's a leap of faith I think. 320DRIVER reports they are "acquiring" them. That suggests leasing is a possibility. Do they own the 737 fleet?
Finally, why does the decision to defer stock exchange listing suggest a difficult financial situation? If I were running private business I would look at just about every option for raising capital before allowing someone else to mess around with my business. Richard Branson afterall went to the market, realised it was not interested in anything other than short-term gain, and took the business back into private ownership.
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Nobody is obliged to apply for a job with Air Berlin - it seems nevertheless they don't have any major problems getting candidates regardless of union policy by Mr. Hunold. I even know french pilots who have applied for jobs in the cockpit.He's a great entrepreneur who brought the company to it's current size within ten years. The planes he orders will provide jobs not only for Air Berlin staff but for workers with Airbus and suppliers. I can't hear this union problems any longer- if unions feel Air Berlin treats employees so badly,they can create "Union Air" and see how long they stay competetive....
