not sure seems to be the future of MAN-PAD (where people say it will stay) and the MAN-HAM (where some people say it will be axed) routes

i dont really agree with what you think is the reason of them leaving...

if the connecting product is not working for them, or the service delivery is not right, surely they should have identified that before they start... if every airline were only starting routes (risking losing millions of ££) to test whether they can deliver them, there wouldnt be a lot of airlines around.

also, if STN is too expensive for them, why dont they use LTN for the same routes... the competition there is exactly the same, possibly even less. thats what SkyEurope does with their routes, moving them from STN to LTN.

i think the reason why they are dropping these routes is very straight forward. looking at their CAA stats, they never went over 60% on any month, on any of those routes, so didnt really make any money on them at all... in fact probably lost them millions...

Exactly who says that AB has pulled off UK domestics.

There's nothing on the AB website in news or press-releases. Also, there are so far no schedules released for STN services from or to Germany either.

Unless the stroy is coming from ACL data, then it looks as though we're looking at "hearsay m'lud".

That said, Conrad is normally on the ball.

The lady at the Air Berlin ticket desk in Manchester confirmed to me that both the MAN-STN and MAN-HAM routes will be withdrawn at the end of Summer 07. However, MAN-PAD is set to continue. It is unclear whether or not MAN-HAM will resume for the Summer period 2008.

STN schedules were released a few days ago. All planes turn now at STN.
Leipzig being dropped.

AB load factor
 

AB have very good loads on the domestic routes, over the last couple of weeks the domestic's have been full.
I dont see how EZY and AB can be compared two very different airlines offering two very different products. AB connect within there own route network and have the link with HG. EZY have none of this.
AB dont live and die by the low cost model that Southwest and Ryanair follow. In some ways AB are like Go.

The reason AB have not gone to LTN, there is not good answer, but something may be a factor. As a WIZZAIR manager put it to me. LTN still has a small image problem. I could be wrong.

Air Berlin is a mixture
1. holiday airline (most traffic)
2. full service airline (all ex dba routes)
3. a low price airline (all AB euro shuttles)

Air Berlin would have great difficulty getting the morning slots they require at Luton. All of the slots up to 08.00 local are pretty much taken.

I would guess that Air Berlin are axing the UK domestics as the past and present yields are losing them money?

Now that might be due to:

Terminal/transfer delays
UK based airlines know the UK market better
More money can be made elsewhere whilst UK interest rates are high and the resident Lo-Co's have danced the 'rain dance' to get themselves bookings during the school holidays that were massively missing?

The UK market is such that profits are made in the 3 summer months, Buster understands that the rain has at last brought bookings and income leading to survivability?

Yet another UK interest rate rise will only see a more difficult UK market. Air Berlin, a multi national operator has probably recognised this and moved spare capacity elsewhere?

You have to remember, unlike most of mainland Europe, the UK interest rates are base upon the UK economy and not that of the rest of Europe.

Transfer in STN is one of the biggest problems, because STN is not a transfer airport and coming from Germany you always have to take this stupid train to the main terminal, pass immigration and have another security control before you can return to the gate.
Even though Air Berlin has practically its own transfer point this is still not very nice.
The internal uk market is for Air Berlin additional revenue, but I think main reason for the STN-hub was for transfering passengers.

I think that when trying to operate the STN hub, AB simply did not appreciate that because the UK is not part of Schengen, and insists instead on full immigration checks on EU arrivals, this type of operation is just too difficult to manage efficiently.

Last year some friends of ours nearly missed their connection from NUE, onward to GLA because of a combination of UK Immigration and STN inefficiency.

Compare the STN hub with the far larger operation in Nürnberg. There, the hub works like clockwork. Certainly the lack of immigration controls for most of the hubbing international flights plays it's part; but then compare the efficiency of that operation, with proper staffing levels by AirPart (the handling agent) and the airport itself compared with the shambles this is "UK plc" (horrible expression) and UK airport handling in particular, where everything is done at minimum cost, with minimum staffing levels.

It's a shame since AB are generally acknowledged as being the best LoCo operator in UK in terms of service, and it's just unfortunate that they couldn't make the STN hub work.

AB drop PMI
 

Yeah AB are dropping PMI at the end of the summer too, but it might come back next summer but dont think so.

Planes used on STN-MAN route
 

Does anyone know the planes used on the STN-MAN route with Air Berlin? I have heard two different ones the Fokker 100 or B737-800:confused:

Thanks! :)

Air Berlin chop and change their aircraft type all the time. Your best looking at the timetable section on their website. This will give you what type is due in for the next three days!

I do wish that AB would offer some routes from Exeter in competition with Flybe - not because I think Flybe are bad coz I actually really enjoy flying with them, but it would give a bit more variation on the apron. I like AB colours and its a shame they wouldn't consider EXT........a F100 could be good on some routes.

MAN-STN F100,B737-300 (ex dba), B737-700 and B737-800´s are all used.
You can see the regs at: http://www.ringwayreports.co.uk/aug07scheduled.htm
MAN-HAM is operated by B737-800 or A319
MAN-PAD is operated by B737-700 or -800

Air Berlin to take over LTU
 

Air Berlin’s LTU takeover goes ahead

08.08.2007The German Federal Cartel Office has agreed to Air Berlin’s LTU acquisition without any restrictions. Already and of March Air Berlin announced the intention to buy LTU for 140 million Euro. Additionally, Air Berlin offered to pay 200 million Euro for LTU’s debts.
Air Berlin’s CEO, Joachim Hunold welcomed the decision of the Federal Cartel Office: "We finally got the strategic decision that we hoped for. Nevertheless, it is regrettable that this process took so long. Synergies
could not be exploited. We missed the chance to adjust summer flight time tables of both airlines."
From 2008 onwards the Air Berlin board is expecting to make cost savings between 70 and 100 million Euro annually. Hunold explained: "If we can achieve this, is depending as well on trade union negotiations with LTU pilots."
The LTU has 27 planes and employs almost 2,800 people. Last year the company had a turnover of 1.06 million Euro and 5.7 million passengers. After the completed takeover, LTU will operate as an independent
Air Berlin company.

Last year the company had a turnover of 1.06 million Euro and 5.7 million passengers.


Shome mishtake, surely?

airberlin
 

do you know if airberlin will be doing flights out of cardiff soon

Don't think so - they are currently axing everything (MAN, GLA, BHD, BOH) outside London and are also cutting back STN-Germany (LEJ to go, afaik).

according to an Air Berlin Forum in Germany, even PAD-MAN and PAD-BOH are going to go at the end of the season.
But now new: MUC-STN from November, is now bookable.

Very disappointing to see AB leave the regions & stick with STN.
Judging by the fares Jet2 are charging for MAN- Berlin in December they must be having fairly good loads. Also given Flybe's poor showing/popularity & also the lack of competition on MAN-MUC, it's almost unbelievable that AB can't sustain a Berlin & Munich service from Manchester. Their Hamburg route from MAN has suffered from chopping & changing times-but that could easily be developed into a good connecting hub rather than STN.

Looks like the change of direction AB took has backed fired on them. I think, despite comments, load factors on BE German routes are actually quite good.

MAN-HAM is staying and bookable since today.
Connection flights all rerouted via HAM instead of STN.

Which is, however, not possible from a number of German airports due to the lack of domestic services to HAM (e.g. from TXL, FMO, PAD, HAJ).

Air Berlin to buy Condor from Thomas Cook
 

Air Berlin to buy Condor from Thomas Cook

FRANKFURT (AFP) — German low-cost carrier Air Berlin said Thursday it was planning to buy the Condor airline from British-based travel operator Thomas Cook.

Air Berlin said it would buy Condor in two stages from Thomas Cook in a deal worth between 380 million euros and 475 million euros.

Air Berlin is planning to take over 75.1 percent of Condor in February 2009 and a further 24.9 percent in February 2010. The transaction requires regulatory approval.

Thomas Cook will end up with a 29.9-percent stake in Air Berlin as part of the deal.

Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa said the tie-up would create "one of the leading low-fare airlines in Europe."

"One of the great things about this deal is that we get access to the capacity in Germany ... and also get access then to the synergies," he told journalists in a conference call.

Air Berlin said it believed it would make at least 70 million euros in savings from the tie-up.

Condor, founded in 1955, carries about seven million passengers a year.

It said in June it would be increasing long-haul flights for the winter season to meet rising demand after recording 20-percent rises this year in bookings for flights to destinations such as Mombasa in Kenya and Anchorage in the US state of Alaska.

air berlin /condor merger
 

here a press release from the ab website:

Thomas Cook merges Condor with Air Berlin


20.09.2007
Air Berlin to become one of the leading European airlines

Thomas Cook to receive at least EUR 500 million in shares and cash

Estimated annual synergies of more than EUR 70 million

Positive effects on Thomas Cook’s balance sheet and results

Thomas Cook consequently executes on its Asset Light Strategy

Thomas Cook Group plc will merge its stake in Condor Flugdienst GmbH with Air Berlin PLC. Air Berlin therewith becomes one of the leading European airlines and will with Condor be able to enlarge its long-distance flight business, which it runs since the acquisition of LTU. Thomas Cook Group is consequently executing on its Asset Light-Strategy as promised. Both partners expect positive synergies of at least Eur70 million. Thomas Cook will receive at least EUR 500 million in shares and cash and has the option to gain a total amount of EUR 600 million over the positive share price development of Air Berlin. Through the integration of Condor into Air Berlin Thomas Cook will in addition achieve positive effects on its balance sheet and results. The transaction is subject to the approval by the cartel authorities.

75.1% of Condor Flugdienst Gmbh belong to Thomas Cook Group plc and 24.9 % to Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The agreement about the mutual shareholdings between Air Berlin and Thomas Cook ist still subject to Deutsche Lufthansa AG not asserting a contractual preemption right. The acqusition of 75.1% of Condor by Air Berlin will be completed until February 10, 2009. For the remaining 24.9% Thomas Cook will exercise its call options and afterwards will assign the shares to Air Berlin.

Air Berlin already offers a range of attractive flight connections between hubs like Düsseldorf, Berlin and Mallorca. Through the integration of Condor Air Berlin will be able to increase the attractivesness of its offer at the airports Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg. In addition Air Berlin has just placed the biggest order in Europe for the currently most modern aircraft model Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

As Manny Fontenla-Novoa, CEO of Thomas Cook’s stated: "The agreement aims at reducing risk and maximizing flexibility. This transaction will create significant value for the shareholders of Thomas Cook and secure the long-term future for Condor. As the biggest shareholder of Air Berlin, we are benefiting from Air Berlin’s extensive flight offer. Together, we have a significant potential for growth. Furthermore, Air Berlin will remain a long-term strategic partner for Thomas Cook and provide us with flight capacities."

Joachim Hunold, Air Berlin’s CEO, explained in Düsseldorf on Thursday: "In light of the quickly progressing concentration process of European aviation, integrating Con-dor into the Air Berlin Group secures the future for both companies. Together, we will achieve international competitiveness. This step makes sense, especially following the takeover of LTU, since it will enable us to offer our clients a more tightly-meshed long-haul flight network."

Ludger Heuberg, CFO of Thomas Cook Group plc, emphasized that exchanging Condor shares for Air Berlin shares will increase profits per share for the sharehold-ers of Thomas Cook: "The participation in the new Air Berlin is worth more than a 100 percent participation in Condor." Thomas Cook plc will consolidate its share in Air Berlin at equity.

Ulf Hüttmeyer, CFO of Air Berlin PLC, said: "Earnings per share for Air Berlin will not decrease through Thomas Cook’s investment in 2009. They will more likely increase through the synergies that we will achieve."

Background information

Founded in 1955, Condor Flugdienst GmbH currently has a fleet of 35 aircraft and transported 7.8 million passengers last year. Sales volume amounted to EUR 1.2 billion. While Condor, like LTU, mainly focused on tour operators and travel agencies for its sales, Air Berlin concentrated on single-seat sales and sales over the Internet. Moreover, Air Berlin already has a high percentage of business travelers. Last year, Air Berlin transported 19.7 million passengers. Sales volume in 2006 amounted to EUR 1.57 billion. At present, the Air Berlin Group operates a fleet of 131 aircraft.

Air Berlin
 

There have been many things happening with Air Berlin the past 2 years, mergers resulting in the acquisition of important slots. Large amount of B787 on order and several on option.

Where is Air Berlin going? What are their intentions? Fleet consisting of both Airbus and Boeing - a cost issue in the future?
Will they be able to keep their generous in-flight service and baggage allowance strategy even though they are considered a low cost carrier?

Bases in Stansted, Nuremberg and Palma; rumours about closing Stansted??

New routes?

Anyone who has any interesting information, please share it!

I think you could read an existing Air Berlin thread first. Concerning the Stansted hub, Air Berlin has already given it up, it is not any rumour, it's a fact.

On 1st November the first of two Boeing 757s in Air Berlin livery took off from the Nuremberg hub with Tenerife as its destination.
anyone know where a photo of the 757 can be found ?

The reason why I asked was because I couldn't find anything interesting in the thread (manage somehow to open a new thread instead of adding to the existing one - my bad!)

Also closing Stansted hasn't been confirmed (please correct me if I'm wrong), only that they're pulling out of the UK domestic market. The Air Berlin website still mentions Stansted as a hub.

Belair 757 in new Air Berlin livery
http://www.flightforum.ch/forum/show...8&postcount=10

Aren't all flights operated from German bases now?

at the moment they have a big hub on Palma serving the spanish market as well as Stansted, northern europe etc. Also there are flights operating international from Stansted that doesn't go through Germany...

Also there are flights operating international from Stansted that doesn't go through
 

Also there are flights operating international from Stansted that doesn't go through Germany...


REALLY???? Air Berlin???????????? you sure?????????

no sorry I didnt have my facts clear, they all go through Germany of course

A quote from a well known aviation magazine states the airline is in talks to establish new connections between Germany and the UK after suspending its UK domestic routes.

I would imagine that Manchester to Berlin must be high on the agenda as no airline currently flys the route.

Playamar2

Newcastle to Berlin would be grand too. EZ pulled the route last year despite everything pointing towards the fact that the route was succeeding. Newcastle has only one budget route to Germany at the moment (Hanover) and it's about time someone developed the links to the North East a bit... And if it's Air Berlin - Brilliant!

They won´t fly NCL-DUS, because LH just upgraded to 2 x daily on that route.

Never say "wont". Perhaps they are getting in first and know something amateurs dont.

AB will add NCL to the route network shortly.

Would be nice to see them add DUS but i would have thought the airport would want them to operate other routes 1st.
SXF, CGN & MUC would be my 1st guesses