Any pilot at airberlin that has a linkedin account already got the offer of a direct ryanair contract (not via one of the agencies) at the base he wants, no matter if he is rated or not. In fact, they were the first (of a lot) of interested employers to send that offer. It is however not something most would consider. At the moment the situation looks pretty good for those in the pointy end, less so for those on the ground.

FLYBE opportunity
 

Chance to pick up some DH8 routes. Enhance DUS base plans with German reg A/C and crews. Here's a freeby from a regular c
ustomer....market and paint job "FLYDE"...!

QATAR is stepping in....
https://www.austrianwings.info/2017/...erlin-piloten/

And Norwegian roadshow 24th of August in Berlin.
Together with OSM agency............

I hear Condor is also in the mix. Would they be looking at just narrowbodies or both A320/21s and A330s?

I wish everyone at AB the very best going forward.

Thomas Cook are searching for more second hand 330's however I doubt that they would take these as they are not Trent engined.

EasyJet will not want the aircraft, just the slots.

Condor could take around 10 A320 series aircraft

The 330's will probably go to Eurowings as will the rest of the 320's.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKCN1B416F


Let us see what happens...

Might become a longer debate. However they are said to burn their cash fast.

There is no slot concept in Germany. Easyjet is out to get flight crew and some A320.

All AB long range flights from Berlin-Tegel seem to end soon. DUS long range flights seem to carry on.

About an hour ago the news said that Ryanair had stepped out ... Quoting their CEO... Because they could not get access to the takeover/bidding process...
And repeated the Ryanair claim that the bidding process was rigged and the timing of the bankruptcy declaration being in sync with the German elections.
Both aspects giving an 'asymmetrical' advantage to Lufthansa.
Expectation being that LH would take the best parts and only be limited by German and European anti-trust authorities.

Ah well, but everybody who wants has access to the bidding process, apparently currently talks are ongoing with at least 10 different parties, one of which is Lufthansa. MOL as usual was in it for a quick round of press attention in germany.

Same business radio station that i referred to yesterday had an update today. A major German aerospace/airline investor has pulled out of the bidding too. His statement was that he had access like everyone to the process, but refused to sign the required associated non-disclosure agreement.
The station added that probably four out of ten bidders would be left. But bidders probably interested in the same slots. Which suggested that LH at this stage would not bid for the whole company.

Apparently AB has cancelled numerous flights today due to many pilots calling in sick... Any more info about this ? What do pilots have to gain precipitating de demise of the company ?

In my experience, "throwing a sickie" is often cover for going for a job interview. Wouldn't surprise me if this was the case here.

Stress from not knowing wtf is going on probably! And what ATNotts says!

The union reportedly thinks the rather abrupt winding down of the long haul operation is a way of legally getting rid of the more expensive senior pilots. It is reported that ten of the A330s are now being returned to the leasor Aercap. A meeting between management and pilots ended unhappily yesterday and it appears today's chaos may be connected to that.

I hate to break it but AB is for all intent and purpose bankrupt. They are just lucky that the German election are impending IMHO.
Not sure the pilots have a really strong negotiation position at this point. Yes the outcome will be painful but some might prefer worse conditions to no job.

Now though instead of wasting AB/EY money they are wasting the German people's money, I'm afraid it's the last act of a dying pilot group, let's hope they find jobs someplace else soon.

250 pilots have called in sick, so that would be a lot of job interviews on the same day...

From what is known, the company has refused a deal with the pilots about the conditions of the unavoidable redundancies and as a result, after yesterday's announcement of the end of most longhaul routes in two weeks time that will lead to a first orund of lay-offs, they have called in sick today.