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Air Berlin (Germany)
| Please expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German Wikipedia. (January 2010) After translating, {{Translated|de|Air Berlin}} must be added to the talk page to ensure copyright compliance.Translation instructions · Translate via Google |
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| Founded | 1978 (as Air Berlin USA) | |||
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| Hubs | ||||
| Focus cities | ||||
| Frequent flyer program | topbonus | |||
| Fleet size | 144 (+116 orders, 10 options) | |||
| Destinations | 138 | |||
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | |||
| Key people | Joachim Hunold (CEO) Elke Schütt (CCO[clarification needed]) Karl F. Lotz (COO) Ulf Hüttmeyer (CFO) Wolfgang Kurth (CMO[clarification needed]) |
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| Website | airberlin.com | |||
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG (stylized as airberlin) is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa.[1] It is headquartered in Berlin,[2][3] and operates extensive semi-low-cost services to holiday destinations on the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and North Africa, as well as to major cities in Europe from 21 German airports. Its main base is Berlin-Tegel International Airport, with its biggest hub at Düsseldorf International Airport. Other hub airports are Munich Airport, Nuremberg Airport and Son Sant Joan Airport, Palma[4]. Air Berlin's parent company, Air Berlin Group or Air Berlin PLC, is publicly traded (FSE: AB1, ISIN is GB00B128C026)[5] As at 30 September 2009, it had 8,292 employees.[6] The airline carried 27.9 million passengers in 2009 [7].
Contents |
History
1978-1999
In 1978, former Pan Am captain Kim Lundgren and former Modern Air Transport general manager John D. MacDonald formed Air Berlin as a US supplemental carrier and incorporated it under the name Air Berlin, Inc. in Oregon, USA. Air Berlin traded as Air Berlin USA until 2 October 1990[8][9], the day before German reunification. In 1985, Air Berlin became headquartered at Tegel Airport.[10]
West Berlin's special legal status during the Cold War era (8 April 1945 - 2 October 1990) meant that all air traffic to and from the Western half of Germany's divided former and present capital was restricted to the airlines of the three Western victorious powers of World War II, i.e. only those headquartered in the US, UK and France. In addition, all flightdeck crew, i.e. pilots, flight engineers and navigators, flying aircraft into and out of West Berlin through the Allied air corridors were required to hold American, British or French passports.[11]
The newly-formed airline's first aircraft was a Boeing 707-320, which it had acquired second-hand from TWA.[12] This aircraft was stationed at Berlin's Tegel Airport. It was assigned to fulfill a lucrative charter contract to operate a series of short- to medium-haul IT charter flights to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands on behalf of Berliner Flug Ring, at the time West Berlin's leading package tour operator.[13] Air Berlin had taken over this contract from Aeroamerica, another US supplemental carrier, which had been based at Berlin Tegel from 1974 until 1979.[13] In addition to operating inclusive tour (IT) charter flights from Berlin Tegel under contract to Berliner Flug Ring, Air Berlin also operated a weekly scheduled service from Tegel via Brussels to Orlando, Florida, USA, for a brief period during the early 1980s.[14]
Air Berlin initially augmented its fleet through the acquisition of additional, second-hand Boeing 707s. These were replaced with more modern, second-hand Boeing 737-200 Advanced, which were more appropriate for the airline's IT operations from Berlin, from the spring of 1981.[15]
Eventually, Air Berlin transitioned to a fleet entirely composed of brand-new Boeing 737-300/400s during the late 1980s.[16] This coincided with the introduction of a new livery.[16]
Following Germany's reunification on 3 October 1990, German investors acquired a majority stake in the company and Joachim Hunold, a former LTU manager, became the CEO. The airline was re-registered under German law and renamed Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG.[8] The airline joined IATA and started scheduled flights to European business capitals, such as London, Zurich, Vienna and Barcelona in 1997.
2000-2009
In January 2004, Air Berlin announced cooperation with former Formula One driver Niki Lauda's newly founded airline Niki taking a 24% stake in Niki.[8]
In 2006, Air Berlin successfully completed an initial public offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Originally scheduled for 5 May 2006, it was postponed until 11 May 2006; the company cited recent rises in fuel costs and other market pressures leading to limited of investor demand and reduced the initial share-price range from 15.0-17.5 to 11.5-14.5 and the stock opened at 12.0. 42.5 million shares were sold in the IPO. Of this, 19.6 million were new shares increasing capital in the company, and the remainder to replay loans extended by the original shareholders and invested in the company earlier in 2006. After the IPO, the company claimed to have over 400 million Euros in cash to fund further expansion, including aircraft purchases.[17]
Later in 2006 Air Berlin announced that it had acquired 100% of the shares in dba[18] and in August 2006, the acquisition was formally completed. In March 2007, Air Berlin took over German charter airline LTU International, thereby creating the fourth largest airline group in Europe (in terms of passenger traffic), carrying 22.1 million passengers in 2006. At the same time, Air Berlin acquired a 49% shareholding in Swiss airline Belair owned by tour operator Hotelplan.[19]
In 2007, a new livery was brought in, first shown on Airbus A319.[20]
On 20 September 2007, Air Berlin announced that it would acquire its competitor Condor Airlines in a deal that would give Thomas Cook a 30% stake in Air Berlin.[21] A variety of considerations, including the rapidly increasing price of jet fuel, led to the abandonment of the deal in July 2008.
On 31 October 2007, Air Berlin discontinued its routes from London Stansted to Belfast City, Glasgow, Palma Mallorca and Manchester, the latter of the routes now taken over by Ryanair to Belfast City and Palma Mallorca, and the Glasgow and Palma Mallorca routes taken over by EasyJet.
In June 2008, Air Berlin's CEO, Joachim Hunold, claimed in an op-ed[22] in Air Berlin Magazine that the government of the Balearic Islands was trying to impose the use of Catalan in their flights from and to Majorca. He said that Air Berlin is an International airline and therefore does not have to use Catalan language. Hunold went on to criticise the language policy in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, claiming that today many children cannot speak Spanish.[23] Hunold's remarks were not well received in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia where his views, such as his preference for "imperial" languages, have been considered supremacist.[citation needed] The Balearic Islands' socialist President, Francesc Antich, explained that his Government had simply sent a letter to encourage airlines operating in the Balearic Islands to include Catalan among the languages they use with their customers, whether that be through staff training or recorded announcements as used by other airlines, and offering them support in doing so.[24] The Catalan language is used to some extent by several other international airlines, including EasyJet, Ryanair and American Airlines, as can be seen on their respective web pages. As a result of Hunold's comments, FC Barcelona refused to use an Air Berlin plane to fly to the United States for their 2008 pre-season tour.[citation needed]
On 18 June 2008 [25], Air Berlin announced that it would be permanently grounding 14 short-haul aircraft and reducing recently launched long-haul services in an effort to increase profitability throughout the network. This would effectively reduce overall flight capacity by 10 percent, although long-haul flight capacity would be cut by 30 percent. In addition, it was announced that Cape Town, Windhoek and Bangkok flights would be reduced, while flights to Miami, Cancun and Montego Bay would be increased.
In 2009 the airline was awarded as the most punctual scheduled operator at London Stansted Airport during 2008 by Flight on Time, based on CAA statistics.[26]
At the end of March 2009, TUI Travel PLC and Air Berlin PLC signed a strategic partnership agreement. It is based on a cross ownership in which TUI Travel PLC through a subsidiary, will have an interest of 19.9 percent in Air Berlin PLC and vice versa Air Berlin PLC will hold 19.9 percent of Hapag-Lloyd Fluggesellschaft mbH/TUIfly. In case it would be permitted by the German Monopolies Commission, all TUIfly city routes will be chartered to Air Berlin in future via a long term wet lease.[27]
On May 1, 2009 Air Berlin finally shut down the LTU brand. All flights operated by LTU aircraft and crew have now Air Berlin flight numbers, colours and Air Berlin name.
Since 25 October 2009, Air Berlin operates former domestic TUIfly routes as well as those to Italy, Croatia and Austria. Air Berlin also took over all of Tuifly's Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The route shift is due to an agreement of the two airlines, which sees them each taking a 9.9% share of the other one. In the future, TUIfly will leave all of their scheduled flights to Air Berlin and fully rely on charter services.[28]
Services
The airline offers including in-flight snacks, meals, and drinks. Meals for purchase are available on short haul routes over 90 minutes; meals must be purchased during a period spanning from 30 days to 48 hours before the flight or also during the flight.[29] Drinks and snacks (for routes up to six hours) are free on all flights. Free meals exist for flights six hours or longer such as on intercontinental flights.[30] The airline also has newspapers on board,[31] assigned seating[32] and a frequent flyer programme.[33] Additionally Air Berlin offers some dedicated seasonal sightseeing flights (without landing) around the North Pole for Deutsche Polarflug.[34]
Destinations
Air Berlin has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
Fleet
The Air Berlin fleet consists of the following aircraft (at 14 January 2010):[35]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Options | Passengers (Relax/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 150 (0/150) | Germany, Europe | |
| Airbus A320-214 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 174 (0/174) | Germany, Europe | 5 operated by Belair Airlines |
| Airbus A320-232 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 156 (0/156) | Germany, Europe | Leased from Blue Wings |
| Airbus A321-211 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 210 (0/210) | Germany, Europe, North Africa | |
| Airbus A330-223 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 303 (24/279) | Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, North America | |
| Airbus A330-322 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 387 (0/387) | Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe | To be replaced by: Boeing 787 |
| Boeing 737-300 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 136 (0/136) | Germany, Europe | Operated by Germania |
| Boeing 737-700 | 27 | 32 | 0 | 144 (0/144) | Germany, Europe | 6 operated by Germania 11 operated by TUIfly |
| Boeing 737-800 | 36 | 59 | 0 | 186 (0/186) | Germany, Europe, North Africa | 2 operated by TUIfly 1 for Norwegian Air Shuttle |
| Boeing 787-8 | 0 | 25 | 10 | TBA | TBA | Entry into service: 2013 |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 76 (0/76) | Germany, Europe | Operated by LGW |
| Total | 131 | 116 | 10 | Last updated: 14 January 2010 |
At 6 January 2010, the average age of the Air Berlin fleet is 5 years.[36]
On 28 November 2006, Boeing announced that Air Berlin intended to purchase 60 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 and also identified an order placed earlier in 2006 for 15 Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The combined value of the 75 airplanes would be $5.1 billion at list prices. Apparently, Air Berlin also has 10 unfilled 737-700s from a dba order announced in 2005.[citation needed] Air Berlin expects to take delivery of a total of 85 737s, starting in November 2007.[37] All 85 737s will be equipped with blended winglets, which significantly improve fuel efficiency.
On 7 July 2007, Air Berlin announced an order for 25 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with options and purchase rights for more.[38]. Three more B787-8 will be leased from ILFC and will start its service in 2011.
Fleet history
Over the years, Air Berlin operated the following aircraft types:[39]
| Aircraft | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319 | 2006 | ||
| Airbus A320 | 2005 | ||
| Airbus A321 | 2008 | following the LTU fleet incorporation | |
| Airbus A330-200 | 2008 | following the LTU fleet incorporation | |
| Airbus A330-300 | 2008 | following the LTU fleet incorporation | |
| BAe 146-200 | 2003 | 2004 | |
| Boeing 737-200 | 1980 | 1986 | Air Berlin USA |
| Boeing 737-300 | 1986 2007 |
1990 [] |
|
| Boeing 737-400 | 1990 | 2007 | |
| Boeing 737-700 | 2003 | ||
| Boeing 737-800 | 1998 | ||
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 2008 | operated by LGW | |
| Fokker 100 | 2004 | 2009 |
Incidents and accidents
Since the airline was founded in 1978, Air Berlin did not suffer any plane crashes resulting in a hull-loss of the aircraft involved, let alone any fatalties. The most serious incident (still without any injuries) occurred on 3 January 2010, when Air Berlin Flight 2450, a Boeing 737-800 (registration D-ABFK), overshot the runway at Dortmund Airport after an aborted take-off in snowy conditions.[40]
Notes
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Contact." Air Berlin. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Approach map." Air Berlin. Retrieved on 12 May 2009.
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: p. 53. 2007-03-27.
- ^ Investor Relations Page on airberlin.com
- ^ Interim Financial Report September 2009 Accessed 6 January 2010
- ^ Air Berlin reveals 2009 passenger numbers
- ^ a b c airberlin.com:History
- ^ "World Airline Directory 1979". Flight International. March 1979.
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 34." Retrieved on August 21, 2009.
- ^ Berlin Airport Company, Monthly Timetable Booklets for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, various editions April 1968 - October 1990
- ^ [2]
- ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, April 1979 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1979
- ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1980 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1980
- ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1981 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1981
- ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, April 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989
- ^ Repricing of IPO
- ^ Air Berlin acquires dba
- ^ David Kaminski-Morrow (2007-04-03). "Air Berlin LTU move driven by access to Düsseldorf". Flight International: p. 9.
- ^ "Air Berlin unveils its new livery with an Airbus A319" Flight Global, 29/08/07
- ^ "Air Berlin seeks to buy Condor, give T. Cook stake" Reuters, Frankfurt, 20-Sept-2007.
- ^ Air Berlin Magazine(German)
- ^ Vilaweb, 5 June 2008.(Catalan)
- ^ Vilaweb, 6 June 2008.(Catalan)
- ^ [3]
- ^ Flight on Time Awards 2008
- ^ TUI Travel PLC and Air Berlin seal strategic alliance for their German flight business
- ^ http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=1540&LANG=eng Air berlin information on the taking over of TUIfly routes. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
- ^ "Gourmet Meals." Air Berlin. Accessed 26 October 2008.
- ^ "Service on board." Air Berlin. Accessed 26 October 2008.
- ^ airberlin.com:Onboard Service
- ^ airberlin.com:Seating
- ^ airberlin.com:topbonus
- ^ Deutsche Polarflug
- ^ Air Berlin fleet list at ch-aviation.ch. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ^ Air Berlin Fleet Age (Air Berlin aircraft only)
- ^ [4]
- ^ Boeing: Boeing, Air Berlin Announce Order for 25 787 Dreamliners
- ^ Air Berlin historic fleet list at airfleets.net. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- ^ Air Berlin flight 2450 information by The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
References
- Berlin Airport Company - Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, several issues (German language edition only), 1968-1992. West Berlin, Germany: Berlin Airport Company.
- Flight International. Sutton, UK: Reed Business Information. ISSN 0015-3710. (various backdated issues relating to Air Berlin, 19792007)
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Air Berlin |
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