Etihad and Air Berlin strengthen partnership
The fastest growing airline in the world, according to Etihad Airways President and CEO James Hogan
growing airline in the world, counts on the strategic partnership with
Air Berlin. Regardless of their massive losses. After all, Etihad and its
partner airlines serve 400 destinations, transporting 80.5 million
passengers annually with a fleet of over 500 aircraft. An
overview.
Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi and Air Berlin entered into a strategic cooperation two years ago.
strategic cooperation two years ago. Etihad currently holds 29.21 percent of
Air Berlin. "Our partnership has brought us joint revenues of 200 million euros.
million euros. These are important in our
program," said Air Berlin CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer at a joint event in Berlin in January.
joint event in Berlin in January. The commercial partnership will also be
commercial partnership will be intensified in 2014, which will also
cost reduction and synergies. After all,
both airlines serve 228 destinations in 84 countries, 900,000 passengers on both
both route networks, including 100 code-share connections. "We know that
Air Berlin and the European airlines are operating in a very difficult
operating in a very difficult environment. But we support the management of Air Berlin and are
confident that the airline is on the right path to profitability.
is on the right path to profitability. We have invested in Air Berlin because we see potential in it.
This is a long-term agreement and an absolutely key instrument
of our business model," says Hogan, who does not believe in alliances such as the
Star Alliance, for example. Of course, the second largest airline
with 30 million passengers per year is opening up an important market.
market. According to Hogan, the 105 million US dollar investment in Air
Berlin was recouped in six months.
Vienna - Abu Dhabi
For the first time, Prock Schauer let slip that a connection from
Vienna to Abu Dhabi is definitely on the agenda. A possible start of the connection
was not mentioned. Air Berlin and Etihad operate 42 weekly flights between Germany
between Germany and Abu Dhabi. From February there will be 49 frequencies.
"Air Berlin will also increase its frequencies within Europe by eight percent this year.
percent this year, and additional code-share flights to destinations such as India, Australia
and South Korea," says Prock Schauer. At the airports Düsseldorf,
Berlin and Plama de Mallorca airports. The Vienna hub
is one of Air Berlin's core markets, including Switzerland and, of course, Germany.
Germany, of course. As reported, a large number of tourist
tourist routes via Vienna. From February there will also be
there will also be exclusive Air Berlin waiting areas at Vienna Airport. From Palma
Air Berlin serves 36 destinations in Europe.
James Hogan also explains that this year the first Airbus A380 for
Etihad will enter service at the end of the year and its interior will be
will be presented at the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai in May. Etihad took delivery of
November ordered aircraft worth $52.1 billion US dollars. "I
don't have a mandate to develop the biggest airline in the world, but a nice one.
a nice one. The best in class and one that makes money. That applies
also applies to our partners," says Hogan.
Etihad Regional
Air Seychelles, for example, is the platform for the Indian Ocean,
the Balkan region with Air Serbia (49 percent share) and the Swiss
region and the Swiss regional airline Darwin will become Etihad
Regional. Etihad has acquired a 33 percent stake in the latter. Darwin
is Etihad's seventh "Equity Alliance Partner" and the fourth in Europe.
"You can call this Etihad Europe," says Hogan. The number of Etihad
regional destinations is set to grow from the current 15 to 34 by the end of June.
New destinations include Stuttgart (from February), Berlin, Düsseldorf, London City,
Poznan, Tirana, Toulouse, Wroclaw, Zagreb and Zurich in April. From May
Belgrade and Turin, from June Bordeaux, Graz, Linz, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes
and Verona. Etihad is also increasing its presence in Europe with the new destinations of Rome and Zurich.
presence in Europe.
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