Airberlin reveals plans for 2012

airberlin has revealed its main areas of focus this year will be its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, membership in the global airline alliance oneworld, intensified activity at its base at Berlin-Brandenburg (BER) and the expansion of the hubs in Dusseldorf and Vienna, and the continuation of its comfort initiative. CEO, airberlin, Hartmut Mehdorn said: “In collaboration with our new partner Etihad Airways and as a member of the oneworld airline alliance, we are able to offer our customers a significantly improved and more attractive range of flights, as well as the opportunity to earn topbonus award and status miles on all flights with Etihad Airways and across the entire network of the oneworld alliance. “Award miles can be redeemed for award flights all over the world. airberlin is thus taking the next step towards even greater globalisation. We are systematically implementing the comfort initiative which we began last year.” On December 19, 2011, airberlin and Etihad Airways announced that they were entering into a strategic partnership. The two airlines transport a total of over 40 million customers each year and operate 233 aircraft. Their combined route network covers 239 destinations in 77 countries. The hub in Abu Dhabi offers airberlin customers a gateway to Africa, Asia and Australia. Etihad Airways already markets numerous airberlin flights, such as those from Berlin to Austria and Switzerland and from Dusseldorf to Miami and New York. Good connections to Spain via Dusseldorf and Munich are also available for Etihad Airways passengers. The frequent flyer programmes of the two airlines are integrated so that topbonus members can earn status and award miles on all flights operated by Etihad Airways. Following just 20 months of intense preparation, the airline is now set to become a full member of the global airline alliance, oneworld, from March 20. airberlin is also offering new connections and an increased number of flights from its hub in Dusseldorf. There is expected to be a new daily connection to Abu Dhabi from March 25 and a new weekly flight to Mombasa. In future, airberlin is set to offer two flights per week on the route from Dusseldorf to Las Vegas, making the airline the largest provider of nonstop flights from Dusseldorf. In addition, the number of flights offered to the US is due to be increased to five weekly departures to Miami and three connections per week to San Francisco. airberlin will operate flights from Dusseldorf to Palma de Mallorca 38 times a week. The number of departures to Naples, Venice and Vienna is also expected to be increased.