• Double daily Berlin-Abu Dhabi flights will increase weekly connections by 200 per
cent starting October 2014
• airberlin to offer 8,344 seats each week between the two capital cities
• Etihad Airways and airberlin will offer 56 combined weekly flights between Germany
and Abu Dhabi
• Codeshare agreement between the airlines will be expanded mid-February to include
six Indian destinations served by Etihad Airways, including Delhi and Mumbai
airberlin, Germany's second largest airline, will introduce a second daily flight between Berlin and Abu Dhabi starting 26 October 2014, building on its successful partnership with equity and codeshare partner Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates.
The two airlines will also expand their codeshare agreement from mid-February, with airberlin guests able to book flights to six Indian destinations served by Etihad Airways: New Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Travellers in India will also benefit from improved connection options within the wider airberlin route network to destinations across Europe, such as Copenhagen, Krakow, Stockholm and Warsaw.
airberlin's Berlin-Abu Dhabi route, which has been operated since January 2012, provides the only direct connection between Germany's capital city and the UAE. It is operated using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 19 FullFlat Business Class seats and 279 Economy Class seats.
As a result of the increased frequency, airberlin and Etihad Airways will operate a total of 56 flights per week between Germany and the UAE, including double-daily connections from Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich.
The schedule has been optimised to provide maximum connectivity to the Etihad Airways network, increasing two-way connectivity from 19 to 43 destinations with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi to the Gulf Arabian region, as well as North Asia (Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo Narita), South East Asia (Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta), Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane), and six destinations in India. In addition, airberlin is planning to include Perth and Seoul in its schedule through an expanded codeshare with Etihad Airways.
Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer of airberlin, said: "Thanks to the constant expansion of our partnership with Etihad Airways, we are taking greater advantage of our synergies and can offer our guests even more travel possibilities and convenience.
"The additional daily flight will significantly increase the capacity on our Berlin-Abu Dhabi service, offering our guests even better and wider access to Etihad Airways' international network."
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: "The partnership between Etihad Airways and airberlin continues to move from strength to strength, with 560,000 passengers flying across our two networks in 2013, a 74 per cent increase on the previous year.
"The Abu Dhabi-Berlin route is testament to this partnership's success and often has seat load factors above 90 per cent in peak months. It is therefore crucial to build upon the success of the route and ensure that demand and capacity are better matched. In addition, our increased frequency will provide even greater connecting options for guests in both directions via the combined networks of Etihad Airways and airberlin."
airberlin schedule for Berlin-Abu Dhabi route, effective October 26.
*Indicates next day arrival
-Ends-
About airberlin:
airberlin is one of the leading airlines in Europe and flies to 147 destinations worldwide. The second largest airline in Germany carried more than 31.5 million passengers in 2013. airberlin offers a global route network through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, which has a 29.21% share in airberlin, and through membership of the oneworld® airline alliance. The airline with the award-winning service operates codeshare flights worldwide with 16 airlines. The fleet has an average age of five years and is among the most modern and eco-efficient in Europe.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2013 carried nearly 12 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways offers flights to 102 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with a fleet of 91 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline has more than 220 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, 25 Boeing 777-X, 62 Airbus A350s, and 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Jet Airways. Subject to regulatory approvals, Etihad Airways will acquire 49 per cent of Air Serbia and 33.3 per cent of Darwin Airline in Q1 2014. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com
For more information contact:
Robeel Haq, Corporate Communications Manager
Etihad Airways
P.O. Box 35566
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 (2) 511 1429
Email: rhaq@etihad.ae
Jana Andresen
Press Officer airberlin
Tel: + 49 30 3434 1500
Fax: + 49 30 3434 1509
Email: jana.andresen@airberlin.com
www.airberlin.com
www.facebook.com/airberlin
© Press Release 2014
