Air Berlin.
Purtroppo il concretizzarsi del rischio di perdere alcune tratte in co-sharing porta ulteriore pressione ai titoli.
Oct. 10 (Bloomberg) -- German carrier may have to
reconsider current network after German Federal Aviation Office
LBA refused approval for more than half of the airline’s planned
code share flights with Etihad Airways for season starting end
of Oct., spokesman Aage Duenhaupt says.
* Flights are scheduled and will happen, while not branded as
code shares: Spokesman
* Etihad customers made up more than 70% of current bookings
on those flights for winter schedule, meaning not all might
be sustainable
* Flights in question had been approved as code share by LBA
six times before, Air Berlin CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer says
in e-mailed statement; economic damage lies with Air Berlin
* Etihad may raise objections with LBA; Air Berlin evaluating
legal steps
* LBA approved about 30 code share flights, objected to 34
* Flights affected mainly originate in Berlin and Stuttgart
* Flights affected mainly within Europe, also some long-haul
services to North America, Abu Dhabi
* NOTE: Etihad’s Swiss arm boosts access to restricted German
market
October 10, 2014
Etihad has been denied approval to add its code to some flights to Germany operated by partner Air Berlin, meaning the German airline could lose out on passengers that it needs to fight its way back to recovery.
Air Berlin said on Friday that it had been informed by Etihad, that 34 codeshare flights for the winter schedule had not been approved, affecting 46,000 bookings.
Etihad and Air Berlin share codes on flights to around 60 destinations. By putting its number on the German airline's flights, Etihad can sell those connections to its customers and help loss-making Air Berlin to fill its planes.
The German federal aviation authority (LBA) checks codeshare deals every time airlines submit winter and summer schedules for flights to and from Germany. The two airlines have shared flight codes since 2012 and the LBA has approved all six previous flight plans.
Air Berlin said passengers on the flights affected would still fly but would receive new tickets without an Etihad flight number. Flights for which code shares have not been approved include Berlin and Stuttgart to Abu Dhabi, plus flights from Berlin to northern Europe, a spokesman for Air Berlin said.
Air Berlin, in which Etihad owns a 29 percent stake, made its first annual net profit in five years in 2012, but only after Etihad bought a majority stake in its frequent flyer programme.
Air Berlin has previously said it expects code shares to bring it and Etihad additional revenue of EUR€200 million in 2014, with over half going to Air Berlin.
"As the financial impact will be borne mainly by Air Berlin, the airline will take all legal steps within its power to fight this decision," Air Berlin chief executive Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said in a statement.
The LBA confirmed the decision but declined to comment further.
Etihad is already under investigation by German authorities as to whether it exercises too much control over Air Berlin. For Air Berlin to maintain its European operating licence, it must be majority controlled by European investors.
(Reuters)