Air Berlin races to clinch deal with Lufthansa, easyJet
Insolvent German airline Air Berlin hopes to conclude talks with Lufthansa and easyJet on a carve-up of its assets by the middle of next month as it races to secure jobs and keep flying.
Insolvent German airline Air Berlin hopes to conclude talks with Lufthansa and easyJet on a carve-up of its assets by the middle of next month as it races to secure jobs and keep flying.
Air Berlin, which has around 8,000 employees, filed for insolvency in August after major shareholder Etihad said it would stop providing funding. The German government stepped in with a 150 million euro (178 million U.S. dollar) loan, due to last until the end of October, to prevent the airline being grounded so that talks could be held on selling its assets.
Lufthansa has bid for units including leisure airline Niki and regional carrier LGW plus around 13 A320 jets, while easyJet has bid for 27-30 planes, Air Berlin administrator Frank Kebekus said on Monday (September 25). Talks will run until October 12.
Speaking as union Verdi staged a demonstration outside, blowing whistles and waving placards, Air Berlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann said Air Berlin was fighting for every job.
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