This doesn't come as a surprise, though finally we have an official statement on this. In light of airberlin’s insolvency filing in mid-August, the airline is slowly starting to cancel their routes. They have a temporary loan from the German government, which will only keep them operating until they sell off all their assets. A…
Continue reading: Airberlin Is Canceling All Longhaul Routes As Of October 15, 2017
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Does anyone have any opinions on how likely it is that airberlin will still endorse tickets for the cancelled routes on other airlines? Or if, say, Lufthansa buys the long haul assets that they could decide to honour tickets? I have a ticket ORD-TXL-BUD for early December (no credit card protection, booked before 15 Aug) and it would be great to know if I should just give up all hope right now and buy a new ticket - though I realise no one knows for sure.
Lufthansa says they do not have any interest in the airberlin longhaul fleet:
https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/lufthansa-air-berlin-103.html
Also it seems like no one else bid on the longhaul assets and all of the jets are going back to the leasing companies because they haven't been owned by airberlin in the first place.
Long story short: unfortunately, you will have to look for new tickets.
I have an airberlin flight from SFO-Dusseldorf-BCN booked for November. Would you say its safe to book an alternate flight at this point? I worry about doing so without the official cancellation, but I think this announcement might as well serve as notice.
The crappy thing about this is Airberlin often discouraged people from booking with a credit card, and instead made people use Paypal. This is the type of stuff that AmEx purchase protection comes in handy for.
German language media (e.g. FAZ and Aerotelegraph) report that there will only be talks with Lufthansa (78 planes) and EasyJet (27 planes, predominantly operating out of TXL). So Condor/Lauda, IAG, Wöhrl and Peng seem to be out. This is the absolute dream scenario for Lufthansa - a nightmare for anyone else.
They deny this decision was taken under political pressure ... which sounds absolutely ridiculous. Of course, there was political pressure for this.
Now all my hope rests on the EU Anti Trust watch dogs ... Obviously, such a take over will result in a monopoly out of VIE, DUS, MUC, ZRH ...
EU Anti Trust watch dogs is Mutti servile little bitch, not going to happen. Luftwaffe, sorry Lufthansa need lebensraum and screw the passengers.
Yes, Lufthansa and easy jet are the preferred buyers at this point. But it doesn't justify the vile language Mr No Name: Niki, based in Austria, is likely to go to LH and easy jet appears to be getting the TXL and DUS slots, so LH is not getting a domestic monopoly....
Besides, in Germany the airlines don't "own" slots like in the US and any slots that go back to the administrators have to be given first to new airlines to ensure competition... that process applied to the US would certainly free all the hub captives in SFO, DFW, ATL,...
Air Berlin has been mishandling and losing passengers luggage for the longest time. Their ground operations are a total disgrace. Lots & Lots of complaints filed against Air Berlin for mishandling and losing checked bags. There were several passengers arriving at Miami International Airport this past Monday on flight AB7000 whose luggage was missing, including my son's who was returning from Berlin after running the Berlin Marathon. We went online and found lots of similar complaints from passengers who have flown on Air Berlin. It is evident that their ground operations are a total disgrace (most likely, employees who could care less) and would like to see the company fold. In the meantime, anyone who flights this company is at risk of not having their luggage when arriving at their destination. Really pathetic ! and there is no one available by phone to help. Everything needs to be communicated and reported via e-mail. DO NOT FLY AIR BERLIN ! Period !