Loss making Air Berlin axes UK routes
20.08.11
Air Berlin is axing a number of routes to the UK as part of a plan to partially withdraw from regional airports in Germany and shed unprofitable routes after announcing a €32.2m (£28m) quarter loss on a turnover of €1.12 billion (almost £1 billion). The airline will stop flying from Gatwick to Hanover and from Stansted to Hanover, Munster and Paderborn. It will also end its Manchester service to Paderborn.
Germany's second largest airline after Lufthansa said the cancellations were necessary as its cost reductions had not been sufficient to offset higher costs resulting from aviation tax (Germany introduced an aviation tax in January), rising fuel prices and the decline of Egypt-based business. The airline will cut its fleet by eight aircraft, slashing one million seats from its overall capacity for the second half of this year. In future, it will concentrate on its hubs in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Palma and Vienna.
The airline will maintain its Gatwick-Nuremberg, Stansted-Dusseldorf, Stansted-Nuremberg and Stansted-Salzburg services.
To book gatwick airport hotels or gatwick airport parking at the lowest price, click on these links to two great gatwick parking and gatwick hotels price comparison pages.
