Article from BTNews 6 NOVEMBER 2017
Berlin coup for easyJet
A commanding presence in the German market has been acquired by easyJet after the airline signed an agreement with Air Berlin to acquire part of the bankrupt carrier’s operations at Berlin Tegel Airport for €40m (about £35m).
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals expected next month, sees easyJet entering into leases for up to 25 Airbus A320s, offering employment to Air Berlin flying crews and taking over other assets including slots.
easyJet and ver.di, the German pilot and cabin crew trade union, also announced they have signed an agreement which would make the employment opportunities at easyJet for ex-Air Berlin crew “very attractive”.
The UK carrier has launched a recruitment campaign for around 1,000 of Air Berlin’s pilots and cabin crew who will be recruited over the coming months and will then be trained on easyJet’s safety and operating procedures.
EasyJet said the agreement would enable it to operate “the leading short-haul network at Tegel”, connecting passengers to and from destinations across Germany and the rest of Europe.
“This is in addition to easyJet’s existing base at Berlin Schönefeld and would mean that easyJet would be the leading airline in Berlin,” the airline added.
Announcements on the routes and services to be flown to and from Tegel are expected shortly. EasyJet will operate a reduced timetable at Tegel this winter but plans to operate a full schedule from summer season 2018.
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