LTU actually operate a significant of scheduled flights to the holiday resorts. For example daily from Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich down to Malaga. LTU are also in a smaller way involved in offering domestic flights and this acquisition by Air Berlin will take away that element of competition (albeit quite limited)

More significantly, they may also have a view to expand their type of operations worldwide to destinations in the States, Mexico, Carribean etc using the expertise available through LTU. In a similar fashion, Flyglobespan are doing similar now with long haul from the UK.

The LTU fleet are also relatively new and allows Air berlin to utilise aircraft (and bigger ones) such as the LTU wide bodied Airbus 330's.

Overall I think a very smart acquistion from a very forward thinking operator. Only down side in my opinion is that the hot free meals offered by LTU will go on the short/medium haul routes.

Nivsy

Anyone ever flown with them?

What are they like?

Probably the best of the cheap airlines, free food and a drink also.

Merged with existing topic.

luci

Very professional cabin crew, non alcoholic drinks and a sandwich free.

Superb prices if booked early enough - easy check in at Stansted especially.

We have used them several times and found them to be as good if not better than some of the 'full service' airlines.

Pippa

My daughter lived in Germany for while, we all used these on a regular basis, & as somebody previously said, if you book early enough they can be quite cheap. Also, they give babies a luggage allowance. I would use them again for sure.

Fully agree with Pippa` comments
flew 3 times with them last year and by far the best of the "cheaper airlines"

excellent service right from check in to getting off plane the other end

Excellent. I'm flying to Baden-Baden for work in a couple of weeks. Going out with Ryanair direct & coming back with Air Berlin via Berlin.

Have heard a whisper that Airberlin are to pull out of the George Best Belfast City Airport in the Autumn, anyone else got information?

I have e-mailed them a few times, but had ne response. Seems a strange decision considering the flights were well used any time I was on board.

Flew with them a couple of weeks ago from Manchester to Stansted (and back again obviously lol!) even though it was only a (very!) short flight, they still found time to bring round a water and snack, seemed quite amusing though on a domestic flight to have all information repeated in both German and English (being a German airline though they have to be seen to be making the effort!)

Would certainly travel with them again, very efficient airline, surprised they use a 737 on this route though only about 4 rows were full.

The eagle eyed amongst you may have noticed the change in colour scheme now being introduced amongst the large fleet of Air Berlin aircraft slowly but surely. The colours incorporate as does the design (slightly) the red of LTU which ofcourse now operate under the Air Berlin banner.

Nivsy

Air Berlin have announced plans to buy charter carrier Condor in a two-stage deal that could land Thomas Cook a near 30 percent stake in Air Berlin.

Air Berlin will now be operating around 160 planes.
Thomas Cook, the parent of Condor, will sell to Air Berlin 75.1 percent in February 2009, and the remainder in February 2010 after Thomas Cook has exercised an option to buy Lufthansa's stake in Condor.

In return Thomas Cook will take up to a 29.9 percent stake in Air Berlin worth between EUR380 million and EUR475 million, gain three seats on the airline's board and receive around EUR120 million in cash.

As reported previously in the forum, Air Berlin hav already acquired German carriers LTU nad Deutche BA this year.

Nivsy

Looks like Air Berlin have stopped direct flights to Palma for winter 07/08 -you now have to go via a German airport.

What a great shame - we have used that route in the winter a few times but I have to say that the flights have always been far from full - presumably why they have dropped them.

They have also stopped direct flights to Alicante - which were tried out this summer.

Perhaps they will reinstate direct flights to Palma for next summer.

They are a great airline and so much better than the other 2 low cost airlines that fly from Stansted!

Pippa

On the plus side bookings are now available for the whole of summer 2008. There are now direct flights to Munich twice a day from Stansted. I have just booked two tickets for April at an all-in cost of £61 each.

Perhaps one for Nivsy. When did Air Berlin pull out of Glasgow-Stansted please?

It seems like they have withdrawn a lot of their flights both from Glasgow and Stansted. It doesn't even seem as though you can fly direct to Palma from Stansted anymore - even for summer 2008.

A great shame as they are a superb airline. Perhaps they have not advertised themselves enough in this country as each time we have flown Stansted - Palma the flights have been far from full. Booked at the right time they often came out cheaper than the other 'low cost airlines'. They offer a much more dignified way of travelling too!

Pippa

I agree Pippa and having travelled to London with them in the past, I was disappointed to go to their site and see that they no longer fly to/from Glasgow

Air Berlin announced at the beginning of October that they would terminate the Glasgow-Stansted route as from the end of that month, blaming the increase in air passenger duty for making the route commercially difficult.

David

I flew with Air Berlin 2 weeks ago on the Glasgow-Stanstead-route and they were excellent. It is a shame to see them go.