Etihad Airways Extends Sabre Technology Deal To Benefit Airberlin

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:27:52 GMT

Etihad Airways said today it will offer partner airline, airberlin, a range of benefits from its own billion dollar deal with travel technology provider Sabre Airline Solutions.

Under the agreement signed between Etihad Airways and Sabre in December 2011, Etihad Airways gains access to cutting edge, integrated software across its reservations, inventory, marketing, planning, eCommerce, distribution and departure control operations.

This will significantly reduce the airline’s technology costs, streamline its operations, increase revenues, and accelerate its growth around the world.

As part of its strategic equity partnership with airberlin, Etihad Airways will offer access to a range of these benefits, as part of its strategy to identify synergies that could benefit both airlines.

Working with Sabre, potential benefits include:

• distribution – providing Sabre agencies worldwide with enhanced real-time access to Etihad Airways flights and airberlin flights and ancillary content;

• improved joint market share, which could generate per annum benefits of up to US $25 million at current levels; and

• preferential partner access to specialised and highly-skilled consulting resources, which could lead to process improvements across a broad range of business areas, potentially resulting in better schedule connectivity and inventory control, improved distribution channel mix, more competitive revenue management and optimised crew utilisation.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said: “Since we announced our equity partnership with airberlin in December 2011, we have been actively looking for ways the two airlines can work together, and also for benefits each airline already has, which could be extended to the other airline.

“The deal between Etihad Airways and Sabre is a terrific opportunity for airberlin, and will support their drive for growth.”

Chief Executive Officer of airberlin, Hartmut Mehdorn, said: “airberlin benefits from the negotiations between Etihad Airways and Sabre. This is further evidence of the wide range of opportunities for enhancing the synergies and optimising cost efficiency within the partnership between airberlin and Etihad Airways.”

Sam Gilliland, Chief Executive Office of Sabre Holdings said: “Our primary goal is to provide our airline partners with flexible technology that helps reduce costs and increase revenue and profits. Through Etihad Airways, airberlin will be able to leverage our Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, and reap some of the benefits Etihad Airways enjoy. We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with airberlin and other potential Etihad airline partners.”

Etihad Airways Joins Airberlin Counter Card Program

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:43:37 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will join the airberlin Counter Card Program, effective May 1, 2012. This is another milestone in the strategic partnership of both airlines.

The Counter Card Program is a well-known and established incentive program that is popular with travel agencies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Under the scheme, travel agencies with a defined minimum annual sales volume are offered discounts on the net fare for short, medium and long-haul flights as well as additional benefits.

From May 1 the program will reward travel agencies with discounts not only on airberlin flights, but also on flights with Etihad Airways.

Travel agencies can apply to join the Counter Card Program online via the airberlin partner website – https://partner.airberlin.com. All permanent travel agency employees are entitled to a Counter Card, provided that the target turnover is reached.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: "This announcement is good news for our valued travel trade partners and will further cement our strategic partnership with airberlin."

The two partners are already codesharing a large number of flights. airberlin passengers can book codeshare flights to destinations such as flights to Bangkok, Johannesburg, flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malé, the Seychelles and flights to Singapore.

Similarly, Etihad Airways is selling airberlin flights from the hubs in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Milan to cities such as Graz, Helsinki, Innsbruck, Oslo, Vienna and Zurich, plus numerous German domestic destinations and routes to Spain

"At the end of the day, we want to reward the support of our travel trade partners and for them to enjoy all the benefits of selling Etihad Airways and airberlin flights, and to experience for themselves our award-winning service first hand, and at attractive prices," added Baumgartner.

airberlin Chief Commercial Officer Paul Gregorowitsch said: "Etihad Airways joining Counter Cards is unprecedented in our industry – no other airline is part of the program. The Counter Card for travel agencies reinforces our commitment to close cooperation by offering many benefits and privileges to agents who support us and work with us."

Etihad Airways-Airberlin B787 Integration Takes Partnership To New Level

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:28:11 GMT

Etihad Airways and airberlin have announced plans to integrate their Boeing 787 Dreamliner programs, affecting a total of 56 firm aircraft – which is more Dreamliners than are on order with any other airline – and saving millions of dollars for both carriers.

A combined Etihad Airways-airberlin team, led by Etihad Airways, will oversee the integration program, which will see the two airlines share infrastructure, pool maintenance, develop joint training programs, and streamline purchasing activity for engines, rotables, avionics and inflight entertainment systems, as well as work jointly on product development for the new aircraft type.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “This program is the first of a range of initiatives that will bring significant cost synergies and savings for both airlines.

“It is an ideal solution for reducing the costs associated with the introduction of a new aircraft type, and an excellent example of the value of our partnership, enabling Etihad Airways and airberlin to achieve economies of scale and avoid duplication in areas like design and certification.

“It makes both operational and commercial sense to work together on common fleet issues and we expect the synergies we achieve through this integration to result in significant efficiency benefits for both airlines.

“We will also be able to deliver a level of commonality across our B787 fleets in relation to onboard cabin specifications, which will provide passengers with a consistent product experience when they travel with Etihad Airways and airberlin across the airlines’ extensive networks.”

Chief Executive Officer of airberlin, Mr Hartmut Mehdorn, said: “Together with our strategic partner Etihad Airways, airberlin saw an opportunity to work as a team in developing the introduction into service of this innovative aircraft.

“airberlin is already the most fuel efficient network carrier in Europe and has brought down fuel consumption in 2011 to the record value of 3,5 litres/100 passenger kilometres. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the perfect match to our eco-efficient fleet and we are hugely impressed by the improved fuel efficiencies which this aircraft delivers and look forward to making the next step of fuel efficient flying.”

In December 2011 Etihad Airways increased its stake in airberlin to 29.21 per cent, making it the single biggest shareholder in Europe’s sixth largest airline.

The move came just days after Etihad Airways announced it was buying 10 more B787-9 Dreamliners, taking its total order to 41, with 25 options and purchasing rights, making the UAE flag carrier the largest operator of the aircraft type in the world.

airberlin has 15 B787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 15 aircraft. Delivery will begin in 2015.

Etihad Airways and Airberlin Announce Major Capacity Increases for Abu Dhabi and a New Service to Phuket

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:30:27 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and airberlin, Europe’s sixth biggest carrier, today announced a significant increase in services between Abu Dhabi and both Germany and Thailand.

This follows December’s historic announcement that Etihad Airways had become airberlin’s largest single shareholder, and airberlin’s commencement of a four-per-week service between Berlin and Abu Dhabi on January 15.

From March 25, airberlin will operate three daily services to Abu Dhabi, including direct daily flights from two German hubs – Berlin and Düsseldorf – to the UAE capital. In addition and subject to government approval, airberlin will launch a new route between Abu Dhabi and Phuket, offering a daily year-round service to the popular island destination in Thailand. All of airberlin’s new flights will be operated by a by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a two-class configuration.

airberlin’s expanded schedule to Abu Dhabi will also be complemented by Etihad Airways’ own capacity increases with flights to Germany and Thailand.

From April 15, Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi–Düsseldorf service will increase to a daily frequency, providing a combined double daily offering with maximum connectivity over Etihad Airways’ and airberlin’s major hubs. Etihad Airways’ Düsseldorf service will be operated by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft in a three-class configuration.

In addition, Etihad Airways will launch a third daily Abu Dhabi-Bangkok service from April 15 with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a two-class configuration. The expansion of Etihad Airways’ Bangkok flying will cater to growing demand on the route, and the significant increase in volumes expected as a result of the airberlin partnership.

Etihad Airways will place its EY flight designator on all of airberlin’s new services, and the recent integration of the Etihad Guest and topbonus frequent flyer programs will allow passengers of both airlines to ‘earn and burn’ points across each carrier’s flights.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “Our strategic partnership with airberlin continues to gain momentum, and we are delighted to announce such a major increase in services from our respective hubs.

Etihad Airways and airberlin will now offer a combined 42 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Germany from a total of four German hubs. In addition, the commencement of the first daily non-stop flight from the Middle East to Phuket is an exciting development for leisure travellers across the Middle East and Europe, and highlights Abu Dhabi’s strategic location as a major gateway to Asia.

“It all adds up to a game changing proposition for travellers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and across the rest of our combined global network,” Mr Hogan said.

airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said: “By adding new daily connections from Berlin and Düsseldorf to Abu Dhabi, we are reinforcing our hubs and strengthening our strategic partnership with Etihad Airways.

“Flight guests who fly airberlin can now take daily trips to the Thai holiday island of Phuket, and our business guests will benefit from more frequent flights to Bangkok.”

Etihad Airways and airberlin group carry a combined total of more than 40 million passengers a year, operate 233 aircraft and employ 18,000 people.

Etihad Airways-Airberlin Partnership Set For Take Off

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:13:14 GMT

German and Austrian regulatory authorities have given their approval to the deal announced last month in which Etihad Airways increased its shareholding in airberlin to 29.21 per cent.

The approved strategic partnership between the airlines will offer passengers a combined global network of 239 destinations, seamlessly connected through hubs in Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Vienna and Palma de Majorca.

Already, both airlines have announced a number of joint actions, including codesharing on a number of routes on each other’s networks, integrating aspects of their frequent flyer programs, and mutual maintenance agreements in Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “We are delighted that all the regulatory approvals have been concluded successfully and we can now to move forward with plans to create an outstanding offering for passengers on our combined network.

“The partnership between Etihad Airways and airberlin will have a positive market impact, stimulating competition and ultimately benefiting passengers across the globe.

“It is a significant milestone in our history and the first step in what will be a very positive association over the coming years.”

airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said: “I am confident that this is the beginning of a very successful collaboration which will benefit the customers of both companies. It opens up unique possibilities for joint future market development and provides the prerequisite for increased synergies and cost optimisations.”

Etihad Airways and airberlin group carry a combined total of more than 40 million passengers a year, operate 233 aircraft and employ 18,000 people.

Etihad Airways And Airberlin Combine Frequent Flyer Programs, Double Miles To Celebrate Start Of Partnership

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:35:04 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and airberlin will integrate their frequent flyer programs from January 15, 2012, as part of the rollout of their recent partnership.

Etihad Guest and airberlin topbonus frequent flyer program members will earn award and status miles on each other’s airlines.

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Gold Elite members will enjoy additional status benefits such as use of airberlin’s priority check-in, priority boarding and increased baggage allowances on all routes.

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Gold Elite members will also be able to access exclusive airberlin waiting areas at Berlin, Cologne and Dusseldorf airports. Similar reciprocal benefits will be available to airberlin topbonus members travelling with Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer Peter Baumgartner said: “This is another tangible step in the roll-out and integration of our extensive partnership with airberlin.

Etihad Guest members will now be able to earn status and bonus miles across airberlin’s network and enjoy benefits such as use of airberlin lounges and increased baggage allowances.

“With a combined network of 239 destinations, this frequent flyer deal amounts to a fantastic proposition for Etihad Guest members as well as for airberlin’s topbonus program members.”

airberlin Chief Commercial Officer Paul Gregorowitsch said: “Extending our strategic partnership with Etihad Airways to include our topbonus frequent flyer program is a further key step towards making both airberlin topbonus and Etihad Guest frequent flyer programs even more attractive.”

To celebrate Etihad Airways’ partnership with airberlin and the new non-stop flight from Berlin to Abu Dhabi, Etihad Guest is giving double award miles to all Etihad Guest members when they book flights marketed and operated by airberlin. The offer will run until February 19, 2012.

Airberlin And Etihad Airways Inaugurate Direct Berlin-Abu Dhabi Services

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:35:01 GMT

airberlin, Europe’s sixth biggest carrier, has begun direct services from Berlin to Abu Dhabi with the first flight to the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arriving this morning.

The inaugural flight was greeted by a traditional water canon salute after touchdown at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

airberlin will operate the new flights in conjunction with Etihad Airways. This follows last month’s historic announcement that the national flag carrier of the UAE would become airberlin’s largest single shareholder.

Using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, airberlin will operate four flights a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) between the two capital cities.

Addressing guests at Berlin Tegal airport prior to boarding inaugural flight AB7494, airberlin Chief Executive Officer Hartmut Mehdorn said: “This strategic partnership with Etihad Airways not only opens up unique opportunities for the future of airberlin, it also brings a number of benefits for passengers in terms of access to new routes, including our new all-year-round direct services to Abu Dhabi.

“The new route will allow business and leisure travellers to experience the very best of what Abu Dhabi has to offer. In addition, it is a fantastic opportunity for travellers to use the UAE hub as a convenient and accessible gateway to Asia and Australia. We look forward to working with all the various stakeholders in making this new route a success for all.”

Guests at the Berlin Tegal airport reception included UAE Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahmood, German Ambassador to the UAE, His Excellency Nikolai von Schöpff, Lord Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, Chief Commercial Officer of Berlin Airports, Dr. Manfred Körtgen, Etihad Airways Senior Vice President of Technical, Werner Rothenbaecher, federal and local politicians.

Welcoming the flight to Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan said: “This flight marks a key milestone in our new partnership with airberlin.

“We are delighted, through this partnership, to link the capital cities of Germany – a hugely important market for Etihad Airways – and the United Arab Emirates.

“We are looking forward to strengthening our ties with airberlin as we work closely over the coming months to explore opportunities to bring the benefits of our partnership to our customers.”

Etihad Airways And Airberlin Codeshare Flights Now On Sale

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:02:09 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and airberlin, Europe’s sixth biggest carrier, today started the sale of joint codeshare flights.

It follows last month’s historic announcement that Etihad Airways would become airberlin’s largest single shareholder.

Using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, airberlin will operate four flights a week between Berlin and Abu Dhabi from January 15.

Etihad Airways will place its EY code on these flights, providing European travellers with immediate access to a total of 29 flights a week to and through Abu Dhabi from four German hubs (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich), with a plan to increase to 42 flights from mid-April.

Part of the new strategic partnership will see airberlin place its AB code on Etihad Airways flights from Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich to Abu Dhabi and on Etihad Airways’ flights from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok, Malé and Singapore.

Etihad Airways will in turn codeshare on airberlin flights to Basel, Berlin, Catania, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Hannover, Helsinki, Milan, Rome, Stuttgart, Venice and Zurich.

Additional codeshare destinations will be announced in the coming weeks, subject to government approvals.

Etihad Airways Becomes Biggest Single Shareholder In Airberlin

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:36:24 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has agreed to increase its stake in airberlin, Europe’s sixth largest airline, to 29.21 per cent, becoming airberlin’s largest single shareholder.

The strategic move, announced today in Berlin by Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer James Hogan and airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn, connects the airlines’ extensive networks and frequent flyer programs to offer travellers 239 destinations across 77 countries.

Hartmut Mehdorn said: “The strategic partnership with Etihad Airways opens up enormous opportunities for the future of our company.”

“This applies especially to future market development and the realization of synergies.”

“One of the key components of the new partnership is the launch of airberlin services to Abu Dhabi, which will become our new gateway to Asia and Australia.”

“The agreement with Etihad Airways will also dramatically improve the global connectivity of our customers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and throughout the GCC and Middle East.”

James Hogan said the deal was one of the most important in Etihad Airways’ history.

“This new partnership expands our network reach, gives us access to 33 million new passengers, and provides us with a real opportunity for global growth. Through airberlin, we gain immediate access to a broad and complementary European market, with outstanding connectivity options for customers of both airlines.”

“Our partnership strategy has been integral to our success over the past eight years, and the returns we have seen from this strategy have confirmed its value.”

“We are always looking for ways to grow and partnerships are a smart way to enhance our ability to compete on the world stage.”

“We now have a portfolio of 34 quality airline partners, but this is our first equity investment in another airline. It is a sign of our confidence in airberlin’s management and in the carrier’s potential to grow with us.”

“We expect such growth will also offer a host of additional employment opportunities, both in Europe and the United Arab Emirates,” Mr. Hogan said.

“Etihad Airways and the airberlin group carry a combined total of more than
40 million passengers a year, operate 233 aircraft, and employ 18,000 people. Together, the companies generate more than US$ 9 billion in revenues.”

“We estimate each airline could achieve incremental revenues of between EUR 35 million and EUR 40 million just in the first year, and we believe the partnership has enormous potential to unlock a range of efficiencies.”

Under the partnership:

? airberlin will shift its Middle East operation flights from Dubai to Abu Dhabi;

? airberlin will operate four A330-200 flights a week between Berlin and Abu Dhabi from January 15, 2012 - with European travellers having immediate access to a total of 29 flights a week to and through Abu Dhabi from four German hubs, with a plan to increase to 42 flights from mid-April;

? the airlines will implement an extensive codeshare agreement, with Etihad Airways codesharing on 36 of airberlin’s 171 destinations and airberlin codesharing on 24 of Etihad Airways’ 82 passenger destinations, and plan further expansion of the pool of codeshare routes;

? Etihad Airways will sign codeshare agreements with the airberlin group for all European activities including NIKI, the Austrian airline, and Belair, the Swiss airline; and

? Etihad Guest and topbonus, the airlines’ frequent flyer programs, will be integrated, enabling passengers of both airlines to ‘earn and burn’ on each other’s flights and offering reciprocal benefits - including status earning - to top tier members.

Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will have two seats on the Board of Directors of the Air Berlin PLC.

The two companies will seek anti-trust immunity, which would allow greater coordination of route networks and of sales and marketing activities.

Airberlin and Etihad Airways are committed to creating a joint procurement taskforce to look for cost efficiencies across the two companies, including areas such as fleet procurement and deployment, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and general procurement.

Etihad Airways’ minority stake will consist of 27.03 per cent from a new share issue by airberlin, funded from operational cash flow, and an existing interest of 2.99 per cent (pre-dilution), which will amount to a total interest of 29.21 per cent. The new shares will be issued at a price of EUR 2.31.

Etihad Airways Increases Network Size To 269 Destinations

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:36:22 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, today announced its purchase of a stake in airberlin, a deal which brings to 269 the total number of destinations it serves, either directly or with partner airlines.

The announcement means Etihad Airways now offers guests a route network more than 80 destinations larger than that offered by any other Gulf carrier.

As part of its deal with airberlin, Etihad Airways will sign codeshare agreements with the airberlin group for all European activities including NIKI, the Austrian airline and Belair, the Swiss airline.

Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said: “Today more than ever, it is vital to think differently in this industry. The number of codeshare partners Etihad Airways has, and the number of Etihad flights destinations it is now able to serve, is a point of marked differentiation.

“The Gulf is increasingly the centre of the world in terms of aviation, and we are happy that with one booking we are able, either directly or with codeshare partners, to allow our guests to take full advantage of this geography.

“We will continue to look to strike codeshare agreements with carriers around the world where we feel it is to the advantage of our guests.”

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