Air Berlin in deal talks with TUI and Etihad

[Boeing767copilot]

Air Berlin in deal talks with TUI and Etihad

http://www.cityam.com/250754/air-berlin ... and-etihad


Germany's Air Berlin is in talks about a potential merger with TUIfly, according to reports.

The group said discussions are focused on "contributing the touristic operations of Air Berlin to a new venture to be established by TUI AG and Etihad Aviation Group".

"This would create a strong new European leisure airline group, combining the German TUIfly company, including the aircraft currently operated by TUIfly for Air Berlin under a separate wet lease agreement, and the current touristic fleet of the airberlin group, with the expertise and backing of Etihad Airways," the firm said.

The new combined group would be focused on point-to-point flying to connect key tourist markets.

[sn26567]

Luchtzak also reported it: http://wp.me/p5lySl-3WV

[sn26567]

Unexpected effect of the talks: TUIfly and airberlin have cancelled 1 out of 20 flights today (56 flights in total!). Staff have been calling in sick, due to the stress induced by the announcement... and the fear of job losses.

https://www.thelocal.de/20161005/air-be ... sday-alone

[Passenger]

Unexpected effect of the talks: TUIfly and airberlin have cancelled 1 out of 20 flights today (56 flights in total!). Staff have been calling in sick, due to the stress induced by the announcement... and the fear of job losses.
https://www.thelocal.de/20161005/air-be ... sday-alone

The German trade union Ver.di is against this plan. And what do unions do when they disagree? They screw the passengers. If the announcement about a new company structure causes this much "stress" to cabin crew or even cockpit crew, they should look for another job asap. Like museum attendant or restorer of paintings.

[sn26567]

A source close to the deal said the new holding company could be based in Austria, with Etihad and TUI each taking a 24.9% stake. The remaining 50.2% is expected to be held by an Austrian foundation, to ensure Austrian majority ownership and maintain international traffic rights.

The still-to-be-named airline is planning a fleet of 14 Boeing 737s (currently operated by TUIfly for airberlin under a wet-lease agreement), 27 TUIfly 737NGs, as well as 17 Airbus A320 family aircraft from Austrian airberlin subsidiary FlyNiki.

http://atwonline.com/airlines/etihad-tu ... re-airline

The other TUI Group airlines are not part of the deal. These comprise UK-based Thomson Airways (63 aircraft), Sweden’s TUIfly Nordic (8 aircraft), TUI Airlines Belgium (21 aircraft), TUI Airlines Netherlands (10 aircraft) and France’s Corsair International (7 aircraft).

[sn26567]

Things are getting bad at TUIfly: today TUIfly had to cancel 47 out of 110 planned flights and airberlin cancelled 90 flights.

From bad to worse: TUIfly grounds its whole fleet tomorrow after massive sickouts since weekend led to cancel half of flights today + chartering some 20 jets.

It looks like the TUIfly crew have learned something from Belgian ATCOs...

[JAF737]

It looks like the TUIfly crew have learned something from Belgian ATCOs...

Says a retired who got nothing else to do than commenting on things he obviously doesn't know at all.

[sn26567]

Reporting sick is a new way to strike without the disadvantages... For me, the way that TUIfly crew behave is quite similar to what Belgian ATCOs did a couple of months ago. The disadvantages are for the travellers.

But you are right: I was not present at either one.

[JAFflyer]

It is not the same at all!

They just learned their company might be relocated to Austria under a different name/ownership with no guarantee that their conditions will stay the same (almost certainly will decrease) and worst of all, they had to hear it from the press instead of their own employer.

This is a result of really bad communication from Tuifly

[Bralo20]

Wonder if Jetair will fly tomorrow, my uncle is flying back from Rhodos with JAF. Curious if the sudden "illness" will spread from Germany to other Tiu countries.

[JAF737]

Wonder if Jetair will fly tomorrow, my uncle is flying back from Rhodos with JAF. Curious if the sudden "illness" will spread from Germany to other Tiu countries.

No problem at JAF. They communicated clearly that these negociations only involve TUIFly Germany... at least for now :-/

[Stij]

No problem at JAF. They communicated clearly that these negociations only involve TUIFly Germany... at least for now :-/

I hope so... I fly them today from Charleroi to Murcia and back on sunday!

Cheers,

Stij

[Passenger]

Reporting sick is a new way to strike without the disadvantages... For me, the way that TUIfly crew behave is quite similar to what Belgian ATCOs did a couple of months ago. The disadvantages are for the travellers.

We could discuss if this is "take passengers as hostage" or "blackmail the management". But what matters, is the result from this union setup: thousands of passengers are stranded or are forced to amend their (well deserved) holiday.

I wonder how serious those "sick people" are, the next time they wellcome people onboard. Today they scr*w the passengers, and next week they wish them a nice flight? Hypocrites.

When aircrew are that sick that they can't handle merger talks, they should quit aviation and look for another job. Something in gardening perhaps.

[Sai]

"This would create a strong new European leisure airline group (...)

Wouldn't it become a direct competitor then to the rest of the TUI airlines which are not part of the deal?

[sn26567]

airberlin reaches joint ad hoc crisis agreement with cockpit, cabin crew and ground staff

airberlin has reached an agreement with Vereinigung Cockpit, the ver.di collective bargaining committee for cabin crew and the general works council to immediately implement urgent measures that will help stabilise flight operations and reduce inconvenience to its passengers.

Significant flight cancellations at TUIfly have affected many airberlin flights which are operated by TUIfly under a wet-lease agreement.

Following this agreement, airberlin, with Vereinigung Cockpit, the ver.di collective bargaining committee and the general works council, has called on its pilots, flight attendants and ground staff to volunteer to provide special operations.

The operations under this special arrangement will be effective from 5 to 9 October 2016.

[sn26567]

TUIfly cancels 118 Saturday flights, but expects normal operations Sunday.

[sn26567]

TUIfly remains German for at least three more years

German travel company TUI will decide in November on the future of TUIfly, but provides the staff with guarantees about the future. The German holiday airline was in chaos last week after an announced merger with airberlin, under the wings of Etihad.

Staff called in sick en masse, and during two days barely no flights could be carried out. The operation has been as good as restored. The TUI management held meetings with staff representatives and promised to clarify the future in November.

Staff Chief Every Eller says that TUI feels obliged to take away the fear and worry among employees. "We can make promises on a number of issues. First TUIfly will remain a German company with its headquarters in Hanover for at least three years. That means that the current contracts remain in force. We also continue to engage with the unions and the works council. "

The mass sick leave last week arose from fears that TUIfly, under the new holding company with airberlin, would reduce wages and worsen working conditions. The unions staged fierce protest against this.

[sn26567]

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group and German holiday company TUI Group are in final discussions to create a European leisure airline group, which is expected to operate 60 aircraft on point-to-point services to key tourist markets. The deal is expected to be finalised at a Nov. 23 board meeting.

The new holding company is expected to be based in Austria, with Etihad 25% and TUI taking a 24% stake. The remaining 51% is expected to be held by an Austrian foundation, to ensure Austrian majority ownership and maintain international traffic rights.

The airline is planning a fleet of 14 Boeing 737s (currently operated by TUIfly for airberlin under a wet-lease agreement), 27 TUIfly 737NGs, as well as 17 Airbus A320 family aircraft from Austrian airberlin subsidiary FlyNiki, total 58 aircraft. But the airline plans to operate 60 aircraft initially.

The other TUI Group airlines are not part of the deal.

Full story: http://atwonline.com/airlines/etihad-tu ... re-airline

[sn26567]

Air Berlin is seeking a cash injection from investor and part-owner Etihad as the Gulf carrier draws up plans to buy a stake in NIKI (Austria), which is being spun off and merged with TUIfly (Germany).

Do you still follow?

[Yuqu12]

Air Berlin is seeking a cash injection from investor and part-owner Etihad as the Gulf carrier draws up plans to buy a stake in NIKI (Austria), which is being spun off and merged with TUIfly (Germany).

Do you still follow?

Just for my interest: huw much % of the shares of NIKI is still owned by mister Lauda himself?