airberlin to continue operating flights from Berlin-Tegel
• Task Force investigates adapting BER flight schedule for Tegel Airport
• Bookings remain valid
• Passengers will be contacted personally with information on flights
Following the announcement that the opening of BER Airport has been postponed, airberlin has assigned a “Tegel” Task Force to adapt the expanded flight schedule, designed for the new airport, to the conditions of the old airport, Berlin-Tegel. Since yesterday evening, experts from our Flight Scheduling, Revenue Management and Service Center Teams have been advising on the operational processes necessary to ensure that Berlin’s leading airline can operate its schedule of planned and reserved flights.
For passengers nothing has changed for the time being; instead of flying from the new BER Airport, airberlin will operate flights as usual from Berlin-Tegel. All bookings remain valid; airberlin will contact all affected passengers personally to inform them about their flights. The same applies to passengers on the scenic flights which have been organised to mark the move to the new airport.
Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO airberlin, pointed out the particular challenges which now confront the airline. “The situation is extremely tricky, as we have to contact at least one million passengers individually to inform them about their airport of departure or arrival. In addition, airberlin’s expanded and more ambitious flight schedule, planned for BER, now has to be handled using the old infrastructure at Tegel Airport, in the summer season, of all times,” said Mehdorn. “We must apologise to our passengers for this temporary arrangement; we ourselves are finding it difficult to live with.”
Mehdorn also emphasized how important the new BER Airport is as a hub for airberlin. “We are still looking forward to the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, where we will be able to provide our passengers with a much improved service,” Mehdorn said. “But to do this, we need a new and reliable date for the opening of the airport, preferably after the end of our summer schedule.”
Over the coming weekend, airberlin will take part in the “Open Days” at BER Airport and provide information on the new flight schedule by means of a campaign including a competition.
airberlin is Germany’s second largest airline. The company has a workforce of 9,200 employees. Each year, airberlin receives over 10 awards for service and quality. The fleet comprises 170 aircraft with an average age of five years, making it one of the most modern fleets in Europe. The airline's state-of-the-art jets are highly fuel efficient, which contributes toward a long-term reduction in pollution emissions from aircraft. As one of the major European airlines, airberlin flies to 162 destinations in 40 countries. In 2011, over 35 million passengers were transported. In December 2011, airberlin entered into a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways. Since 20th March 2012, airberlin has been a full member of the global airline alliance oneworld®. airberlin operates codeshare flights with oneworld members American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and Japan Airlines.
Press contact:
Uwe Berlinghoff
Senior Vice President Communications
phone: + 49 30 3434 1500
fax: + 49 30 3434 1509
email: abpresse@airberlin.com