Air Berlin files for bankruptcy

[Mattg]

Well I'm pleasantly surprised! I expected that all those Topbonus miles would be lost forever.

Great news for AB's frequent flyers, although I can't see this being a profitable exercsie for Topbonus. I expect a mass exodus of miles, and can't imagine why anyone would be game enough to continue accruing in the long term.

 

[whatmeworry]

Looks like parts of AB to be sold off to Lufthansa and Easyjet.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG and EasyJet Plc were selected as the preferred bidders for the main assets of insolvent Air Berlin Plc, handing both airlines a rare chance to rapidly expand in Europe’s biggest economy.

The creditors’ committee will continue talks with the two carriers until Oct. 12 with the aim of selling Air Berlin’s transport assets, the company said in a statement late Thursday. Talks with bidders interested in other assets will continue in parallel, Air Berlin said. Neither Lufthansa nor EasyJet had bid for the whole company, making a break-up inevitable.

Lufthansa, EasyJet Get Inside Track on Buying Air Berlin Assets

 

[bad]

I liked the fact it was possible to by pass LHR for Berlin direct. The great German quality has a large dent in it however I laugh when somebody quotes German quality. They have gone the other way with the Branderburg Airport being a complete shambles. Will it every by finished?
AirBerlin that hurts their Pride for sure.

 

[Himeno]

I do have to wonder if AB would have had these problems if BER had been opened on time.

 

[Mattg]

I just had a proper look at the "new" topbonus program and I'm afraid my optimism has subsided. There is almost NO financial benefit in any of the redemptions! So why anyone would continue earning topbonus points with Etihad and select ground partners (the only earning opportunities) is completely beyond me.

As far as I can see, the pop-up shop is designed solely to remove some of topbonus's liabilities (in the form of unclaimed points) from its books. There is almost no value in it for the customer and there is no possibility to redeem those points for flights.

How long it remains possible to earn and redeem topbonus points (albeit with severe limitations) is anyone's guess. I give it about a month as there is virtually no incentive to use the program given the points are effectively worthless and the program could collapse any second.

 

[anat0l]

I do have to wonder if AB would have had these problems if BER had been opened on time.

Do you reckon AB would have had a better chance?

I think it may be timely to ask the other question, which is how will BER fare (assuming it will open) after AB is gone? I guess there's still quite a few flights going to Berlin besides AB, and if the Berlin travelling public really wants it, other airlines will step in to fill the void (LH perhaps).

 

[UP4014]

Do you reckon AB would have had a better chance?

I think it may be timely to ask the other question, which is how will BER fare (assuming it will open) after AB is gone? I guess there's still quite a few flights going to Berlin besides AB, and if the Berlin travelling public really wants it, other airlines will step in to fill the void (LH perhaps).

The numbers of people will keep flying so it will which airlines fill in the gaps.

 

[Himeno]

Do you reckon AB would have had a better chance?

The set up of TXL requires more ground staff then would have been needed for the same amount of flights/gates at BER.
BER would have allowed for easier growth while TXL can barely handle what's already there.

 

[bad]

TXL is really long in the tooth and is frustrating when staff get edgy with the older infrastructure that was meant to be closed down years ago. I still like the place but it really is getting on much like AB it’s time is limited.

 

[Bundy Bear]

• Well, the date by which airberlin will discontinue flights is now official. Bloomberg reports that airberlin has sent out a letter to employees of the airline informing them that they will end flights by October 28, 2017, at the latest. This comes as airberlin is exclusively negotiating with both Lufthansa and EasyJet over their assets, where a decision should be reached by later this week.

Air Berlin to End Flights October 28

Lucky I got to fly them twice, back to EasyJet and or Ryanair for flights around Europe.

 

[OATEK]

• Well, the date by which airberlin will discontinue flights is now official. Bloomberg reports that airberlin has sent out a letter to employees of the airline informing them that they will end flights by October 28, 2017, at the latest. This comes as airberlin is exclusively negotiating with both Lufthansa and EasyJet over their assets, where a decision should be reached by later this week.

Air Berlin to End Flights October 28

Lucky I got to fly them twice, back to EasyJet and or Ryanair for flights around Europe.

Interesting, but still a lot of confusion around this wind-up/sell-off. FlyNiki is described as an AB subsidiary, but nor covered by the bankruptcy filing. Some stories seem to suggest they are in the mix for the sell-off, while others ignore this, and in the mean time Niki are selling tickets that would not be covered by the Trustee arrangements.

I flew Niki last year VIE-JTR, and was very happy. Perhaps they will emerge inntact as a separate business.

 

[moa999]

Looks like LH is buying most of the assets

BREAKING Lufthansa to take over 81 Air Berlin aircraft and 3000 employees | AIRLIVE.net

 

[Mattg]

Iberia is currently offering a status match for anyone with Airberlin Topbonus status. (The offer is also being extended to Lufthansa flyers.)

Fast Track, Upgrades, More Bags: A New OneWorld Status Match Is Available... - God Save The Points

 

[andrewlorien]

I'm directly affected by this - Etihad and Air Berlin worked together to get us to Europe a month ago, and a week ago we would have been able to get home... but today not so much. I've started a thread here, if anybody has any suggestions. Air Berlin bankruptcy - stuck in Europe

 

[ADLhighflyer]

For anyone travelling within Germany who needs to make alternative arrangements, check out Deutsch Bahn with their new winter timetable. Found 4 hour hops between Berlin and Munich for approx 90 Euro's in First Class. LH's flight options worked out to be much more.

 

[Mattg]

Airberlin may be gone but its frequent flyer program Topbonus (now renamed to "Topbonus loyalty") is still operating. I can't for the life of me see any reason that anyone would use it, though? The redemptions are almost worthless.

Can anyone think of a reason that I shouldn't just close my topbonus account?

 

[Danger]

Airberlin may be gone but its frequent flyer program Topbonus (now renamed to "Topbonus loyalty") is still operating. I can't for the life of me see any reason that anyone would use it, though? The redemptions are almost worthless.

Can anyone think of a reason that I shouldn't just close my topbonus account?

I guess getting something for your miles is better than nothing, even if it is a poor redemption.

 

[Mattg]

Looks like Airberlin's Austrian subsidiary Niki is also filing for insolvency today after Lufthansa withdrew a bid to buy the airline. The takeover was looking likely to be blocked by the EU commission.

Air Berlin's Niki grounded after Lufthansa drops bid

 

[OATEK]

That is a shame - I enjoyed my Niki flights.

 

[samh004]

Looks like Airberlin's Austrian subsidiary Niki is also filing for insolvency today after Lufthansa withdrew a bid to buy the airline. The takeover was looking likely to be blocked by the EU commission.

Air Berlin's Niki grounded after Lufthansa drops bid

I've got to say, I love the EU Commissions thinking... in an ordinary world I can see how a takeover could lead to less competition, but the alternative is this airline now stops flying, and it's 100% confirmed there's less competition. Add to that the thousands of job losses.

The EU is... crazy?