View source for Air Berlin

{{Short description|Defunct airline of Germany (1978–2017)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Berlin
| logo = Air Berlin Logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| image = D-AERQ A330 Air Berlin (4812546552) (2).jpg
| caption = Air Berlin [[A330-300]] in standard livery
| IATA = AB
| ICAO = BER
| callsign = AIR BERLIN
| aoc = 
| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Berlin Tegel Airport]]
  | [[Düsseldorf Airport]]}}
| focus_cities = {{nowrap|[[Palma de Mallorca Airport]]}}
| frequent_flyer = topbonus
| alliance = {{nowrap|[[Oneworld]] {{small|(2012–2017)}}}}
| fleet_size = 
| destinations = 
| parent = Air Berlin plc & Co. Luftverkehrs KG
| num_employees = 
| founded = {{start date|1978|||df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Air Berlin USA'')}}
| commenced = {{ubl|
  | {{start date|1979|04|28|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Air Berlin USA'')}}
  | {{start date|1991|||df=yes}}<br />{{nowrap|{{small|(as ''Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG'')}}}}}}
| ceased = {{end date|2017|10|27|df=yes}}
| revenue = 
| net_income = 
| headquarters = [[Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf]], [[Berlin]], Germany
| key_people = [[Thomas Winkelmann]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| website = 
| subsidiaries = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[IZair|Air Berlin Turkey]] {{small|(2011–2013)}}
  | [[Belair (airline)|Belair]] {{small|(2001–2017)}}
  | [[DBA (airline)|DBA]] {{small|(2006–2008)}}
  | [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] {{small|(2003–2017)}}}}
}}

'''Air Berlin plc & Co. Luftverkehrs KG''' ({{FWB|AB1}}), branded as '''airberlin''' or '''airberlin.com''' (28 April 1979 – 27 October 2017), was a major German [[airline]]. At its peak, it was [[Germany]]'s second-largest airline after [[Lufthansa]], as well as [[List of largest airlines in Europe|Europe's tenth-largest airline]] in terms of passengers carried.<ref>[http://www.airberlin.com/site/company/profile/index.php?cat=strategie&LANG=eng Air Berlin Strategy and Business Model]. Air Berlin, retrieved on 19 January 2011. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813201418/http://www.airberlin.com/site/company/profile/index.php?LANG=eng&cat=strategie |date=13 August 2012 }}</ref> It was headquartered in [[Berlin]]<ref>"[http://www.airberlin.com/site/lageplan.php?LANG=eng Approach map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018100057/http://www.airberlin.com/site/lageplan.php?LANG=eng |date=18 October 2014 }}." Air Berlin. Retrieved on 5 May 2010.</ref> and had hubs at [[Berlin Tegel Airport]] and [[Düsseldorf Airport]]. At the time of its insolvency, it was a member of the [[Oneworld]] [[airline alliance]], having joined in 2012.

The airline was originally founded by American interests in 1978 to provide airline service to [[West Berlin]], a territory that could not legally be served by [[West Germany|West German]] airlines such as [[Lufthansa]] due to political restrictions on [[East Germany|East German]] airspace. In 1991, shortly after [[German reunification]], Air Berlin became a German-owned company and shifted its core business to compete more directly with Lufthansa, eventually becoming one of Germany's biggest airlines. After years of losses, however, Air Berlin filed for [[insolvency]] in August 2017<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article167695133/Air-Berlin-meldet-Insolvenz-an-Bundesregierung-gibt-Kredit.html|title=Air Berlin meldet Insolvenz an – Bundesregierung gibt Kredit – WELT|website=DIE WELT|date=15 August 2017|access-date=2017-08-15|language=de}}</ref> and ceased operations two months later.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=Air Berlin's last flight melts hearts from Munich to Berlin {{!}} DW {{!}} 27.10.2017|url=https://www.dw.com/en/air-berlins-last-flight-melts-hearts-from-munich-to-berlin/a-41147920|access-date=2021-04-27|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==History==
===1978–1990: American charter airline in West Berlin===
 {{multiple image
| align = 
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = Air Berlin USA Boeing 707-300 Manteufel.jpg
| caption1 = Air Berlin's [[aircraft livery]] has changed several times. The original Air Berlin USA livery ''(pictured)'' was used on the airline's [[Boeing 707]]s and [[Boeing 737-200]]s...<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Air_Berlin_USA_Boeing_737-200_Manteufel.jpg|title=Air Berlin USA B737-200}}</ref>
| image2 = Boeing 737-222, Air Berlin JP7687422.jpg
| caption2 = ... which was replaced with this [[Hapag-Lloyd Flug]]-hybrid livery during the early 1980s, when Air Berlin operated a single [[Boeing 737-200]].
| image3 = Air Berlin USA Boeing 737-3Y0; N67AB, July 1986 BGT (5066918954).jpg
| caption3 = A ruby-colored livery was introduced when the [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]] ''(pictured)'' was put in service in 1986,...
| image4 = Airbus A319-111, Air Berlin JP6447912.jpg
| caption4 = ... and remained largely unchanged for more than two decades (the later version is shown here on an [[Airbus A319-100]] in 2008).
| image5 = LTU Airbus A330-200 Prasertwit-2.jpg
| caption5 = After the merger with LTU in 2007, the new basic LTU scheme was adopted,...
| image6 = Airbus A319 (Air Berlin) (2422010553).jpg
| caption6 = ... and was used in an interim scheme until the introduction of the new logo,...
| image7 = AirBerlin_B737-800_D-ABBF_MUC_2008-08-13.jpg
| caption7 = ... to become this bright red color scheme as featured on this [[Boeing 737-800]], which was the airline's last livery.
}}
[[File:Logo Air Berlin USA 1978.png|thumb|left|150px|The original Air Berlin USA logo]]

Originally registered as '''Air Berlin USA''',<ref name=fg80>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin USA|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=26 July 1980|page=272|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%201891.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> the company was founded in 1978 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Lelco, an American agricultural enterprise headquartered in [[Oregon]],<ref name=fg80/> to operate [[Air charter|charter]] flights on behalf of German tour operators from [[Berlin Tegel Airport]], mostly to [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] holiday resorts.<ref name=fg80/><ref name=fg91>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=27 March 1991|page=49|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1991/1991%20-%200731.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref>

The co-founders of Air Berlin USA were:
* Kim Lundgren, a former Berlin-based [[flight engineer]] of [[Pan American World Airways]];
* John MacDonald, a former station manager of United States supplemental<ref group=nb>holder of supplemental air carrier certificate authorised to operate non-scheduled passenger and cargo services to supplement the scheduled operations of certificated route air carriers</ref> and charter airline [[Saturn Airways]] at [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport]] in the 1960s and subsequent general manager Europe and vice president at the Berlin Tegel Airport base of the former United States supplemental carrier and charter airline [[Modern Air Transport|Modern Air]] from 1968 until 1974;
* Mort Beyer, Modern Air's [[executive vice president]] from 1967 until 1971 as well as the airline's president and vice president of the National Air Carrier Association<ref group=nb>the United States supplemental carrier industry association</ref> in 1971 and founder of United States aviation consultancy Avmark.<ref name="DT_ABStartUp">{{cite journal|title=When Air Berlin was a startup|journal=Der Tagesspiegel|date=30 October 2016|page=24|url=https://www.pressreader.com/germany/der-tagesspiegel/20161030/281968902237320|access-date=15 July 2017|language=de}}</ref><ref>''Airways'' (Mailbag, ''Morten S. Beyer, 1922–2010''), Vol. 17, No. 12, p. 61, Airways International Inc., Sandpoint, February 2011</ref><ref>Beyer, Morten S. [https://books.google.com/books?id=hIe6y-9Fwo4C&pg=PA193 ''Flying Higher: The Rosen Boys / Reorganizing Modern Air'', 2009, pp. 180–182]</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Modern Air President|journal=Flight International|date=21 January 1971|page=80|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%200087.html|access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>

Lelco was the agriculture business of Kim Lundgren's family in the United States.<ref name="DT_ABStartUp"/>

As a United States airline, Air Berlin was able to access the [[West Berlin]] airline market. During the [[Cold War]], Berlin's special political status meant that the [[West Berlin Air Corridor|air corridors]] into and out of Tegel Airport could only be used by airlines registered in France, the United Kingdom or the United States. The airline's headquarters were initially at Tegel Airport. Leonard Lundgren was the first chairman.<ref name=fg80/>

After the company was issued an [[Air Operator's Certificate|airline licence]] and acquired two [[Boeing 707]] jet airliners previously owned by [[Trans World Airlines]], Air Berlin USA commenced revenue services on 28 April 1979 with a flight from Berlin-Tegel to [[Palma de Mallorca]].<ref name=fg79>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=28 April 1979|page=1332|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201394.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="AB history">{{cite web|title=Out into the world from Berlin: The history of airberlin in a nutshell|url=http://www.airberlin.com/en-DE/site/affiliate/30jahreJubel/index.php|publisher=Air Berlin|access-date=28 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530024835/http://www.airberlin.com/en-DE/site/affiliate/30jahreJubel/index.php|archive-date=30 May 2013}}</ref> Plans were made to start long-haul flights on West Berlin-[[Brussels]]-Florida routes,<ref name=fg79/><ref name=timetable81>{{cite web|title=1981 timetable of Air Berlin USA|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ab81/|publisher=Air Berlin USA|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> in cooperation with [[Air Florida]] (an agreement to that effect had been signed in February 1979).<ref name=fg81>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin USA|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=16 May 1981|page=1395|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201393.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref>

In 1980, two [[Boeing City Jet|Boeing 737-200]]s were leased from Air Florida.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 1981, Air Berlin USA continued its weekly scheduled Boeing 707 service on the Berlin [[Tegel Airport]] - Brussels - [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] route;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com|title=Airline Timetable Images|website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> however, by 1982, the 707s had been phased out, and during most of the 1980s, Air Berlin USA operated only a single 737-200<ref name=fg84>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=31 March 1984|page=813|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1984/1984%20-%200529.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> or (from 1986) a [[Boeing 737 Classic|737-300]].<ref name=fg89>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=1 April 1989|page=44|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%200854.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> In 1990 and 1991, two [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400s]] were also placed into service.<ref name=fg91/><ref name=fg90>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=14 March 1990|pages=49–50|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200701.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref>

===1990–2000: New investors and expansion===

[[German reunification]] led to significant changes to the European aviation market, and in particular in Berlin: German airlines now gained access to the city. In 1991, Air Berlin (which had 90 employees at the time)<ref>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=25 March 1992|page=38|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%200736.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> was restructured as '''Air Berlin [[Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung|GmbH]] & Co. Luftverkehrs [[Kommanditgesellschaft|KG]]''', a German-registered company, with several German investors joining Kim Lundgren, the original founder, thereby bringing the ownership in line with German foreign-control requirements.<ref name="1992 737 order">{{cite journal|title=Air Berlin considers extra 737 purchase|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=20 May 1992|page=10|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%201258.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> [[Joachim Hunold]] ([[:de:Joachim Hunold|de]]), a former sales and marketing director with [[LTU International]], now led the company.

Following an order for ten [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]]s, Air Berlin grew and by 1999, the fleet grew to twelve aircraft.<ref name=fg99>{{cite journal|title=World Airline Directory: Air Berlin|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=24 March 1999|page=42|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1999/1999%20-%200622.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> In 2001, Air Berlin and [[Hapag-Lloyd Flug]] became the first airlines in the world to have their Boeing 737-800s fitted with [[Wingtip device|blended winglets]], wingtip devices that are intended to improve [[fuel efficiency]].<ref name=winglets>{{cite web|last=Spaeth|first=Andreas|title=Winglets: Neue Spitzen sparen Sprit|url=http://www.spiegel.de/reise/staedte/winglets-neue-spitzen-sparen-sprit-a-135382.html|access-date=28 August 2013|newspaper=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=22 May 2001}}</ref>

Air Berlin introduced scheduled flights (which could be booked directly with the airline rather than via a tour operator) in 1997, initially linking a number of secondary German airports to Mallorca.<ref name="AB history"/> By 2002, 35 percent of Air Berlin's tickets were sold directly.<ref name="AB lowcost expansion (2)">{{cite journal|title=Air Berlin retains 737s to extend low-fares arm|journal=[[Flight International]]|date=22 October 2002|page=10|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%203082.html|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> In the same year, the airline expanded beyond holiday destinations as low-fare flights marketed as "City Shuttle" to London, [[Barcelona]], Milan and Vienna started.<ref name="AB history"/><ref name="AB lowcost expansion (2)"/> Besides Berlin-Tegel, these routes were opened at six German airports ([[Dortmund Airport|Dortmund]], [[Düsseldorf Airport|Düsseldorf]], [[Hamburg Airport|Hamburg]], [[Münster Osnabrück Airport|Münster/Osnabrück]], [[Nuremberg Airport|Nuremberg]], and [[Paderborn Lippstadt Airport|Paderborn/Lippstadt]])<ref name="AB lowcost expansion (1)">{{cite journal|title=Germany's low-fare sector expands|journal=[[Flight International]]|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%202759.html|date=17 September 2002|page=11|access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> that until then had not been served by one of the rising European low-cost carriers.<ref name="AB lowcost expansion (2)"/> In what later became a hallmark for Air Berlin as a "semi-low cost carrier", the airline offered complimentary meals and seat reservations,<ref name="AB lowcost expansion (1)"/> in contrast to its competitors [[Buzz (airline)|Buzz]], [[Hapag-Lloyd Express]], [[Ryanair]] and [[Virgin Express]].

===2000–2006: Becoming Germany's second-largest airline===
In November 2001, the delivery flight of a Boeing 737-800 fitted with winglets set a record: the aircraft with the registration code D-ABBC flew 8,345 kilometres non-stop from Seattle ([[Boeing Field]]), USA to Berlin (TXL), Germany in 9 hours, 10 minutes.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In January 2004, Air Berlin announced it would cooperate with [[Niki (airline)|Niki]], a Vienna-based airline.<ref name="AB history"/> As part of the deal, Air Berlin took a 24% stake in Niki.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Pilling |title=Air Berlin sets growth path |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/air-berlin-sets-growth-path/57713.article |access-date=6 October 2024 |work=[[FlightGlobal]] |date=1 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006150149/https://www.flightglobal.com/air-berlin-sets-growth-path/57713.article |archive-date=6 October 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Air Berlin Old Logo.png|thumb|left|The old Air Berlin logo used from 1986 until 2008.]]

In 2005, the Group reorganised its corporate structure. It established Air Berlin plc (registered in England) into which it reversed Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG and subsidiaries.<ref>[http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/airberlin-Aktie/Historie-Boersengang/2006-04-19-Air_Berlin-Consolidated_Financial_Statements_6/2006-04-19-Air_Berlin-Consolidated_Financial_Statements_6.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521112326/http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/airberlin-Aktie/Historie-Boersengang/2006-04-19-Air_Berlin-Consolidated_Financial_Statements_6/2006-04-19-Air_Berlin-Consolidated_Financial_Statements_6.pdf|date=21 May 2014}} Financial Statements 2003–2005 – see page 10</ref> It was suggested that the reason for the group to establish a UK-based PLC instead of a German-based AG was to avoid the need to have a supervisory board and employee representation as required by the German law of ''Mitbestimmung'' or [[co-determination]].<ref>[https://www.ft.com/content/bcb22316-eac2-11da-9566-0000779e2340] German companies flee to the UK</ref>

In 2006, Air Berlin [[initial public offering|went public]] on the [[Frankfurt Stock Exchange]]. Originally scheduled for 5 May 2006, the IPO was postponed to 11 May 2006. The company said the delay was due to rises in fuel costs and other market pressures limiting investor demand. It reduced the initial share-price range from 15.0 to 17.5 [[euro]]s to 11.5–14.5 euros. The stock opened at €12.0, selling a total of 42.5 million shares. Of these, 19.6 million were new shares increasing capital in the company, and the remainder to repay loans extended by the original shareholders and invested in the company earlier in 2006. After the IPO, the company claimed to have over 400 million euros in cash to fund further expansion, including aircraft purchases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2006/05/05/afx2724067.html|title=Air Berlin lowers price range for IPO to 11.50–14.50 eur/shr vs 15.00–17.50|last=Kjetland|first=Ragnhild|date=5 May 2006|work=[[Forbes]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804235127/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2006/05/05/afx2724067.html|archive-date=4 August 2011}}</ref>

In August 2006, Air Berlin acquired German domestic airline [[DBA (airline)|dba]].<ref name="dba takeover">{{cite news|title=Air Berlin darf DBA übernehmen|url=http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/a-435546.html|access-date=18 August 2013|newspaper=Manager Magazin ([[:de:Manager Magazin|de]])|date=6 September 2009|language=de}}</ref> Flight operations at dba were continued as a fully owned subsidiary of Air Berlin until 14 November 2008, when the dba brand was discontinued due to staff strikes (dba staff were subsequently offered positions with Air Berlin).

On 28 November 2006, Air Berlin ordered 60 [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-800]] aircraft,<ref name="boeing order">{{cite news|title=Wachstumskurs: Air Berlin bestellt 60 Boeing-Maschinen|url=http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/artikel/a-435546.html|access-date=18 August 2013|newspaper=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=28 November 2011|language=de}}</ref> and 15 smaller [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]] aircraft. The value of the 75 aircraft was 5.1 billion [[US dollar]]s (based on list prices at the time.) Delivery of the aircraft started in 2007. All of these aircraft were equipped with blended [[Wingtip device|winglets]], to improve fuel efficiency.

===2007–2012: Takeovers, expansion and new alliances===
[[File:Air Berlin 737-76Q D-ABBN ZRH 0921739.jpg|thumb|left|In 2005, one of Air Berlin's [[Boeing 737-700]]s featured a special livery promoting Boeing's ''[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Dreamliner]]'' program.]]
[[File:Air Berlin Airbus A330-200 Prasertwit-3.jpg|thumb|left|Following the takeover of [[LTU International|LTU]] in 2007, the [[Airbus A330-200]] ''(pictured)'' became part of Air Berlin's fleet. This long-haul aircraft enabled the airline to fly to intercontinental destinations like [[Bangkok]] (as in this case, depicting an approach to [[Suvarnabhumi Airport]] in 2008).]]
In March 2007, Air Berlin took over German leisure airline [[LTU International|LTU]], gaining access to the long-haul market and becoming the fourth-largest airline group in Europe in terms of passenger traffic. This deal led to the introduction of [[Airbus A321]] and [[Airbus A330]] aircraft into Air Berlin's fleet. On 1 May 2009, the LTU brand was discontinued.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

On 7 July 2007, Air Berlin announced an order for 25 [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner]] long-haul aircraft, with further options and purchase rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q3/070707c_nr.html |title=Boeing, Air Berlin announce order for 25 787 Dreamliners |publisher=Boeing |date=7 July 2007 |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008180449/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2007/q3/070707c_nr.html |archive-date=8 October 2012 }}</ref> Three additional aircraft of this type were to be leased from [[International Lease Finance Corporation]].{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

On 21 August 2007, Air Berlin acquired a 49 percent shareholding in Swiss charter airline [[Belair (airline)|Belair]], the remainder being owned by tour operator Hotelplan.<ref name="DK">{{cite news | author= David Kaminski-Morrow | title= Air Berlin LTU move driven by access to Düsseldorf | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 9 | date= 3 April 2007}}</ref> Following the deal, Belair's long-haul business was terminated, and the fleet was replaced by [[Airbus A320 family]] aircraft operating scheduled flights on behalf of Air Berlin as well as charter flights for Hotelplan. On 20 September 2007, Air Berlin announced it intended to buy its competitor [[Condor Flugdienst|Condor]] in a deal that envisaged Condor's owner, [[Thomas Cook Group]], taking a 30% stake in Air Berlin.<ref name=condor>{{cite news|title=Übernahmen: Air Berlin greift nach Condor|url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/uebernahmen-air-berlin-greift-nach-condor-a-506816.html|access-date=18 August 2013|newspaper=[[Spiegel Online]]|date=20 September 2007|language=de}}</ref> However, the [[2000s energy crisis|rapidly increasing price of jet fuel]] and other considerations led to the abandonment of the deal in July 2008.

In January 2008 Air Berlin introduced a new logo and corporate design. The logo is a white oval shape on a red background (suggesting an aircraft window) where the letter "a" is a white circle and two white stylised wings. The text "Air Berlin" was in lower case and written as one word. Sometimes the slogan "Your Airline" was featured as part of the logo.<ref>''Airways'' (Qubein, R., The Two Faces of Air Berlin), Vol. 17, No. 9, pp. 35, Airways International Inc., Sandpoint, November 2010</ref> In June 2008, CEO Joachim Hunold offended [[Catalan language]] speakers, when he claimed<ref>[http://www.vilaweb.cat/media/attach/vwedts/docs/airberlin.pdf Air Berlin Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021111735/https://www.vilaweb.cat/media/attach/vwedts/docs/airberlin.pdf |date=21 October 2020 }}{{in lang|de}}</ref> in an article included in Air Berlin's [[in-flight magazine]] that the government of the [[Balearic Islands]] was trying to impose the use of Catalan on Air Berlin flights from and to [[Majorca]]. He claimed that Air Berlin was an international airline and was not obliged to use Catalan. Hunold went on to criticise the language policy in [[Catalonia]] and the Balearic Islands, claiming that at the time many children could not speak any Spanish.<ref>[http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2884638 Vilaweb, 5 June 2008.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607232859/http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2884638 |date=7 June 2008 }}{{in lang|ca}}</ref> The Balearic Islands' president, [[Francesc Antich]], explained that his government had simply sent a letter to encourage airlines operating in the Balearic Islands to include Catalan among the languages used for onboard announcements.<ref>[http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2884866 Vilaweb, 6 June 2008.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608230410/http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=2884866 |date=8 June 2008 }}{{in lang|ca}}</ref>

On 18 June of the same year, Air Berlin announced that it would reduce its long-haul services by 13 percent and its domestic services by 10 percent to increase profitability.<ref>''Business finance news – currency market news – online UK currency markets – financial news – Interactive Investor'', Iii.co.uk, Retrieved on 15 December 2010.</ref> In September 2008, Air Berlin confirmed merger talks with competitor [[TUI fly Deutschland|TUIfly]], but added it was speaking with all parties. Air Berlin had, until 2007, been flying many code-share TUI flights. At the end of March 2009, Air Berlin PLC and TUI Travel PLC signed a deal by which their German flight businesses were to operate a long-term strategic alliance. Originally, each company was to take a 19.9% stake in the other and the German cartel authorities were petitioned for approval. After the Bundeskartellamt expressed concerns, the cross-ownership plan was not implemented. Instead, TUI Travel PLC purchased a 9.9% stake in Air Berlin PLC using a capital increase at a subsidiary to do so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-news/ad-hoc-releases/2009/releases/10/2009-10-07-Air-Berlin-PLC---TUI-Travel-PLC-group-company-acquires-9-9---of-Air-Berlin-PLC |title=AirBerlin |access-date=2013-03-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110164531/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-news/ad-hoc-releases/2009/releases/10/2009-10-07-Air-Berlin-PLC---TUI-Travel-PLC-group-company-acquires-9-9---of-Air-Berlin-PLC |archive-date=10 January 2014 }}. Air-Berlin-Press Release, 7 October 2009.</ref>

At the end of March 2009, a strategic partnership agreement with [[TUI Travel]] was signed, with Air Berlin and its competitor [[TUIfly]] purchasing 19.9 percent of the other's shares.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/archiv/2009/03/2009-03-28-TUI-Travel-PLC-und-Air-Berlin-besiegeln-strategische-Allianz-fuer-ihr-deutsches-Fluggeschaeft |title=TUI Travel PLC und Air Berlin besiegeln strategische Allianz für ihr deutsches Fluggeschäft |publisher=Airberlin.com |date=18 August 2013|language=de |access-date=2012-03-28}}</ref> Following the deal, Air Berlin took over all German domestic TUIfly routes, as well as those to Italy, [[Croatia]] and Austria. Also, all of Tuifly's [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]] aircraft were added to Air Berlin's fleet. TUIfly was to abandon all scheduled flights and rely exclusively on the charter business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=1540&LANG=eng |title=Air Berlin information on the taking over of TUIfly routes. Retrieved 31 October 2009 |publisher=Airberlin.com |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325133703/http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=1540&LANG=eng |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref>

In March 2009, ESAS Holding A.S., a Turkish company, bought approximately 15 per cent of the voting shares in Air Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=1288&LANG=eng |title=ESAS Holding A.S. acquires a 15 percent stake in Air Berlin PLC |publisher=Airberlin.com |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325124353/http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=1288&LANG=eng |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref> Also in 2009, Air Berlin added [[Hartmut Mehdorn]] to the board of directors after his retirement at [[Deutsche Bahn]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20130412071108/http://www.ftd.de/karriere/who-is-who/:umstieg-aufs-flugzeug-duo-infernale/535034.html ''Duo Infernale''] 2 July 2009</ref>

{| class="wikitable floatleft"
|+ Air Berlin Group
|-
!Company
!Interest
|-
| airberlin technik GmbH || align=right|100 %
|-
| airberlin Holidays GmbH || align=right|{{0}}49 %
|-
| [[Belair (airline)|Belair]] || align=right|100 %
|-
| [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] || align=right|100 %
|}

In April 2010 Air Berlin expanded its codeshare arrangements with Russia's [[S7 Airlines]]. Air Berlin and S7 Airlines had cooperated since October 2008. New services included codeshare flights via Moscow to [[Irkutsk]], [[Perm, Russia|Perm]] and [[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=2039&LANG=eng |title=Air Berlin is expanding its codeshare arrangements with S7 Airlines |publisher=Airberlin.com |date=31 May 2010 |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325125009/http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=2039&LANG=eng |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref>

In July 2010, Air Berlin announced an increase in its shareholding in the Austrian airline [[Niki (airline)|Niki]]. Air Berlin indirectly acquired 25.9% of the shares in Niki from Privatstiftung Lauda (private Lauda foundation) and in doing so increased its shareholding in Niki from 24% to 49.9%. In connection with the increase of its shareholding, Air Berlin was to grant the private Lauda foundation a 40.5 million-euro loan. The private foundation had the options to repay the loan in three years with cash or through the transfer of the remaining 50.1% of Niki's shares.<ref>[https://archive.today/20110910035416/http://ir.airberlin.com/index.php?detail=1&id=474&L=2&c=0a2a11e44c09c5e321995d7d9432cc53 Air Berlin PLC / Increase in shareholding in Niki from 24% to 49.9% is completed]</ref>

[[File:AirBerlin Oneworld 737 landing at Düsseldorf.JPG|thumb|right|After becoming a member of [[Oneworld]], several Air Berlin aircraft displayed the alliance's logo, as seen on this [[Boeing 737-800]].]]
In July 2010, it was also announced that Air Berlin would join [[Oneworld]], the global [[airline alliance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/archives/215767.asp?source=rss|title=Air Berlin to join oneworld alliance|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=26 July 2010|access-date=26 July 2010}}</ref> In preparation for joining the alliance, Air Berlin made codeshare agreements with [[Finnair]] and [[American Airlines]] starting with the 2010/2011 winter schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=2278&LANG=eng |title=Air Berlin concludes codeshare agreements with American Airlines and Finnair after joining oneworld |publisher=Airberlin.com |date=27 July 2010 |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325133840/http://www.airberlin.com/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=2278&LANG=eng |archive-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref> Air Berlin planned to operate an [[airline hub]] at [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport]] together with its Oneworld partners from the originally planned opening in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airliners.de/air-berlin-baut-hauptstadt-drehkreuz-aus/25577 |title=Air Berlin baut Hauptstadt-Drehkreuz aus |language=de |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref> The delayed opening of the new airport made it difficult to operate a hub, as the infrastructure at Tegel was not designed for a hub.

Air Berlin founded Follow Me Entertainment GmbH in September 2010 as a joint venture with kick-media ag. This joint-venture company markets image and sound media, books, games as well as events, concerts, tournaments and sponsoring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2010/09/2010-09-09-follow-me-entertainment--Gemeinsamer-Take-off-von-airberlin-und-kick-media |title=follow me entertainment: Gemeinsamer Take-off von airberlin und kick-media |language=de |publisher=Airberlin.com |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>

On 1 April 2011 Air Berlin completed the integration of LTU. All Air Berlin Group technical services were consolidated in a new company called airberlin technik GmbH.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/03/2011-03-31-airberlin-Successful-LTU-Integration |title=Successful LTU Integration |publisher=Air Berlin |date=31 March 2011 |access-date=18 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110170321/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/03/2011-03-31-airberlin-Successful-LTU-Integration |archive-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also added new routes, more frequent flights and additional long-haul flights from Düsseldorf.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/04/2011-04-13-airberlin-focuses-increasingly-on-D%C3%BCsseldorf |title=Airberlin focuses increasingly on Düsseldorf |publisher=Air Berlin |date=13 April 2011 |access-date=18 August 2013 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818135159/https://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/04/2011-04-13-airberlin-focuses-increasingly-on-D%C3%BCsseldorf |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 15 June 2011, Air Berlin and [[British Airways]] reached a codeshare agreement covering some flights within Europe, starting from 5 July 2011. The agreement applied to flights to over 40 European destinations served by the two airlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2011/06/2011-06-15-airberlin-and-British-Airways--codeshare-agreement-from-July |title=Airberlin and British Airways: codeshare agreement from July |publisher=Air Berlin |date=15 June 2011 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> CEO Joachim Hunold resigned from his position on 1 September 2011 and was succeeded by the former CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, Hartmut Mehdorn, who led the company on an interim basis until January 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/hartmut-mehdorn-geht-als-chef-von-air-berlin-a-876048.html | title=Mehdorn tritt als Chef von Air Berlin ab | work=Spiegel | date=7 January 2013 | language=de}}</ref>

In November 2011 Air Berlin and [[Pegasus Airlines]] (Turkey's largest private airline) launched ''Air Berlin Turkey'', aiming at the charter market between Germany and Turkey. Pegasus Airlines is 16.5% owned by ESAS Holding AS.<ref>[https://www.cortalconsors.de/Kurse-Maerkte/Aktien/Kurs-Snapshot/Profil/Unternehmensprofil/GB00B128C026-AIR-BERLIN-PLC-REGISTERED-SHARES-EO--25 ''Cortal Unternehmensprofil''] auf ''cortalconsors.de''.</ref><ref>[http://www.airliners.de/management/strategie/air-berlin-und-pegasus-mit-neuem-produkt/25021 ''Air Berlin und Pegasus mit neuem Produkt''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921065503/http://www.airliners.de/management/strategie/air-berlin-und-pegasus-mit-neuem-produkt/25021 |date=21 September 2011 }} auf ''airliners.de'' 25. August 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aero.de/news-13360/Air-Berlin8.html | title=Türkische ESAS-Holding plant neuen Charteranbieter | publisher=aero.de | date=26 August 2011 | language=de }}</ref> The new airline was absorbed into Pegasus Airlines on 31 March 2013.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In the third quarter of 2011, the turnover of the company amounted to 1.4 billion euros, an increase of 11%. However, operating profit decreased by almost 50% to around 97 million euros. As a result, a new bond to raise additional capital was issued.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airliners.de/wirtschaft/kennzahlen/air-berlin-weiter-im-sinkflug-/25535 | title=Air Berlin weiter im Sinkflug | publisher=airliners.de | date=26 October 2011 | language=de | access-date=19 March 2013 | archive-date=30 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130213128/http://www.airliners.de/wirtschaft/kennzahlen/air-berlin-weiter-im-sinkflug-/25535 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In November 2011 Air Berlin took over the remaining 50.1% stake in NIKI as repayment of a loan and became its sole owner. The brand name was retained and Niki Lauda was given a position on the board of Air Berlin.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airliners.de/wirtschaft/kapitalmarkt/air-berlin-uebernimmt-niki-komplett/25639 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723121836/http://www.airliners.de/wirtschaft/kapitalmarkt/air-berlin-uebernimmt-niki-komplett/25639 | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 July 2012 | title=Air Berlin übernimmt Niki komplett | publisher=airliners.de | date=8 November 2011 }}</ref>

Air Berlin announced on 19 December 2011 that [[Etihad Airways]] had increased its share of Air Berlin from 2.99% to 29.1%, for a sum of 73 million euros, making Etihad the company's largest shareholder.<ref name="Folgen des Etihad-Berlin-Deals">{{cite web | url=http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/handel-dienstleister/:luftfahrt-allianz-die-folgen-des-etihad-berlin-deals/60144638.html | title=Die Folgen des Etihad-Berlin-Deals | publisher=ftd.de | date=19 December 2011 | language=de | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107192337/http://www.ftd.de/unternehmen/handel-dienstleister/:luftfahrt-allianz-die-folgen-des-etihad-berlin-deals/60144638.html | archive-date=7 January 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> The deal supplied more cash to Air Berlin, and provided Etihad access to Air Berlin's European network.<ref name="Folgen des Etihad-Berlin-Deals"/>

===2012–2015: Restructuring amid continuing losses===
[[File:Airberlin aircraft at Berlin Tegel Airport.jpg|thumb|Air Berlin aircraft at Terminal C of [[Berlin Tegel Airport]] in September 2014]]
The cooperation of the frequent-flyer programs topbonus and Etihad Guest was announced in March 2012.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130116111212/http://www.airberlin.com/de-DE/site/pressnews_dr.php?ID=3566 ''Air-Berlin-Press Release'', 16 January 2012]</ref> In June 2012, the collaboration concluded with the bonus programs airberlin business points and Etihad Airways Business Connect for [[Small and medium-sized enterprises|SMBs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/06/2012-06-11-Etihad-Airways-and-airberlin-team-up-on-SME-rewards|title=airberlin press – Etihad Airways and airberlin team up on SME rewards|website=www.airberlingroup.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924081604/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/06/2012-06-11-Etihad-Airways-and-airberlin-team-up-on-SME-rewards|archive-date=24 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 20 March 2012, the entry into Oneworld was officially completed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airliners.de/management/strategie/air-berlin-tritt-oneworld-bei/26693 | title=Air Berlin tritt Oneworld bei | publisher=airliners.de | date=20 March 2012 | language=de | access-date=19 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322215637/http://www.airliners.de/management/strategie/air-berlin-tritt-oneworld-bei/26693 | archive-date=22 March 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The Oneworld network offered over 800 destinations in 150 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2012/03/2012-03-20-airberlin-ist-oneworld-Mitglied|title=airberlin presse – airberlin ist oneworld Mitglied|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> At the same time, the airline introduced the Platinum status for its frequent-flyer program topbonus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/03/2012-03-07-airberlin-expands-frequent-flyer-program|title=airberlin press – airberlin expands frequent flyer program|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> In May 2012 Air Berlin presented its new fare structure "Your Fare" including "Just Fly", "Fly Classic" and "FlyFlex" for flights from 1 July 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/05/2012-05-22-airberlin-New-Your-Fare-fare-structure|title=airberlin press – airberlin: New "YourFare" fare structure|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> On 11 May 2012 Air Berlin opened its triweekly non-stop flight from Berlin to Los Angeles in the summer schedule, a destination which until then had only been served from Düsseldorf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/05/2012-05-11-Fly-to-Hollywood-with-airberlin--Berlin---Los-Angeles-three-times-a-week|title=airberlin press – Fly to Hollywood with airberlin: Berlin – Los Angeles three times a week|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> On 18 December 2012 Air Berlin announced that ''topbonus'', its frequent flyer program, would be sold to Etihad Airways; only a 30-percent minority share would be retained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/18-topbonus-carve-out-to-offer-new-opportunities|title=airberlin press – topbonus carve out to offer new customer and business opportunities, while improving 2012 financial results|website=www.airberlingroup.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029214346/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/18-topbonus-carve-out-to-offer-new-opportunities|archive-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Air Berlin also announced the expansion of the existing codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways on 20 December 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/20-airberlin-and-Etihad-Airways-expand-codeshare-|title=airberlin press – airberlin and Etihad Airways expand codeshare|website=www.airberlingroup.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131041148/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/20-airberlin-and-Etihad-Airways-expand-codeshare-|archive-date=31 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2013, the first Airbus A330-200 was introduced with a new business class which enabled a fully flat position for the first time.<ref name="business class">{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2013/01/03-The-new-airberlin-Business-Class|title=airberlin press – The new airberlin Business Class|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> On 7 January 2013 Air Berlin appointed Austrian Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, former Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, as the company's CEO, replacing Hartmut Mehdorn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2013/01/07-Wolfgang-Prock-Schauer-to-be-the-new-CEO-at-airberlin|title=airberlin press – Wolfgang Prock-Schauer to be the new CEO at airberlin|website=www.airberlingroup.com|access-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524020543/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2013/01/07-Wolfgang-Prock-Schauer-to-be-the-new-CEO-at-airberlin|archive-date=24 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Air Berlin started flights between Berlin and Chicago on 23 March 2013. It cancelled the seasonal non-stop flights to Las Vegas, San Francisco and Vancouver.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/02-airberlin-countdown-inaugural-Berlin-Chicago-flight-takes-off-in-111-days|title=airberlin press – airberlin countdown: inaugural Berlin-Chicago flight takes off in 111 days|website=www.airberlingroup.com|access-date=27 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816012348/http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/12/02-airberlin-countdown-inaugural-Berlin-Chicago-flight-takes-off-in-111-days|archive-date=16 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2013 Air Berlin announced the closure of its seasonal hub for leisure destinations at [[Nuremberg Airport]]. Only ten year-round direct routes remained.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airliners.de/air-berlin-streicht-touristik-drehkreuz-in-nuernberg/29329 |title=Air Berlin streicht Touristik-Drehkreuz in Nürnberg |publisher=airliners.de |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=2013-06-30}}</ref>

On 24 September 2014, Air Berlin cancelled the remaining 15 orders for their [[Boeing 787]]s as well as 18 remaining orders for [[Boeing 737-800]]s as part of their restructuring programme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airliners.de/air-berlin-bestellung-33-boeing-flugzeugen/33713|title=Air Berlin storniert Boeing-Bestellungen|access-date=2016-08-22}}</ref> In October 2014, the [[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt]] denied Air Berlin authorization to operate 34 routes as a codeshare with co-owner Etihad from the 2014/2015 winter schedule as they would contravene the bilateral traffic rights between Germany and the UAE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ch-aviation.com/portal/news/31817-air-berlin-to-take-lba-to-court-over-etihad-codeshare-rejection|title=Air Berlin to take LBA to court over Etihad codeshare rejection}}</ref>
Also in October 2014, Air Berlin announced the termination of flights to [[Palma de Mallorca]] from both [[Bremen Airport]] and [[Dortmund Airport]], therefore withdrawing entirely from these two German airports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.touristik-aktuell.de/nachrichten/verkehr/news/datum/2014/10/15/air-berlin-rueckzug-aus-dortmund/|title=Air Berlin: Rückzug aus Dortmund|publisher=Euro Business Communication Verlag GmbH|date=7 October 2021}}</ref>

Air Berlin announced a net loss for 2014 of €376m (€316m loss in 2013). The airline's revenues in 2014 stagnated at €4.16 billion.<ref name="2014 report"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fvw.com/air-berlin-restructuring-ahead-after-record-loss/393/142252/11245|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418223507/http://www.fvw.com/air-berlin-restructuring-ahead-after-record-loss/393/142252/11245|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2015|title=Air Berlin: Restructuring ahead after record loss|first=FVW Medien|last=GmbH}}</ref>

In September 2015, Air Berlin phased out the last [[Boeing 737-700]]s owned by the company. The remaining aircraft of this type would operate on a wet lease basis from [[TUIfly]] until 2019. All [[Boeing 737-800]]s were to be phased out by 2016 as Air Berlin plans to focus their short- and medium-haul fleet on the [[Airbus A320|Airbus A320 family]] to cut costs.<ref name="aero.de-737">[http://www.aero.de/news-22527/Air-Berlin-gibt-letzte-eigene-737-700-ab.html aero.de – "Air Berlin phases out last own 737-700"] (German) 28 September 2015</ref> In November 2015, Air Berlin announced the closure of its [[Palma de Mallorca Airport]] hub by ceasing all of the hub's seven Spanish domestic routes by 3 April 2016.<ref>[http://www.mallorcazeitung.es/unterwegs/2015/11/12/air-berlin-verzichtet-drehkreuz-mallorca/39678.html mallorcazeitung.es – Air Berlin verzichtet auf Drehkreuz Mallorca ("Air Berlin waives Mallorca hub")] (German) 16 November 2015</ref><ref name="PMIshutdown">[http://www.airliners.de/air-berlin-drehkreuz-mallorca/37209 airliners.de – "Air Berlin shuts down Mallorca hub"] (German) 18 November 2015</ref> Some days earlier, the airline announced plans to add flights from Düsseldorf to Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Francisco and Havana by spring 2016.<ref>[http://www.aero.de/news-22873/Air-Berlin-setzt-auf-Langstrecken-und-Einsparungen.html aero.de – Pichler: Air Berlin ist auf dem Weg zu einer Netz-Airline ("Pichler: Air Berlin becoming a network airline")] (German) 11 November 2015</ref> However, the planned route to Dallas/Fort Worth was cancelled a few weeks later due to low demand.<ref>[http://www.aero.de/news-23332/Air-Berlin-sagt-Strecke-nach-Dallas-ab.html aero.de – "Air Berlin cancels Dallas route"] (German) 28 January 2016</ref> On 30 December 2015, the administrative court in [[Braunschweig]] ruled in favour of the German civil aviation authority (the [[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt]]) and against Air Berlin regarding some of their codeshare operations with [[Etihad Airways]]. The shared sale and advertising of 31 out of 83 routes which were marketed by both were declared illegal and ordered stopped by 15 January 2016 as they were not covered by the bilateral air-traffic agreement between Germany and the UAE. The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt had allowed these flights until a definite legal ruling was made.<ref>[http://www.aero.de/news-23175/Gericht-laesst-umstrittene-Gemeinschaftsfluege-von-Air-Berlin-nicht-zu.html aero.de – Gericht verbietet weiterhin Gemeinschaftsflüge von Air Berlin ("court forbids shared flights of Air Berlin")] (German) 30 December 2015</ref>

===2016–2017: Restructuring efforts===
In April 2016, Air Berlin announced a record loss of €446 million for 2015; the airline's revenues had decreased to €4.08 billion.<ref name="2015 report"/> Amongst the reasons considered for Air Berlin's poor performance were: crippling debt of over €800m; unclear and rapid strategy changes on routes and advertising; several [[CEO]]s over recent years; a five-year-plus delay to the new hub [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport]]; failed negotiations to profit from lower fuel prices and the overall harsh competition in the airline industry.<ref name="spiegelmay">[http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/air-berlin-geht-zum-boersenjubilaeum-die-luft-aus-a-1091671.html spiegel.de – "Air Berlin runs out of air"] (German) 11 May 2016</ref> In July 2016, Air Berlin confirmed that it no longer owned any of the aircraft it operates, having sold and leased back the last of the aircraft it had previously owned.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aero.de/news-24537/Air-Berlin-fliegt-nur-noch-mit-geleasten-Flugzeugen.html | publisher=aero.de | title=Air Berlin only operates leased planes | language=de | date=10 July 2016}}</ref> A few weeks later it was reported that Air Berlin and Etihad Airways were in talks with [[Lufthansa]] regarding the latter's acquisition of some of Air Berlin's routes outside of the Berlin and Düsseldorf hubs as well as some staff and aircraft leases.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aero.de/news-24617/Etihad-sieht-gute-Chance-fuer-Air-Berlin-Teilverkauf-an-Lufthansa.html | publisher=aero.de | title=Etihad sees good chances of partial sale of Air Berlin to Lufthansa | language=de | date=20 July 2016}}</ref> Also in July 2016, Air Berlin announced the increase of flights to the United States from 55 to 78 nonstops per week for 2017. Besides some frequency increases, Los Angeles and San Francisco were to be served from Berlin as well as by the then existing Düsseldorf routes. And a new Düsseldorf-[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] route was announced.<ref>[http://www.aero.de/news-24697/Air-Berlin-mit-deutlich-mehr-USA-Fluegen-im-Sommer-2017.html aero.de – "Air Berlin with significantly more US flights in summer 2017"] (German) 2 August 2016</ref> A few days later, the airline announced the introduction of a business class on its short- and medium-haul flights.<ref name="newbusinessclass"/>

In December 2016, Air Berlin announced [[Stefan Pichler]]'s departure after serving two years as CEO and replacement by former head of [[Germanwings]], [[Thomas Winkelmann]] on 1 February.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-air-berlin-managementchanges-idUSKBN1470KQ|title=Air Berlin appoints new CEO following restructuring|date=2016-12-18|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-12-19}}</ref>

====The "new Air Berlin" project====
On 28 September 2016, Air Berlin announced ''The new airberlin'', a restructuring project including the reduction of its destinations from around 140 to 70, the focus on the Berlin and Düsseldorf hubs and on the smaller bases in Stuttgart and Munich, the closure of six other bases, the targeting of business travellers, focus on domestic German flights and on flights to Italy, Scandinavia and eastern Europe, the expansion of its long-haul network, and the loss of up to 1,200 jobs.<ref name="officialpressrelease">{{cite web | url=http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/EN/Events-Dates/Conference-Calls/2016/Presentation-Analysts---Investors-Call-The-new-airberlin/Presentation%20Analysts%20%26%20Investors%20Call%20The%20new%20airberlin.pdf?1475135099 | title=The new airberlin; analyst presentation | publisher=airberlin | access-date=29 September 2016 | archive-date=1 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001190731/http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/EN/Events-Dates/Conference-Calls/2016/Presentation-Analysts---Investors-Call-The-new-airberlin/Presentation%20Analysts%20%26%20Investors%20Call%20The%20new%20airberlin.pdf?1475135099 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Air Berlin, including its subsidiaries [[Belair (airline)|Belair]] and [[Niki (airline)|Niki]], planned to cut 40 of its fleet of 118 narrowbody jets, leaving Air Berlin with its own fleet of 75 aircraft. The new fleet would be 17 Airbus A330-200 for long-haul operations and 40 Airbus A320 family aircraft and 18 Bombardier Q400 aircraft for European routes.<ref name="officialpressrelease"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/49714-air-berlin-confirms-lufthansa-group-leasing-plans-job-cuts|title=Air Berlin confirms Lufthansa Group leasing plans; job cuts}}</ref> A separate, tourist-destination-oriented unit with 35 aircraft was to be formed, perhaps operating with a partner ([[TUIfly]] was the assumed partner as they already operate several aircraft for Air Berlin)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aero.de/news-25062/Air-Berlin-moeglicherweise-vor-Halbierung.html|title=Air Berlin vor Aufteilung an Lufthansa und Tuifly|date=26 September 2016}}</ref> – or sold altogether.<ref name="officialpressrelease"/> Plans to wet lease the remaining aircraft were realised with the December 2016 announcement that 38 Airbus A319/A320 aircraft would be wet leased to Lufthansa Group's Eurowings (33 aircraft) and Austrian Airlines (five), effective February 2017 for a period of six years.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hofmann|first1=Kurt|title=Lufthansa, Etihad finalize codeshare, wet lease of 38 airberlin aircraft|url=http://atwonline.com/airframes/lufthansa-etihad-finalize-codeshare-wet-lease-38-airberlin-aircraft|access-date=16 December 2016|work=Air Transport World|date=16 December 2016}}</ref>

In October 2016, Air Berlin announced plans to close four of its seven ''airberlin Technik'' maintenance facilities and lay off 500 of their staff.<ref name="abtechnikshutdown">[https://archive.today/20161026023650/http://www.rbb-online.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2016/10/air-berlin-will-bundesweit-500-stellen-streichen.html rbb-online.de – "Air Berlin wants to cancel nearly 500 staff nationwide"] (German) 14 October 2016</ref> On 5 December 2016, Air Berlin announced plans to sell its entire 49-percent stake in its Austrian subsidiary [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] to its own minority owner, [[Etihad Airways]].<ref name="nikisale">[http://www.aero.de/news-25567/Air-Berlin-spaltet-Niki-und-A321-Flotte-ab.html aero.de – "Air Berlin separates Niki and A321-fleet"] (German) 5 December 2016</ref><ref name="nikisale2"/> It was also announced that Niki will take over several routes to southern European, north African and Turkish leisure destinations from Air Berlin as part of the new joint-venture.<ref name="nikisale2">[http://www.austrianaviation.net/detail/fix-air-berlin-verkauft-niki-an-etihad/ austrianaviation.net – "Finalized: Air Berlin sells Niki to Etihad"] (German) 5 December 2016</ref> Also in December 2016, Air Berlin announced the transfer of its entire fleet of 21 A321-200s to Niki and Niki's transfer of all its 5 A319-100s and 13 A320-200s to Air Berlin.<ref name=ch051216/> Air Berlin would discontinue its wet lease with TUIfly.<ref name=ch051216>{{cite web|title=Air Berlin to sell Niki stake to Etihad (Dec 5, 2016)|url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/51374-air-berlin-to-sell-niki-stake-to-etihad|website=ch-aviation|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>

In January 2017, Air Berlin announced that for summer 2017, most leisure routes were to be either transferred to [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] or cancelled altogether and that some domestic and European city routes were to be dropped, leaving little more than the Berlin-Tegel and Düsseldorf hub operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flights.airberlin.com/de-DE/die-neue-airberlin#streckennetz|title=Das Streckennetz der new airberlin - airberlin.com|website=flights.airberlin.com|access-date=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211201131/https://flights.airberlin.com/de-DE/die-neue-airberlin#streckennetz|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 28 April 2017, a loss of [[Euro|€]] −781.9 million was announced for 2016, from a revenue of [[Euro|€]]3.79 billion.<ref name="2016 report">{{cite web |url=http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/dates-events/financial-calendar/2017/Publication-of-the-Annual-Report-2016 |title=airberlin IR Information concerning the FY 2016 and Q1 2017 results |publisher=ir.airberlin.com |date=28 April 2017 |access-date=28 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422042105/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/dates-events/financial-calendar/2017/Publication-of-the-Annual-Report-2016 |archive-date=22 April 2017 }}</ref> Also in late April 2017, Air Berlin confirmed the creation of ''Air Berlin Aeronautics [[GmbH]]'', a new subsidiary which was to have its own operational licence (AOC) to take over the [[Aircraft lease#Wet lease|wet lease]] operations handled by Air Berlin on behalf of [[Eurowings]] and [[Austrian Airlines]]. Therefore, the "actual" Air Berlin would focus on operations under its own brand name.<ref name="abaeronautics">[http://www.austrianaviation.net/detail/air-berlin-aeronautics-uebernimmt-osew-wetlease/ austrianaviation.net – "Air Berlin Aeronautics takes over EW/OS wetleases"] (German) 30 April 2017</ref> In May 2017, Air Berlin announced it would buy [[Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter]] entirely, in which it had a controlling stake since 2009.<ref>[http://www.austrianaviation.net/detail/air-berlin-uebernimmt-luftfahrtgesellschaft-walter/ austrianaviation.net – "Air Berlin takes over Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter"] (German) 25 May 2017</ref>

====Bankruptcy====
After [[Etihad]] stopped financial support, Air Berlin entered insolvency procedures on 15 August 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Berlin Files for Insolvency as Etihad Pulls Funding Plug|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-15/air-berlin-files-for-insolvency-after-etihad-withdraws-support|access-date=15 August 2017|work=Bloomberg|date=15 August 2017}}</ref> On 9 October 2017, Air Berlin told its staff that it would cease all remaining operations under its own ''AB'' flight numbers due to its negative financial outlook and bankruptcy proceedings.<ref name="ABshutdown">[http://www.aero.de/news-27642/Air-Berlin-leitet-den-Sinkflug-ein.html aero.de – "Air Berlin starts descent"] (German) 9 October 2017</ref> On 12 October 2017, Lufthansa Group agreed to buy 81 aircraft and employ 3,000 Air Berlin employees for €210 million, taking over the subsidiaries [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] and [[Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter]] with a total of 1700 employees. On 24 October 2017, the Berliner ''Zeitfracht Group'' confirmed it would take over the ''Leisure Cargo'' Düsseldorf company and its 60 employees. The creditors' committee approved a corresponding submission. Leisure Cargo conveys freight space on passenger flights.<ref>[https://www.abendblatt.de/wirtschaft/article212334871/Keine-Einigung-auf-Transfergesellschaft-fuer-Air-Berlin.html] Letzter Versuch für Auffanggesellschaft bei Air Berlin, 24 October 2017</ref> On 27 October 2017, it was announced that a 'consortium' of [[maintenance, repair, and operations]] provider ''Nayak Aircraft Services GmbH & Co. KG'' and Berliner ''Zeitfracht Group'' would purchase airberlin Technik, keeping over 300 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/60846-german-consortium-acquires-airberlin-technik|title=German consortium acquires airberlin Technik|date=27 October 2017}}</ref>

The final long-haul flight, from Miami to [[Düsseldorf]], was operated on 15 October 2017.<ref name="lap of honour">{{Cite news |title=Air Berlin pilot investigated for buzzing control tower in 'goodbye' to bankrupt airline |language=en |work=Global News |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3812963/air-berlin-pilot-investigated-for-buzzing-control-tower-in-goodbye-to-bankrupt-airline/ |access-date=2017-10-20}}</ref> On 27 October 2017, Air Berlin's final flight was operated by Airbus A320 D-ABNW. It departed from Munich at 21:36 and landed at Berlin Tegel at 22:45.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McCaleb|first1=David|title=Pilot des letzten Air Berlin Flugs: "Es wird keine Ehrenrunde geben"|url=http://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin/pilot-des-letzten-air-berlin-flugs-es-wird-keine-ehrenrunde-geben|website=BZ Berlin|access-date=6 November 2017|language=de|date=27 October 2017}}</ref> On 28 October 2017, it was announced that [[EasyJet]] would absorb 1,000 employees and lease 25 Airbus A320 aircraft for flights from Berlin Tegel for €40 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-air-berlin-m-a-easyjet/easyjet-clinches-parts-of-air-berlin-for-german-expansion-idUKKBN1CW31C|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028113235/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-air-berlin-m-a-easyjet/easyjet-clinches-parts-of-air-berlin-for-german-expansion-idUKKBN1CW31C|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2017|title=easyJet clinches parts of Air Berlin for German expansion|date=27 October 2017}}</ref>

Just over six years after filing for bankruptcy and ceasing all flight operations, Air Berlin's trademark rights were sold to Marcos Rossello, noting that he does not plan on mixing Air Berlin into a new branding for his own existing [[Sundair]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orban |first=André |date=2023-08-16 |title=The brand name 'Air Berlin' has been sold to the owner of Sundair |url=https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/the-brand-name-air-berlin-has-been-sold-to-the-owner-of-sundair/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Aviation24.be |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ede |first=Andrew |date=2023-08-17 |title=The return of what was Palma's number-one airline? |url=https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/holiday/travelling/2023/08/17/116121/mallorca-flights-the-return-what-was-palma-number-one-airline.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Majorca Daily Bulletin |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brand sale: Sundair founder buys 'Air Berlin' rights |url=https://www.fvw.de/international/travel-news/brand-sale-sundair-founder-buys-air-berlin-rights-236447 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=www.fvw.de |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eiselin |first=Stefan |date=2023-08-15 |title=Die Marke Air Berlin hat einen neuen Eigentümer |url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/sundair-gruender-kauft-marke-air-berlin |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=aeroTELEGRAPH |language=de-CH}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
===Head office===
[[File:17-04-11-konzernzentrale-AirBerlin-RalfR-DSC 0067.jpg|thumb| Air Berlin's former headquarters at the ''Airport Bureau Center'' in [[Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf]], Berlin.]]
The airline was headquartered at the Airport Bureau Center in [[Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf]], Berlin.<ref>"[http://www.airberlin.com/site/lageplan.php?LANG=eng Approach map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018100057/http://www.airberlin.com/site/lageplan.php?LANG=eng |date=18 October 2014 }}" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20081015000000*/http://www.airberlin.com/site/lageplan.php?LANG=eng Archive]). Air Berlin. Retrieved on 5 May 2010. The name "Airport Bureau Center" appears in an image.</ref>

===Flight school===
Air Berlin trained its own pilots since 2007 in a joint venture with the TFC Käufer flight school. Commercial pilot training lasted around 24 months. The Air Berlin flight school was the first flight school in Germany to be awarded a training licence by the German Department of Aviation for the new Multi-Crew Pilot Licence concept in February 2009.<ref>[http://www.airberlin-flightschool.com/ airberlin flightschool].</ref>

===Technical services===
Air Berlin had its own maintenance and overhaul branch, ''airberlin technik'' with facilities in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Nuremberg, which employed 1300 staff as of October 2016.<ref name="abtechnikshutdown"/> The technical branch was a certified EASA Part-145 maintenance organization with approximately 1200 employees providing services to both Air Berlin group aircraft and customers throughout Europe. airberlin technik was recognized and approved by various National Airworthiness Authorities such as USA FAA-145, Canadian CAA-145, Aruba EASA-145, Federal Aviation Authority of Russia, GCAA, United Arab Emirates.<ref>[http://www.airberlin-technik.com/index.php?LANG=eng airberlin technik]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119024730/http://www.airberlin-technik.com/index.php?LANG=eng |date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> In October 2016, Air Berlin announced it would close the technical bases in Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Nuremberg while laying off 500 staff due to restructuring measures.<ref name="abtechnikshutdown"/>

===Ownership===
Air Berlin PLC shares were publicly traded on [[Xetra (trading system)|Xetra]] and on the [[Frankfurt Stock Exchange]] in the regulated market. Trading in the regulated unofficial market occurred at the exchanges in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart.<ref name="Report">{{cite web | title= Air Berlin Annual Report 2013 | date= 31 August 2013 | url= http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/Termine-Veranstaltungen/Conference-Calls/2014/airberlin_GB2013_En/airberlin_GB2013_En.pdf | access-date= 30 September 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031848/http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/Termine-Veranstaltungen/Conference-Calls/2014/airberlin_GB2013_En/airberlin_GB2013_En.pdf | archive-date= 21 May 2014 | url-status= dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref> Since December 2011, [[Etihad Airways]] was the largest shareholder in Air Berlin. As of December 2015, the major shareholders (over 5%) were:<ref name="2015 report"/>

{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="margin:auto;"
|-
!Name
!Interest
|-
| [[Etihad Airways|Etihad Airways PJSC]] || align=center | 29.21% 
|-
| ESAS Holding AS (owners of [[Pegasus Airlines]]) || align=center | 12.02% 
|-
| Other shareholders || align=center | 58.77% 
|-
| '''Total''' || align=center |'''100.00 %''' 
|}

===Business trends===
Air Berlin was loss-making for several years. The key figures for the whole Air Berlin Group (including [[Niki (airline)|Niki]]) for the full years of operation leading up to its closure were (as at year ending 31 December):
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;text-align:center;"
|-
!
!2006
!2007
!2008
!2009
!2010
!2011
!2012
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
|-
| align=left| Turnover (€m)
| 1,575
| 2,537
| 3,401
| 3,240
| 3,850
| 4,227
| 4,312
| 4,147
| 4,160
| 4,081
! 3,785
|-
| align=left| Net profit (€m)
| 40.1
| 21.0
| {{color|red|−75.0}}
| {{color|red|−9.5}}
| {{color|red|−106.3}}
| {{color|red|−420.4}}
| 6.8
| {{color|red|−315.5}}
| {{color|red|−376.7}}
| {{color|red|−446.6}}
! {{color|red|−781.9}}
|-
| align=left| Number of employees
| 4,108
| 8,360
| 8,311
| 8,278
| 8,900
| 9,113
| 9,284
| 8,905
| 8,440
| 8,869
! 8,481
|-
| align=left| Number of passengers (m)
| 19.7
| 27.9
| 28.6
| 27.9
| 34.9
| 35.3
| 33.3
| 31.5
| 31.7
| 30.2
! 28.9
|-
| align=left| Passenger load factor (%)
| 75.3
| 77.3
| 78.4
| 77.5
| 76.8
| 84.5
| 83.6
| 84.9
| 83.5
| 84.2
! 84.3
|-
| align=left| Number of aircraft (at year end)
| 117
| 124
| 125
| 152
| 169
| 170
| 155
| 140
| 149
| 153
! 144
|-
| align=left| <small>''Notes/sources''</small>
| <ref>{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2006|date= January 2007|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2006|access-date= 20 March 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315011724/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2006|archive-date= 15 March 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2007|date= January 2008|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2007|access-date= 20 March 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130426042853/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2007|archive-date= 26 April 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2008|date= January 2009|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2008|access-date= 20 March 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315011729/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2008|archive-date= 15 March 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2009|date= January 2010|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2009|access-date= 20 March 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315151856/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2009|archive-date= 15 March 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2010|date= January 2011|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2010|access-date= 20 March 2013|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315011813/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2010|archive-date= 15 March 2013|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref name="2011 report">{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2011|date= January 2012|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2011|access-date= 20 March 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130315115356/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2011|archive-date= 15 March 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref>
| <ref name="2012 report">{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2012|date= January 2013|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2012|access-date= 20 March 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130314215424/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2012|archive-date= 14 March 2013|url-status= dead}}</ref>
| <ref name="2013 report">{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2013|date= April 2014|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/Termine-Veranstaltungen/Conference-Calls/2014/airberlin_GB2013_En/airberlin_GB2013_En.pdf|access-date= 20 May 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031848/http://ir.airberlin.com/dms/investor-relations/DE/Termine-Veranstaltungen/Conference-Calls/2014/airberlin_GB2013_En/airberlin_GB2013_En.pdf|archive-date= 21 May 2014|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref name="2014 report">{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2014|date= April 2014|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2014|access-date= 16 May 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150426041845/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-reports/interim-and-annual-reports/2014|archive-date= 26 April 2015|url-status= dead}}</ref>
| <ref name="2015 report">{{cite web|title= Annual Report 2015|date= April 2015|url= http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/dates-events/financial-calendar/2016/Publication-of-the-Annual-Report-2015|access-date= 4 May 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160701114044/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/dates-events/financial-calendar/2016/Publication-of-the-Annual-Report-2015|archive-date= 1 July 2016|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>
| <ref name="2016 load factor">{{cite web|title=Press Release: Overall stable load factor development in 2016|date=5 January 2017|url=http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-news/ir-releases/2017/2017-01-05-airberlin--Overall-stable-load-factor-development-in-2016|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424174652/http://ir.airberlin.com/en/ir/financial-news/ir-releases/2017/2017-01-05-airberlin--Overall-stable-load-factor-development-in-2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

== Destinations ==
Prior to its shutdown, Air Berlin flew to scheduled year-round and seasonal destinations in Europe. Intercontinental services were provided to cities in North and Central America, North Africa and the Caribbean.<ref>[https://www.airberlin.com/en/flightplan airberlin.com – Flightplan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325024451/https://www.airberlin.com/en/flightplan |date=25 March 2017 }} retrieved 24 March 2017</ref>

===Codeshare agreements===
Air Berlin maintained [[codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:<ref name="CAPA AB profile">{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/airberlin-ab|title=Profile on airberlin|website=CAPA|publisher=Centre for Aviation|access-date=2016-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101204235/http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/airberlin-ab|archive-date=2016-11-01|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=17em}}

* [[Air Serbia]]
* [[Air Seychelles]]
* [[airBaltic]]
* [[Alitalia]]
* [[American Airlines]]
* [[Austrian Airlines]]
* [[Bangkok Airways]]
* [[British Airways]]
* [[Bulgaria Air]]
* [[Czech Airlines]]
* [[Darwin Airline]]
* [[Etihad Airways]]
* [[Eurowings]]
* [[Finnair]]
* [[Flybe (2022–2023)|Flybe]]
* [[Hainan Airlines]]
* [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]]
* [[Japan Airlines]]
* [[Jet Airways]]
* [[Lufthansa]]
* [[Meridiana]]
* [[Niki (airline)|Niki]]
* [[Pegasus Airlines]]
* [[Royal Jordanian]]
* [[S7 Airlines]]
* [[SriLankan Airlines]]
* [[Swiss International Air Lines]]
* [[Virgin Australia]]
{{div col end}}

==Fleet==
===Fleet at closure===
Prior to closure, the Air Berlin's fleet comprised the following aircraft:{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;"
! rowspan="2" |Aircraft
! rowspan="2" |In service
! colspan="3" |Passengers
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!<abbr title="First class">C</abbr>
!<abbr title="Economy class">Y</abbr>
!Total
|-
|[[Airbus A319-100]]
|11
|4
|146
|150
|Leased to [[Eurowings]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|rowspan="2"|64
|&mdash;
|165
|165
|rowspan="2"|21 leased to [[Eurowings]]
|-
|4
|176
|180
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|17
|19
|271
|290
|
|-
|[[Bombardier Dash 8 Q400]]
|20
|3
|70
|73
|Operated by [[LGW (airline)|LGW]]
|-
!Total
!112
!colspan="4"|
|}
{{multiple image
| align             = center
| direction         = horizontal
| width             = 175
| image1            = D-ASTX A319 Air Berlin CPH.jpg
| caption1          = [[Airbus A319-100]]
| image2            = Airbus A320-214, Air Berlin AN2011404.jpg
| caption2          = [[Airbus A320-200]]
| image3            = Airbus A330-223, Air Berlin (LTU - Lufttransport-Unternehmen) AN1611406.jpg
| caption3          = [[Airbus A330-200]]
| image4            = Bombardier Dash 8-Q402, Air Berlin (LGW Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter) JP7427447.jpg
| caption4          = [[Bombardier Dash 8 Q400]]
}}

===Historic fleet===
During its 40 years of operation, Air Berlin operated the following aircraft types:{{cn|date=November 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;"
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A319-100]]
|21
|2006
|2017
|Operated for [[Eurowings]].
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|117
|2005
|2017
|10 acquired from [[LTU International|LTU]].<br />17 operated for [[Eurowings]].<br />4 operated for [[Austrian Airlines]].<br />27 purchased by [[Lufthansa]].<br />25 transferred to [[easyJet]].
|-
|[[Airbus A321-200]]
|23
|2008
|2017
|4 acquired from [[LTU International|LTU]].
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|17
|2008
|2017
|8 acquired from [[LTU International|LTU]].<br />6 leased by [[Malaysia Airlines]].<br />10 sold to other airlines.<br />1 stored in LDE.
|-
|[[Airbus A330-300]]
|3
|2008
|2013
|Acquired from [[LTU International|LTU]].
|-
|{{nowrap|[[British Aerospace 146|British Aerospace BAe 146-200]]}}
|3
|2003
|2004
|
|-
|[[Boeing 707-120|Boeing 707-123]]
|1
|1980
|1980
|rowspan="3"|Operated by Air Berlin USA.
|-
|[[Boeing 707-320|Boeing 707-321]]
|1
|1981
|1981
|-
|[[Boeing 707-320|Boeing 707-331]]
|3
|1979
|1981
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|5
|1980
|1986
|Operated by Air Berlin USA.
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Boeing 737-300]]
|1
|1986
|1990
|Operated by Air Berlin USA.
|-
|10
|2007
|2010
|Operated by [[Germania (airline)|Germania]].
|-
|[[Boeing 737-400]]
|13
|1990
|2007
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-700]]
|32
|2003
|2017
|Operated by [[TUI fly Deutschland]].
|-
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|100
|1998
|2017
|Last remaining active fleet was operated by [[TUI fly Deutschland]].
|-
|[[Bombardier Dash 8 Q400]]
|20
|2008
|2017
|Operated by [[Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter|LGW]].
|-
|[[Embraer 190]]
|3
|2013
|2013
|Transferred from [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] and subsequently returned, then operated by [[Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter|LGW]].
|-
|[[Fokker 100]]
|18
|2004
|2010
|
|-
!Total
!391
!
!
!
|}

==Services==

===Aircraft cabins===
[[File:Airbus A319-111, Air Berlin AN1584645.jpg|thumb|Air Berlin [[Airbus A319-100]] cabin]]
[[File:Airbus A330-223, Air Berlin AN2152453.jpg|thumb|Former Air Berlin long-haul business class cabin]]

====Long-haul flights====
Air Berlin long-haul aircraft featured business and economy class sections. At the beginning of 2012, Air Berlin started the renewal of its long-haul cabin, equipping both economy class and business class with new seats and a new in-flight entertainment system. Fully automatic seats that could tilt up to 170 degrees were provided in business class, along with an anti-thrombosis edition and an adjustable headrest, and more legroom and a narrower seat back in economy class. All seats have an 8.9-inch monitor with a touch screen and offer movies, series, music, audiobooks and games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airberlingroup.com/en/press/pressreleases/2012/07/2012-07-02-Passenger-focus-airberlin-s-comfort-initiative-on-long-haul-flights|title=airberlin press – Passenger focus: airberlin's comfort initiative on long-haul flights|website=www.airberlingroup.com}}</ref> In January 2013 the airline again presented a new business class which replaced the one introduced a year earlier. The new business class had single seats, offering travellers even more privacy. The new seats had a full-flat function, a massage function, and featured a 15-inch monitor.<ref name="business class" />

====Short- and medium-haul flights====
Business class was not offered on its short- and medium-haul flights until Air Berlin announced its introduction in August 2016. All short- and medium-haul aircraft began to feature business class in row 1 with expanded services including an empty middle seat.<ref name="newbusinessclass">[http://www.airliners.de/air-berlin-business-class-kurz-mittelstrecken/39258 airliners.de – "Air Berlin introduces business class on short- and medium-haul flights"] (German) 5 August 2016</ref>

===Passenger services===
[[File:Tegel_airport_02.03.2013_13-10-22.JPG|thumb|Air Berlin check-in counters]]
In contrast to European pure low-cost carriers, Air Berlin offered free in-flight snacks and drinks until September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://derstandard.at/2000044441462/Air-Berlin-streicht-Gratis-Snacks-und-Getraenke|title=Air Berlin streicht Gratis-Snacks und -Getränke|first=STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft|last=m.b.H.}}</ref> Newspapers and magazines were available on domestic German flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/landingpages/economy_class_europe.php?et_cid=14015&et_lid=6760031&et_sub=%5Bde-DE%5Dservice_economy|title=Economy Class on short & medium-haul flights - airberlin.com|website=www.airberlin.com|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105085039/https://www.airberlin.com/en/site/landingpages/economy_class_europe.php?et_cid=14015&et_lid=6760031&et_sub=%5Bde-DE%5Dservice_economy|url-status=dead}}</ref> Full hot meals were complimentary on long-haul flights. On all Air Berlin routes with a flight time of 60 minutes or longer, gourmet meals were offered, which were, according to the airline, created by chefs at "Sansibar", a famous restaurant on the island of [[Sylt]]. The airline also offered in-flight entertainment, assigned seating and guaranteed flight connections.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.airberlin.com/site/flug_service_an_bord.php?LANG=eng | title=Air Berlin Service on board | publisher=Air Berlin | access-date=19 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828014124/http://www.airberlin.com/site/flug_service_an_bord.php?LANG=eng | archive-date=28 August 2012 }}</ref>
Air Berlin's basic fares were nonrefundable and not changeable, so unused flights were a complete loss for the purchaser.

===Frequent flyer program===
Air Berlin's [[frequent flyer program]] was called ''topbonus''. Points, known as miles, could be collected on flights operated by Air Berlin, Niki, Oneworld airline partners, and selected other airlines. Accrued miles could be redeemed for award flights, or for an upgrade to business class. In addition to the entry-level "topbonus Card Classic" there were cards with Silver, Gold, and Platinum status, corresponding to Oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald statuses. A Service Card and a Credit Card, for which a charge was made, were also available. [[Etihad Airways]] purchased a 70% stake in topbonus for €184 million in 2012. Following the insolvency of Air Berlin, topbonus also filed for insolvency on 25 August 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Berlin frequent flyer programme files for insolvency|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-air-berlin-lufthansa-frequent-flyer/air-berlin-frequent-flyer-programme-files-for-insolvency-idUSKCN1B51D1|access-date=3 September 2017|last=Bryan|first=Victoria|work=Reuters|date=25 August 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of airlines of Germany]]
*[[List of companies of Germany]]
*[[Transport in Germany]]

==Notes==
;Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==Citations==

===References===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{Cite book| title=Berlin Airport Company – Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, several issues (German language edition only), 1968–1992 | publisher=Berlin Airport Company | place=West Berlin, Germany}}
*{{Cite journal| title=Flight International | journal=Flight International - Marketing Stories | publisher=Reed Business Information | place=Sutton, UK | issn= 0015-3710}} (various backdated issues relating to Air Berlin, 1979–2007)
* {{Cite journal| title=Airways — A Global Review of Commercial Flight (The Two Faces of Air Berlin), pp. 30–35 | journal= Airways: A Global Review of Commercial Flight | volume= 17, 9 |date=November 2010 | publisher=Airways International Inc | place=Sandpoint, ID, US | issn= 1074-4320}}

== External links ==
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.airberlin-inso.de/ Official Air Berlin information about their bankruptcy] {{in lang|de|en}}

{{Portal bar|Germany|United States|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Navboxes
| list=
{{Oneworld}}
{{Etihad Airways Partner}}
{{Airlines of Germany}}
{{Airlines of the United States}}
{{European Low Fares Airline Association}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Air Berlin| ]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of Germany]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1978]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:German companies disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Companies based in Berlin]]
[[Category:German brands]]
[[Category:Aviation in Berlin]]
[[Category:European Low Fares Airline Association]]
[[Category:Former Oneworld members]]
[[Category:Etihad Airways Partners]]