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LTU swiftly integrates to Air Berlin
Even after its integration into the Air Berlin Group, LTU has continued to fly under its traditional logo on long-haul flights. However, in the near future, LTU’s medium- and long-haul business flights will be operated under the Air Berlin brand. Although LTU will remain a legally independent company under the Air Berlin PLC umbrella, it will be marketed entirely via Air Berlin.

As Joachim Hunold, Air Berlin’s CEO, who will shortly become Chairman of the Supervisory Board of LTU, stated at a press conference in Dusseldorf on Thursday (20 September): Even though there were several reasons for giving up the LTU name, we decided on a partial solution in the end. We will continue to fly under the LTU logo on traditional long-haul leisure flights, for example to South Africa, Cuba, Thailand and the Dominican Republic. However, this will not apply to our medium-haul flights and our new long-haul business flights.

In recent years, Air Berlin has become increasingly competitive in its European destinations, whereas LTU has continued to lose market share on these routes. Moreover, since Air Berlin has acquired a high percentage of business passengers in the meantime, it makes sense to operate our business flights to the US and China under the Air Berlin brand. Outside of Germany, hardly anyone knows what exactly the three letters `LTU` mean. Conversely, the name `Air Berlin` is self-explanatory. `Air` stands for airline and `Berlin` stands for the capital of Germany. We also aim to make flight routes profitable by winning over passengers from our flight destinations.

Upgrades in Business Class

Air Berlin wants to significantly upgrade the Business Class on its long-haul flights to New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Fort Myers, Beijing and Shanghai. While a considerably improved Relax Class will replace the former Business Class on leisure travel flights, 30 contoured seats will be installed in the Premium Business Class. This type of seat can be adjusted to a fully horizontal position. The upgrade is due to start in October and enhanced Business Class seats will be installed until the operation reaches completion.
The new Premium Business Class will make us stand out against our competitors, stated Joachim Hunold.

Without Air Berlin, we could never have offered our passengers this kind of luxury, explained Jurgen Marbach, Managing Director of LTU. Mr. Marbach also announced that as of 1 November, a one-way flight in Economy Class from Dusseldorf to New York will be available.

Teaming up with a Chinese airline

Air Berlin has secured a partner for its flights to China, namely Hainan Airlines, the fourth-largest airline company in China. With its fleet of 125 aircraft, Hainan Airlines operates flights from Beijing to 50 cities within China. Passengers travelling from Dusseldorf to Beijing on Air Berlin will soon have flight connections on arrival in China (as soon as the flight plans have been harmonized). In return, Hainan Airlines is planning to operate a flight between Beijing and Berlin, and Air Berlin will be in charge of organizing the connecting flights within Germany and Europe.

As Joachim Hunold stated: This partnership puts our business in China on a solid footing.

Hainan Airlines is a quality carrier, comparable to Air Berlin, and is a member of the `HNA Group` which is also active in the fields of Airport Management, Hotel Management and Tourist Services.

A uniform Top Bonus program

Air Berlin and LTU aircraft will share the same layout in the near future. A uniform Top Bonus program, with which frequent-flyer miles can be collected for free travel, will be available for the entire Air Berlin Group. Passengers will be able to accumulate miles with and redeem miles for all of the companies belonging to the Air Berlin Group.
Vicky Karantzavelou - Friday, September 21, 2007