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Exactly one year ago, on October 27, 2017, the air operations of the German airline Air Berlin were officially suspended. Only the wet vacation rental contract for Eurowings, counting up to 13 Airbus A320s, was continued for approximately nine weeks before being transferred to the Walter airline.
The former employees concerned are arguing to this day in court and, in fact, it has also been established in the first place that there was a transfer of activities from Air Berlin to LGW, which has always been denied by the official party, reported Austrian Aviation Net.
The memories of Air Berlin are certainly shared, because many consider it a true cult airline. Employees miss their "airline family", but the other side is that an airline with a miserable customer service in case of a complaint, ignored in many cases paid only after the trial, disappeared from the sky. Depending on the side of the Air Berlin you met, you will remember the company.
The old airline has been flying for nearly a decade, only the losses that every CEO after Hartmut Mehdorn have further increased. Etihad Airways is entangled in this group an amount of one billion because effective corrective measures were taken until the end. It was not until Abu Dhabi that the money was not so loose, but it was literally extinguished. Previously, of course, Lufthansa had long thought about the strategy of sorting raisins in case of bankruptcy of Air Berlin and had also negotiated a good deal, because only 18 million euros had to pay for the airline Walter. German Federal Government and, of course, from the outset, exclusive access to aircraft data. What remained and which was usable was left to Easyjet, Thomas Cook, Zeitfreracht and other buyers.
Niki dirty, a tragedy in three acts
Niki Tailfins at Vienna Airport (photo: www.AirTeamImages.com).
The sale of the subsidiary Niki has certainly been a true serial, but it has been in the inflated origin, because with the start of the summer schedule 2017, it has taken over this important part of the network of tourist routes air Berlin and should land after the bankruptcy of Air Berlin in Lufthansa. Even as a guarantee, the "very profitable company" (as Niki called it in August 2017) was given to the German government for the controversial loan of 150 million euros. After it became increasingly clear that the European Commission would not approve of Niki's takeover by the crane, the public relations drum was again launched and Air Berlin or its responsible slogans announced that Lufthansa would be virtually the only solution. Even a so-called "aviation expert" had nothing better to do than to prove his incompetence in Austria and to join these slogans.
Suddenly, the "very profitable girl" has become a very deficient company that would need "subsidies" of 10 million euros a week to stay in the air. As soon as the official decision of the European Commission was made, Niki was quickly bankrupt. Spicy: This just announced a spokesman for the German Federal Government. Instead of filing an insolvency petition in Korneuburg, she tried to go through the process in Germany, but failed. The fact that the Berlin Regional Court annulled the original decision of the Charlottenburg District Court annulled the sale of the bankruptcy in Vueling was annulled and that the Korneuburg Regional Court annulled the sale.
Michael O 'Leary got 75% of "Niki's legacy" in the form of a majority stake in Laudamotion GmbH (photo: Jan Gruber).
Now Niki Lauda has emerged victorious from Laudamotion GmbH, but a clear concept was not recognizable. Since a "blind entrepreneurial robbery", journalists have spoken at press conferences. Brief cooperation with Condor, because Lauda still had many contacts since always: Condor was also in the early 1990s his cooperation partner Lauda Air. Ryanair was introduced as the new majority owner and Laudamotion became a copy of Ryanair. But the conflicts with Lufthansa were just beginning, as the European Commission ruled that the crane would seize jet aircraft seized during the bankruptcy of Air Berlin, but that Niki would not have it, at market conditions. to the buyer Niki. Which is usual on the market and what was not determined later by Michael O. Leary and finally agreed after a long public soap opera on the return of jet aircraft.
Two airlines emerged from Niki, as about half of the staff opted to stay at Niki Lauda, even though they received a corresponding offer, while many others moved to Anisec, which has then left the group in July 2018. Given that the fleet, on which is now set the level logo and that a large number of employees previously worked for Niki, we can certainly speak of "two successors Niki ", although it is not legally correct.
More competition in Austria
Wizzair has been expanding in Vienna since this spring (photo: www.AirTeamImages.com).
In Vienna, the end of Air Berlin and more particularly of Niki really brought a breath of fresh air to the market, as the two companies offered in the last year of activity only a minimal Austrian program. Wizzair quickly recognized this gap and set up a base in Vienna. Although Ryanair also secured the Viennese market with Laudamotion, niche markets in Germany should have been even more interesting, especially in Ballermann's Mallorca traffic. It does not matter how you want to see this: with Wizzair and Laudamotion, two new aggressive price providers are active in Vienna, each having expanded its prices.
With the brand "Level", a new player entered the Viennese market in July this year (photo: Thomas Ramgraber).
The second, but "unofficial" Niki successor, Anisec, has flooded the market with 100,000 penny notes and has certainly been a topic of conversation in many rounds, but this provider is not based on the principle of "very low cost" but considers itself rather than a "best low cost airline". In fact, Eurowings pulled the short straw, because the Lufthansa subsidiary had to abandon some routes. Volotea, Easyjet and Vueling have adjusted their route networks, a little of what has been defined, but something new has been added. Incidentally, the British settled on an old Air Berlin line in Graz.
The resuscitation of Belair failed, Walter flew away
While in Austria, the market obviously benefited from the bankruptcy of Niki, while new suppliers, more suppliers and sometimes lower prices took a new impetus, the situation of the old company. Sister Belair was completely different. A sale to an investor was not carried out because of "bankruptcy concerns", the AOC and the operating license were returned and the employees put on the street. A few weeks later, the "empty shell" was then returned to a company in Düsseldorf that wanted to bring Belair in the air, but could not raise enough money, which forced Belair Airlines AG to declare bankruptcy.
This A320 was operated by Belair (photo: www.AirTeamImages.com).
Incidentally, the Walter airline could continue to fly seamlessly, as if nothing had happened, stop now for Air Berlin, except for Eurowings. To the 20 Dash have joined 13 Airbus A320s with the colors of the cheap Lufthansa delinquent and after the mission has been completed, it is difficult to know, according to various reports of Airliners.de, the future of the current subsidiary of Lufthansa. Nevertheless, at LGW, some machines are still in use, while at Sundair, a jet flies, coated with Niki paint.
Not Niki, but Sundair was a guest in Vienna with the D-ASGK (photo: Thomas Ramgraber).
Year 1 without Air Berlin: the industry is deeply embarrbaded
However, the bankruptcy of Air Berlin inevitably left much of the chaos, because a large number of suppliers had a crazy smell, especially the Lufthansa Group, which wanted to seize the lion's share of the history of Air Berlin. Regardless of the size or size of the supplier, almost every airline operating in the D-A-CH region wanted to have a piece of the pie. Even the Swiss SkyWork has tried on Graz-Berlin (Tegel). There was a lot of potential, especially in the tourist traffic and in some places there was even a total over-supply, but in addition to the lack of staff and many technicians and spare parts. Added to this is the fact that the flight plans were planned in a practically impractical way to secure as many slots as possible. Yes, where would we go if we voluntarily give something to our competitors …
The victims were travelers, since the summer of 2018 had made it very clear that planning by drawing board managers was simply not working. Obviously, little things such as flight strikes, which are commonplace in countries like France or Italy for many years, or the fact that many airlines are looking for people and not just jobs for the former Berliners have not been taken into account. The result is known: an incredible number of flight cancellations and delays, some very serious. Even the self-proclaimed "premium carriers" then showed what they meant by "premium" and that the pbadengers, despite being several days late, were not even a place to stay, although they would have been obliged to make.
Significant delays, flight cancellations, poor pbadenger care and a considerable number of airline bankruptcies are unfortunately part of everyday life in 2018 (photo: Pixabay / Skitterphoto).
Other suppliers were so violent that they went bankrupt immediately after the summer season and can now join Niki, Belair and Air Berlin in the "air cemetery". Some competitors are frightening their travelers of strikes of staff fighting for better wages and working conditions, while the "very cheap" girls of the biggest European airlines are achieving paralyzing performance between megalomania and corporate governance completely overwhelming. Somewhere in between, the causes of the problems will be found. In short, what has the industry really learned from the bankruptcy of Air Berlin? Nothing on the contrary, because the sums spent are more important than ever and new bankruptcies are already inevitable.
Beer mugs filled with beer at lessons to be learned immediately
(Cartoonist of the caricature: Harm Bengen).
And what lessons does politics draw? Also no! Although slogans are put forward, the airlines must improve considerably, but without a legal tightening, nothing will be done. The main question, however, is: did the former Toll Minister, Dobrindt, introduce himself under his "German Champion" (ie Lufthansa reinforced by the badets of Air Berlin), a reliable German company, respectful of schedules, and customers are satisfied and satisfied or a supplier who had to cancel about 18 000 flights (no beer mugs with wheat)? One or the other measure less beer certainly would not have hurt any of the German politicians the year before, before it publicly to Air Berlin, to Lufthansa or to a place where you should mark the cross indicated on the ballot.
And what was especially the German population in addition? About € 76 million of tax revenue was spent on "proper management of Air Berlin", and an additional € 225,546 had already been paid to PwC for a controversial report, which was kept secret. Of course: tax money. An additional 57.1 million euros – according to the German Employment Office – were consumed by bankruptcy and 15.8 million euros for social security contributions and 5, An additional 2 million euros for short-time work. Also: tax money. And what do employees have? According to Vereinigung Cockpit, the wages of new employers are between a quarter and even half of the revenues collected by Air Berlin. Although many airlines offer "signature bonuses" or "non-exchange bonuses", these are non-recurring special payments. The average monthly net earnings – according to the different unions – should have gone down.
And about transparency: there is hardly anything as mysterious as the bankruptcy of Air Berlin. Even the German parliamentary group Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen has to go to the Constitutional Court for information – reported Austrian Aviation Net.
If the aviation industry continues its methods of work and especially customer relations, which was demonstrated in the summer of 2018 and learns no lesson, rubbing hand in hand the train at short distance, the bus long distance and refueling station, Bravo then Ökos and sad are again employees of the airline. In this sense, dear leaders and politicians: wake up, learn lessons and make improvements as quickly as possible, if necessary through laws that are not only controlled, but also imposes severe penalties for management and operations.
Be that as it may, the summer of 2018 – including the death of the airline – clearly showed that the industry not only had a problem, but also others to solve as soon as possible. Of course, the many losses and delays also cause economic damage, which even leads, in extreme cases, to bankruptcies. It is therefore strongly recommended to tackle these projects immediately instead of wasting energy, for example, on the judicial prevention of works council foundations. And if the industry does not do it without legal "pressure," the policy will need to legislate to bring the aeronautical infrastructure back to a user-friendly and reliable level, including bottlenecks such as air traffic control, security checks and other "problem areas". to bring. Strikes by staff – be they airlines, security companies, air traffic control or other fly-side service providers – are in any case a clear warning. it goes on like this and you have to follow the changes immediately. If the industry itself does not succeed, the policy is obliged to provide the necessary "legal tutoring".
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