EasyJet to buy slice of Air Berlin’s Tegel operations

AFP, LONDON: British low-cost carrier easyJet announced Saturday it had agreed to buy part of bankrupt carrier Air Berlin’s operations at the German capital’s Tegel Airport for 40 million euros ($46.4 million).

EasyJet will enter into leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft and take over slots, it said, as the last Air Berlin flights were set to land back in Germany.

The company also said it was hoping to recruit around 1,000 Air Berlin pilots and cabin crew over the coming months, to be employed on German contracts.

Air Berlin, Germany’s second-ranked airline employing some 8,000 people, triggered bankruptcy proceedings in August after its biggest shareholder Etihad Airways pulled the plug on a cash lifeline following years of losses.

EasyJet said the 40-million-euro price it was paying excludes “potential start-up and transitional operating costs”, adding: “The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in December 2017.

EasyJet to buy slice of Air Berlins Tegel operations

AFP, LONDON: British low-cost carrier easyJet announced Saturday it had agreed to buy part of bankrupt carrier Air Berlins operations at the German capitals Tegel Airport for 40 million euros ($46.4 million). EasyJet will enter into leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft and take over slots, it said, as the last Air Berlin flights were set to land back in Germany. The company also said it was hoping to recruit around 1,000 Air Berlin pilots and cabin crew over the coming months, to be employed on German contracts. Air Berlin, Germanys second-ranked airline employing some 8,000 people, triggered bankruptcy proceedings in August after its biggest shareholder Etihad Airways pulled the plug on a cash lifeline following years of losses. EasyJet said the 40-million-euro price it was paying excludes potential start-up and transitional operating costs, adding: The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in December 2017.