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Air Berlin is already in talks to add code-share agreements with more Oneworld carriers following the German airline’s decision to join the alliance and code share with American Airlines and Finnair.Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold says discussions were held today with British Airways and Iberia. The aim is to have agreements with the pair in place by next summer, Hunold says.
The code share with American will initially cover 38 routes—six transatlantic routes, six within Europe and 26 in the American network. There will be seven Finnair routes covered.
From the Oneworld perspective, the addition of Air Berlin brings 50 cities that are new to the alliance, says American President Tom Horton. In particular, Air Berlin “helps fill out our network in Central Europe,” Horton says.
Horton says the Air Berlin deal “may well offer the opportunity” for American to add more German routes using its own equipment. He notes that the U.S. carrier previously served Berlin and Düsseldorf.
It has not yet been decided whether Air Berlin will join the Oneworld antitrust immunity agreement or transatlantic joint venture, says Horton. With ATI having just been approved by U.S. and EU regulators, the carriers “have the ability to sit down and discuss the future of Air Berlin within that transatlantic [agreement],” he says.
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