| Kippreport.com

Etihad urges Air Berlin & Air France tie-up

October 4, 2012 8:38 by Reuters

Abu Dhabi based airline Etihad Airways is urging German peer Air Berlin, in which it holds some 30 percent, to offer joint flights with Air France , German paper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing Etihad’s chief executive.

Air Berlin should offer joint flights with Air France, Etihad Chief Executive Officer James Hogan told Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview to be published in tomorrow’s edition.

Etihad itself is already discussing a so-called codeshare agreement with Air France.

Hogan said Air Berlin would not need another loan from Etihad and would return to profit in the next 12 to 18 months.

Air Berlin Chief Executive Hartmut Mehdorn predicts Air Berlin to at least post an operating profit in 2013, he said in August.

Tags: Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi airport, Abu Dhabi's Etihad Air, Air Berlin-earnings, Air France, Air France Emirates, air france Emirates comparison, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways' air berlin stake debt, James Hogan