The chief executive of Etihad Airways is hoping for a “way forward” around an ultimatum set by Germany to end codesharing with airberlin on 31 routes.
Germany gave Etihad Airways a final deadline of January 15 to find alternative solutions to connections.
It follows a court ruling that gave Etihad until November 8 to end the codeshares. Germany's transport ministry subsequently extended the deadline to minimise disruption for passengers who had already bought tickets. Etihad is airberlin's largest shareholder.
“Because it’s a legal process, I can’t comment in regard to next steps, but there will be another hearing,” said James Hogan, the president and chief executive of Etihad. “In the meantime, the two regulatory authorities will see if they can meet for talks to see the way forward.”
Passengers of both airlines have already booked 82,000 trips on the routes affected, Etihad said on Friday. Airberlin and Etihad were given temporary permission a year ago for codesharing, which allows them to book seats on each other’s planes and share the revenues.
The Abu Dhabi carrier became embroiled in a dispute after federal authorities in Germany delayed approval of codesharing for the 2015-16 winter schedule.
The airline said earlier that it applied for the injunction to “help protect the German carrier’s 8,000 employees” and to provide passengers “with clarity and confidence”.
Mr Hogan said previously that the codeshare routes in question had previously been approved by Germany’s civil aviation authority, and that the partnership had allowed more than two million passengers to connect between the networks of both airlines, as well as contributing €252 million (Dh1.02bn) to airberlin’s earnings.
“We are satisfied with the access we have. This is a key pillar for the airberlin turnaround programme,” said Mr Hogan.
“When we invested in airberlin, we made it very clear with the appropriate authorities that we will be codesharing with airberlin.”
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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