News that low-cost carrier Primera Air ceased operations as of Monday night comes as a shock to those who watched the small airline budding and expanding its reach across Europe last year.
Air Berlin
Ethiad Airways bailing out on Air Berlin
Beleaguered airline Air Berlin is to cut its fleet by half and is all set to lay off 1,000 employees by the end of this year. The airline, which is in a tailspin caused by stiff competition, and the delayed opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, plans to reduce its fleet to about 70 aircraft and cut its workforce down to 7,600 employees.
According to the reports, Air Berlin’s biggest shareholder, Etihad Airways, was in talks with Lufthansa and travel company TUI over chopping up the dead weight and aircraft of the troubled airline. The reports paint a picture of a kind of midair rescue where TUI’s German airline TUIfly and Air Berlin’s Austrian subsidiary Niki might absorb unwanted parts of the business.
Will Ryanair Snap Up Cyprus Airways?
New that Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary may be considering Cyprus as a Middle East with an expected acquisition of Cyprus Airways has Europe airlines buzzing. The top low cost player, may take a bite out of territories of AirAsia, Air Berlin, and even Air India Express.