EasyJet to buy part of Air Berlin’s operations at Berlin Tegel airport
30 Oct 2017
EasyJet has struck a deal to acquire part of failed Air Berlin's operations at Berlin Tegel airport, its last remaining assets.
EasyJet said on Friday it planned to sign leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft, acquire take-off and landing slots, and offer jobs to staff. The announcement came shortly after Air Berlin's final flight landed at Tegel.
The purchase price is €40 million ($46.43 million), but excludes any transition costs. As Air Berlin planes are leased, those would need separate funding.
Air Berlin said on Saturday that the deal marked a successful closure of all negotiations for its carve-up. The carrier added that sale talks with easyJet had been ongoing since early summer.
Under the deal easyJet, which currently operates only out of Berlin Schoenefeld airport, would emerge as the leading carrier in the German capital, it said.
''This will enable easyJet to operate the leading short haul network at Tegel connecting passengers to and from destinations across Germany and the rest of Europe,'' easyJet said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa, which will take over Air Berlin operations with about 81 aircraft, would invest around €1.5 billion in total, including purchase price of €210 million and fleet investments of around 1 billion.
