Publish Date : 06-Jan-2016
Etihad Airways has introduced legal action in an attempt to overturn a German courts decision to revoke the approval of 29 codeshare flights with airberlin. The a court last week upheld the German Ministry of Transports rejection of the codeshare rights. But Etihad has at presentt filed an appeal with a higher court.
Etihads president & CEO, James Hogan said, We will fight all the way to protect our investment, to protect our partnership with airberlin and to protect competitive choice in German air travel.
In 2011, Etihad took a 29.2% stake in airberlin and has since obtained permission for codeshare services on a total of 63 air routes. However in the summer of 2014, the German Ministry of Transport raised concerns regarding 29 of the codeshares, which Etihad stated was due to pressure from Lufthansa. These will cease operating from 15 January unless the courts decision is overturned. The remaining codeshares remain unaffected.
Hogan said, Together, airberlin and Etihad Airways have created new competitive choice for German travellers, based on codeshare services to international destinations that have operated for years without any concerns being raised as they are pro-competitive and increase consumer choice.
Now, after four years of investing in Germany, supporting airberlin jobs as well as creating our own new employment in Germany, we find the rules have changed. In other markets, such as Australia, India, Italy, Serbia and the Seychelles, our investments have been welcomed and supported. Yet in Germany, our commitment continues to be undermined by the lobbying efforts and protectionist tactics of Lufthansa.
Etihad has planned a strategy of making strategic investments in airlines across the globe, and then coordinating their operations with its own services through codeshare partnerships and other arrangements.
So far, the Abu Dhabi-based airline has taken stakes in Irelands Aer Lingus, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Indias Jet Airways, Virgin Australia and Switzerlands Darwin Airline, along with airberlin.
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