airberlin expands network ahead of oneworld membership

airberlin CEO Joachim Hunold announced (09-Mar-2011) the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin that the airline is "preparing itself intensively" for oneworld membership in 2012, by expanding bilateral cooperation agreements with partner airlines through codeshare agreements, reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and improved access to airport lounges. Mr Hunold said the airline's main focus for 2011 is to strengthen its hubs at Berlin Tegel and Dusseldorf and is expanding its network in Italy. The airline will launch Berlin Tegel-New York service in 2011, Berlin-Rome Fiumicino service will increase to 14 times weekly, new services will be launched to Verona from Tegel and Dusseldorf from Apr-2011, and new services Dusseldorf-Bari and from Cologne/Bonn, Nuremberg, Munich and Zurich to Brindisi. The airline's Palma de Mallorca hub is being expanded with new services to Vienna and Friedrichshafen. [more]