Air Berlin offers to carry out test flights and demands crisis management centre

As a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland and the volcanic ash that this has released into the atmosphere, the civil aviation safety authorities have shut off major sections of European airspace. On the recommendation of DFS (German Flight Safety Organisation) and Eurocontrol, Air Berlin is cancelling all flights until 02:00 hours on 19th April 2010 inclusive.

Passengers affected by these cancellations are requested not to travel to the airport. Any flights until Tuesday, 20th April 2010 inclusive can be rebooked or cancelled free of charge (for flights until 31st May 2010).

Air Berlin has been able to carry out positioning flights within Germany under visual flight conditions and at the currently permitted altitude of 3,000 m. It has been possible to transfer two Airbus aircraft from Munich to Düsseldorf without any problems, and a further Airbus was moved from Nuremberg to Hamburg. The technical inspection of the aircraft after landing did not reveal any adverse effects.

Joachim Hunold, CEO Air Berlin, expressed his incomprehension of the course of action taken by the authorities: "We are amazed that the results obtained from test flights carried out by Lufthansa and Air Berlin on Saturday did not have any influence whatsoever on the decisions taken by the aviation safety authorities. We are still offering - as is Lufthansa - to carry out further test flights so as to obtain valid insights. There should also be a crisis management centre at the Federal Ministry of Transport during a period when the entire German airspace is shut off."

Air Berlin is in constant contact with the relevant authorities and will provide information as quickly as possible about further developments and consequences for Air Berlin's flight operations. Further information about the current situation is available online or by calling 00800 5 737 8000 toll-free.