Air Berlin executing operating plan well amid downturn

Air Berlin has continued to perform well amid the European economic slump, trimming low yielding capacity and benefiting from its acquisition spree of recent years. Revenue per ASK is holding up well, rising 9.3% last month - down on the 20%+ increases as recently as Jan-2009, but a creditable performance nonetheless. Load factors fell 3.8 ppts last month to 77.1%, as passenger numbers dipped 7.7% to 2.5 million.