airberlin prepares to drop Bangkok in order to boost Middle East, Africa and US services

airberlin plans to cancel service to Bangkok from both Dusseldorf and Berlin Tegel in late Mar-2012 as part of a network re-alignment with new shareholder Eithad Airways. The capacity changes will allow airberlin to upgrade its Mombasa service to year-round and allow for the introduction or increase of previously announced Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York services. airberlin will also shift its Germany-Phuket flights to originate in Abu Dhabi, the hub of Etihad.

The moves culminate airberlin's recent hybridisation push in an effort to be Germany's second business airline. The market has not yet responded as the carrier's costs are high but revenue low, reflective of an under-performing short-haul business. The Etihad agreement, and recent capacity changes to increase profitable long-haul services, will better position airberlin to move upmarket.