Etihad-airberlin codeshare ban overturned

Etihad Airways has welcomed a ruling by Germany’s higher administrative court reversing an earlier judgment that had called a halt to codeshares with airberlin.
Etihad said that the Luneburg court today ruled that the Middle Easter airline could continue operating 26 out of the 31 codeshare flights it has with airberlin for the full Winter Schedule, which ends on March 26.
“Together with the other 50 approved codeshares with airberlin, 76 of the 81 codeshares are now approved once and for all, that is 94% of the codeshares applied for,” Etihad said.
The other five codeshares are on German domestic routes.
The court’s interpretation of the UAE-Germany Air Services Agreement also means that Etihad Airways will be able to continue with all those codeshares beyond the winter schedule, Etihad said.
Etihad Airways president and chief executive James Hogan said: "We are pleased with the ruling which confirms 94% of Etihad Airways’ codeshares.
"We remain strongly committed to our strategic partner, airberlin, and will redouble our efforts to provide a strong competitive alternative to the dominant German carrier, Lufthansa.
"We would like to encourage German consumers to support airberlin and its 8,000 staff, who have been seriously damaged by this sustained attack on their business."
Etihad first started codesharing with airberlin in 2012 when it took 29.2% share in the business.
Lufthansa had appealed against the codeshare arrangement.