Air Berlin has cancelled its order for 18 787s and 15 737s, worth $5bn. The termination agreement for these 33 aircraft does not include any compensation to Boeing from airberlin group, the airline confirmed. Air Berlin commented that the move represents a further important step in the gradual harmonisation of the airline's narrow-body fleet.
"Not taking on the 33 aircraft ordered will significantly reduce future capital expenditure for airberlin and improve our balance sheet,” said Ulf Hüttmeyer, Chief Financial Officer at Air Berlin. "Our collaboration with Boeing has always been excellent, and this will remain so. 45 Boeing 737 NG aircraft will remain in service on European short and medium-haul routes. In order to operate more flexibly in the future and further reduce costs, standardisation of our fleet is a key element of our restructuring.”
The airline expects the transition to a uniform narrow-body fleet to be completed by the end of 2016. It stated that the airberlin group “will continue to dynamically adapt the existing fleet to its needs by purchasing or leasing suitable aircraft, although this will be on a smaller scale than originally planned. Already, airberlin is well positioned, with one of the youngest fleets in Europe.”
German magazine Wirtschafts Woche has indicated that Air Berlin is also seeking to end an agreement to lease 14 737s from TUI.