Air Berlin ‘cancels’ dozens more flights

Pilots call in sick

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Sept 13, (AFP): Insolvent Air Berlin cancelled dozens more flights Wednesday as pilots again called in sick, despite warnings from the airline that the wildcat action could jeopardise rescue talks.

The mass “sick-out” comes ahead of a Friday deadline for potential investors to submit bids for Air Berlin assets.

“More than 30 flights” had to be scrapped early Wednesday as some 150 pilots handed in sick notices for a second day, an Air Berlin spokeswoman said.

Duesseldorf and Berlin-Tegel airports were worst hit by the cancellations, she said, advising affected passengers “not to come to the airport”.

Thousands of travellers were already left stranded on Tuesday when some 200 of Air Berlin’s 1,500 pilots suddenly called in sick, forcing the cancellation of around 100 flights.

Air Berlin has accused the absent pilots of “threatening the existence” of the airline, warning that the turmoil could scare off investors.

Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, which leases Air Berlin aircraft and crew, was also affected for a second day.

Air Berlin filed for insolvency in mid-August, after its main shareholder, Gulf carrier Etihad Airways, unexpectedly pulled the plug on its cash lifeline.

Meanwhile, German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt urged the pilots to end their “risky manoeuvre” and return to work for the sake of Air Berlin’s roughly 8,000 employees.

“I can only appeal to everyone to come to their senses and let the flights take place. This is necessary to make a transition to new owners possible,” he said at a press conference.