Bids for Air Berlin could save 80% of airline’s jobs

Easyjet and Lufthansa have submitted offers for parts of Air Berlin in a move that could save nearly 80 per cent of jobs at the insolvent German carrier.

Air Berlin said yesterday that Easyjet has submitted an offer to take over some of its fleet in a move that would “create new job opportunities for Air Berlin employees”.

It said German flag carrier Lufthansa had made separate bids for parts of Air Berlin, its Austrian holiday airline NIKI and regional German airline Luftverkehrsgesellschaft Walter (LGW). If successful, the offers could provide jobs for the majority of its employees.

“We are on the way to achieving good job prospects for around 80 per cent of our colleagues with our bidders,” Thomas Winkelmann, Air Berlin’s chief executive, said.

He confirmed negotiations with both companies would continue until 12 October, nearly a month after Easyjet submitted its original proposal on 15 September.

Air Berlin declared insolvency in August.