Etihad, TUI, Air Berlin In Talks On Leisure Airline

Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways and German travel group TUI said they are in discussions to create a European leisure airline group.

Air Berlin said it will also join the discussions to form the new airline that will focus on connecting popular tourist destinations.

If the talks are successful, Air Berlin’s tourist operations would be folded into TUI’s TUIfly airline to form the new airline group.

The new airline “will be supported by the expertise of Etihad Aviation Group… and utilise TUI’s state-of-the-art distribution capacity”, Etihad said in a statement.

Air Berlin said the discussions “are focused on contributing the touristic operations of airberlin group” to the new venture.

Any agreement will be subject to regulatory approval.