airberlin launches non-stop flights to Kaliningrad
Germany's second-largest airline is the only airline offering this route from Germany / Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO of airberlin, opens inaugural flight in Berlin-Tegel.
airberlin is Germany's second-largest airline. The company has 9,200 employees. Every year, airberlin receives more than 10 awards for service and quality. Its fleet comprises 165 aircraft with an average age of five years. airberlin has one of the youngest fleets in Europe. Its modern fuel-efficient jets ensure a lasting reduction in air traffic emissions. As one of the major European airlines, airberlin flies to 162 destinations in 40 countries. In 2011, the airline handled more than 35 million passengers. In December 2011, airberlin entered into a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways. airberlin has been a member of the global airline alliance oneworld® since 20 March 2012. airberlin offers codeshare flights with oneworld® members American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and Japan Airlines.
As of today, airberlin will operate three weekly flights to Kaliningrad and thus become the only airline to offer a non-stop connection from Berlin and Germany to the Russian exclave and centre of culture and commerce on the Baltic.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at Berlin-Tegel this morning, airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said: "Economic relations between Germany and Russia are constantly growing, which means an increased demand for flights, especially in the business travel segment." He added: "No other airline offers non-stop connections between these two cities from Germany. Our new route between Berlin and Kaliningrad fills this gap in the European route network."
Dr. Till Bunse, Head of Marketing and Public Relations for Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH added: "We are delighted that airberlin will be offering non-stop flights from Berlin to Kaliningrad. The new route is an important addition to our Eastern European offerings, especially for business people. Furthermore, travellers from Russia can take connecting airberlin flights from Berlin in all directions."
"The opening of a new route between Berlin and Kaliningrad affirms the expansion of political, economic, scientific and cultural relations between our countries. As an airline, airberlin has already proven itself to be a reliable partner with outstanding service quality. We therefore welcome this new route", said Andrey V. Zverev, ambassador and trade representative of the Russian Federation in the Federal Republic of Germany, at the launch ceremony.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday – and as of 15 September, also on Saturday – airberlin passengers can fly non-stop to the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic coast. Via the Berlin hub, connections are available to and from Dusseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich as well as to Vienna, Milan, Paris or Scandinavia. Flights via the airberlin hub Palma de Mallorca are also possible, thus connecting many departure airports in Spain to Kaliningrad.