Etihad close to sorting out the AirBerlin problem

Air Berlin is reportedly planning to reduce its fleet by half over the coming months in a move to make the airline profitable. German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported yesterday that AirBerlin is aiming to reduce its staff headcount by 1,000 and downsize its fleet to around 70 aircraft by the end of 2016. This is all under the guidance of Etihad Airways, reports the newspaper. The report added that Etihad Airways was in talks with Lufthansa and TUI to sell 17 aircraft owned by Air Berlin’s Austrian subsidiary Niki to TUIfly, and leasing 40 aircraft to Lufthansa. Anything that saves