Air Berlin carried 13.5 million passengers in 2005 and is assured of its position as the second biggest German airline after Lufthansa.In comparison to Air Berlin’s 2004 performance, this represents an increase of 12.45%. Meanwhile flight sales increased in 2005 by 17.1% reaching EUR1.23 billion.

“Despite high oil prices, we not only achieved our growth targets, but also provided a positive result for our shareholders”, explained managing director and shareholder Joachim Hunold last Tuesday in Berlin. Traditionally, the company does not provide any further details on income.

With a 58% share of revenues, single seat sales are still a growth motor for the company. This segment grew by 24.63% last year, however, the tour operator business also grew by 10.3%.

Since Air Berlin is among the three leading Low Fare Carriers in Europe and sees big growth opportunities outside of Germany, it positions itself more and more as a European airline.

Air Berlin flies not only from Germany to 48 destinations in Europe and North Africa, but they are also continuously building connections outside of Germany, such as for example from Amsterdam and London to Mallorca or also within Spain
from Palma de Mallorca to 17 destinations on land and the Balearic islands.

At Europe’s most important holiday airport, Palma de Mallorca, the gap between market leader Air Berlin and its competitors continues to grow.

The number of passengers increased by 22.7% from 3.7 million to 4.53 million. New to the flight itinerary are the inter-UK connections from London-Stansted to Glasgow and Manchester.

City connections gain more and more importance at Air Berlin with ten German airports linking European metropolises such as London, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, Milan, Rome, Barcelona and Budapest. From spring 2006 Air Berlin will fly from Düsseldorf to Paris and Helsinki as well.

The Berlin company flies from 17 German airports in total. Extraordinary high growth rates were achieved last year in Hanover (+36.3%), Hamburg (+29.9%), and Düsseldorf (+18.3%). “We would have grown much stronger in Düsseldorf if the number of flight movements weren’t limited by local regulations.” Said Hunold.

Among destination airports, Vienna showed a 21.7% growth rate, second after Palma de
Mallorca. To and From Berlin (Tegel and Schoenefeld) first in 2005, more than 2 million passengers were transported.

Air Berlin currently has 52 aircraft. In the coming year, nine new Airbus A320 aircraft are expected. A further 49 models of this type are due for delivery by 2011. The number of employees increased from 2.300 to 2.774.
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