BERLIN: The German transport ministry said a recent deal that permits some Air Berlin and Etihad code share flights, even though they are not covered by a bilateral traffic agreement, should remain an exception.
Germany last month approved Air Berlin's summer flight schedule, including the code shares that allow Etihad to sell tickets for Air Berlin-operated flights such as between Berlin and Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart and Abu Dhabi. Under a bilateral traffic agreement, carriers from the United Arab Emirates may fly to only four airports in Germany - Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Duesseldorf.
"There is a letter that has been sent to the UAE in which we said an exception was made for this year's winter and summer flight plan and that this should remain an exception," a spokesman for the transport ministry said on Friday during a government press conference.
The letter said further action should be discussed in consultation with both sides, the spokesman said, adding there had been no reaction to the letter and no date set for talks.
The codeshare agreements with Etihad, which owns 29 percent of Air Berlin, gives Germany's second-biggest airline access to passengers it needs to fight its way back to operating profit.
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