Air Berlin will become the only airline to offer nonstop flights between Berlin and Los Angeles when it commences a three times-weekly service in May 2012.
At the same time Germany’s second largest carrier will increase its frequency to New York by offering daily flights from its Berlin hub, up from the current four times per week.
Air Berlin is a prospective member of the Oneworld airline alliance (see online news July 27, 2010) and the new Berlin to LA route will allow the carrier to improve its links with the USA. Oneworld members will also benefit as they will be able to connect onto flights from fellow alliance carrier American Airlines’ LA hub.
The LA service will be operated by the Airbus A330-200 aircraft offering both business and economy class.
The inaugural flight starts May 11 with flight AB7022 departing Berlin Tegel at 1000 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, arriving in Los Angeles at 1250. The Berlin-bound leg, flight number AB7023, will depart at 1445 and land in Germany at 0725 the next day.
This will supplement the carrier's existing seasonal service from Los Angeles to Dusseldorf which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
In other news Air Berlin will resume services between Berlin and the Polish seaport of Gdansk in May 2012, as well as increasing flights to Krakow from four per week to twelve.
Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO of Air Berlin said: “With our new nonstop flights to America and Poland and the increase in frequencies we are ensuring sustainable strength in our position in Berlin. The respective expansion of our Berlin hub is a significant step with regard to the capital’s new airport and full membership in Oneworld planned for Spring 2012.”
A one-way ticket to Los Angeles from Berlin in economy class costs from €349.99 and €1,399.99 in business class.
For more information visit airberlin.com
Report by Scott Carey
