Articles by Christian Stampfer
Air Berlin Files for Bankruptcy Protection After Etihad Pulls the Plug on Financing
MUNICH—Air Berlin, Germany’s second largest airline, said it filed for bankruptcy protection after its largest shareholder, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, said it would pull the plug on financing the carrier.
The filing of the provisional insolvency proceeding took place at the local court of Berlin-Charlottenburg or Amtsgericht Charlottenburg.
The move came after years of unsuccessful turnaround attempts at the Berlin-based carrier and comes at the height of the summer travel season.
Air Berlin, which …
Air Berlin to Double Business Class Cabin Size on European Routes
MUNICH—Air Berlin announced Friday that it will double the size of its business-class cabins on short-haul flights. Previously, business class occupied only the first row of the aircraft.
The new business-class section will be comprised of two rows. Passengers will be guaranteed an empty middle seat and 32” of legroom. The seats will otherwise be the same, as they are currently on intra-European flights.
Business-class passengers will receive a pre-departure beverage, as …
Europe, Sweltering Under Heat Wave, Tries to Play It Cool Without AC
MUNICH—An uncommonly hot summer has caused authorities in 11 central and southern European countries to warn of dangerously high temperatures in recent days, and the heat wave shows no signs of abating.
Visitors and residents in countries that include France, Spain, and Italy are being urged to take precautions amidst the region’s soaring temperatures. The heat wave – nicknamed Lucifer – is the most severe since 2003 and arrived in parallel …
Air Berlin to Partner with JetBlue
Air Berlin announced Friday a “co-operation agreement” with JetBlue.
The partnership between the two carriers will enable passengers to book flights to the United States on Air Berlin as well as connecting flights to 31 JetBlue destinations. The agreement will go into effect on September 12, 2017 for Air Berlin flights to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Boston Logan International, and Orlando International airports.
The two carriers plan to …
BMW Denies Collusion with Other Automakers on Diesel Emissions
MUNICH—BMW went on record about its diesel-powered cars Sunday after a media report stated that German automakers had illegally colluded to rig their vehicles to pass emissions tests.
“BMW Group vehicles are not manipulated and comply with respective legal requirements,” the Bavarian manufacturer said in a statement.
“This of course also applies to diesel automobiles,” BMW said, adding it was “confirmed by the relevant results from tests by national and international authorities.”
The …
Mercedes Parent Daimler to Spend $255 Million to Reduce Pollution from Diesel
MUNICH—Daimler announced Tuesday that its management board had given the green light to plans to reduce pollution from diesel-powered vehicles. The move includes authorizing an investment of €220 million ($255 million) to update the emissions systems in three million Mercedes-Benz diesels in Europe.
The announcement comes after Daimler, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, was accused of selling over a million cars with non-compliant emissions controls, according to a warrant issued last week …
Daimler Facing Dieselgate II, May Have Sold Over 1 Million Cars with Non-Compliant Emissions Controls
MUNICH—Daimler, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, stands accused of selling over a million cars with non-compliant emissions controls, according to a warrant issued by the Amtsgericht Stuttgart, the city’s municipal court.
The news was first reported on Wednesday by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The discovery appears to impact over one million cars that were sold both in Europe and in the United States in the period 2008 to 2016 and follows earlier allegations of false …
