Air Berlin in 2010 increased its number of
corporate agreements by 286 to 1,441, according to a carrier statement. The airline
also signed nearly 6,000 companies to a small-business program for customers with
at least three permanent employees, launched this time
last year.
German travel buyers increasingly have turned
to Air Berlin as it upgrades from its low-cost leisure roots to serve the
business market. According to TCG Consulting air practice director Barry Rogers,
Air Berlin's gain in market share is one of the main reasons Lufthansa has said
it will enforce controversial financial clawback clauses in its corporate contracts, due for signature by March 31. "A lot companies weren't meeting
their targets in Germany," said Rogers. "Air Berlin has taken a lot
of business away from Lufthansa."
Despite its gains in the corporate market, Air
Berlin for 2010 announced a €9.3 million loss in earnings before interest and
taxes, down from a surplus of €29 million in 2009. The airline blamed the
reversal on disruptions caused by last spring's Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash
cloud, severe winter conditions and industrial action.