Erfurt-Weimar Airport surprised by Air Berlin decision

Erfurt (FEG, 18.08.2011, LN) “We are completely mystified by Air Berlin's decision,” announced Lothar Neyer, Head of Corporate Communications at Erfurt-Weimar Airport, on Thursday with regard to the airline's announcement that they were withdrawing flight operations in Erfurt. “Up until now we had only been told that flights from Erfurt to Palma de Mallorca were to be cancelled this winter. We regret this decision, which is also new to us. But we also regret the way in which it was delivered”. The airport's management received the information via a press release from the airline on Thursday morning.
“This decision is a huge challenge for the airport,” said Neyer. “A challenge we had already actively begun to rise to,” the spokesman went on to say. They had already held talks with German and foreign airlines. However, these talks had been aimed at expanding existing commitments in the medium term. Considering the new situation, they will now try to develop these talks with the new circumstances in mind. “One airline has already informed us that, given certain preconditions, they could be the cure for the current development.” Furthermore, talks with more airlines are planned. This also includes new talks with Air Berlin to sound out the possibility of new negotiations, for which Transport Minister Christian Carius has offered his full support.
Air Berlin is one of the most important operators of holiday flights at Erfurt-Weimar Airport. Altogether, more than 1000 flights and approximately 140,000 passengers were planned for 2011, predominantly in the summer flight schedule. Air Berlin's announcement takes effect with the winter flight schedule at the beginning of November.

Brief Profile of Erfurt-Weimar Airport
Erfurt-Weimar Airport is an international commercial airport. It is the only airport in the federal state of Thuringia. It specialises in charter and cargo flights. Approximately 324,000 passengers used the airport last year. Cargo volume was about 2,650 t. Erfurt-Weimar Airport is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as it is not subject to any bans on night flights. More than 120 people work for the Management GmbH and more than 530 work at the airport. Over 30 companies and organisations are now located on the premises. At the same time, over 800 more jobs in the region are indirectly dependent on the airport.

Flughafen Erfurt GmbH
Marketing – Media – Public relations
Lothar Neyer
Tel.: +49 361 656-2235
Fax: +49 361 656-2264
Email: lothar.neyer(at)flughafen-erfurt-weimar.de