Air Berlin (1991) (Berlin Tegel) says several fellow Etihad Airways Partner carriers will supply it with additional capacity to help it overcome significant operational disruptions at TUI fly (Germany) (X3, Hannover).

It is recalled that Air Berlin leases five B737-700s and eight B737-800s from TUIfly hence any service issues at the latter will affect the former.

German media reports state TUIfly's operations have been heavily affected after a large number of its crew called in sick this week, ostensibly in protest at a proposed merger of the carrier with Air Berlin. TUIfly will not operate any flights on Friday, October 7 with its own fleet but will operate some return flights from tourism destinations to Germany as well as some flights from Germany to Antalya and Palma de Mallorca using aircraft wet-leased from other operators on an ad-hoc basis.

To cope with the capacity shortfalls, Air Berlin will also wet-lease an A340-500 from Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) from October 7 onwards while an A321-200 has already been sourced from Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino).

Air Serbia (JU, Belgrade Nikola Tesla) has wet-leased two B737-300s to Air Berlin, sourced from its Aviolet (Belgrade Nikola Tesla) charter unit. A further two aircraft could be delivered in the coming days.