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Germany’s Air Berlin to increase flights to Moscow, St Petersburg next winter - CEO

Several months ago it became known that the airline will decrease jobs till the end of 2014

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

BERLIN, July 31 (Itar-Tass) - One of the key German airlines, Air Berlin, said it will increase flights to Moscow and St Petersburg next winter.

Air Berlin CEO Paul Gregorowitsch said: “Russia is a strategic partner for our company. Thus, we reacted to growing demand and reinforced our positions.”

Now the German airline makes 63 direct flights a week by linking Kaliningrad, Moscow and St Petersburg with Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich and the Austrian capital of Vienna. At present, Air Berlin will make flights to St Petersburg twice a week. The company will increase flights to Moscow up to 14 ones a week.

Several months ago it became known that the airline will decrease jobs till the end of 2014. The company also intends to give up several flights and reduce aircraft up to 142. This programme will allow Air Berlin to be competitive.

The situation related to new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport remains unclear. The airport was planning to be opened in 2011. However, the date was postponed several times. The new air terminal should be the key one by the number of flights for its main competitor - Lufthansa. To this end, the airline brought a damage claim.

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