Air Berlin places order for turboprops

Replacement for Fokker 100 leased to LGW

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air transport

Berlin (euro adhoc) - Air Berlin PLC has placed a firm order for ten
type Q400 turboprop aircraft with Bombardier, the Canadian
manufacturer, and has an option on a further 10 planes. The airline
expects to receive four Q400 aircraft this year and the remaining six
in 2009. The 76-seater turboprops are primarily designed as a
replacement for the Fokker 100 jets, which Germania is currently
operating for Air Berlin.

The list price for ten firm orders is 267 million US dollars although
Air Berlin negotiated a fleet price with Bombardier. The entire
contract is being funded via HSH Nordbank AG, a bank that is a
world-renowned expert in aircraft finance. Air Berlin will be leasing
the Q400s to LGW Walter, its co-operation partner, who will then use
them on Air Berlin's route network.

On Wednesday Air Berlin´s CEO, Joachim Hunold, made the following
statement: "These quiet and comfortable turboprops will allow us to
round off our fleet at the lower-capacity end. We intend to use the
Q400s mainly on short-haul flights where the passenger volume is not
sufficient for us to operate jets. This should result not only in a
noticeable reduction in costs, but will also allow us to make an
active contribution in terms of protecting the environment, as the
CO2 emissions of the Q400 per seat are considerably lower than those
of the Fokker 100. In comparison with jets the flying times on
short-haul flights will only be very slightly longer. Since our
co-operation partner LGW will be operating these aircraft for us,
there will not be an increase in the complexity of our fleet either."

LGW-Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter mbH is an airline based in the
German city of Dortmund. It was established in 1980 and currently
operates six Dornier 228 aircraft. The airline has been serving
German domestic routes for Air Berlin since October 2007.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Claudia Löffler

Senior Manager Public Relations, Air Berlin

phone: + 49 30 3434 1500

fax: + 49 30 3434 1509

e-mail: cloeffler@airberlin.com

Branche: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
WKN: AB1000
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