Airberlin cancels operations to, from Abu Dhabi

German carrier airberlin will cancel its operations between Berlin and Abu Dhabi starting September 15 just weeks after the airline filed for insolvency, according to Gulf News.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which owns nearly 30 per cent of airberlin, said in a statement on its website that it is rebooking its customers onto alternative Etihad flights.

“We have been advised that airberlin is cancelling its operations between Berlin and Abu Dhabi starting on September 15 to October 31, 2017.

We are now re-booking our customers onto alternative Etihad flights from that date,” Etihad’s statement said.

It continued, “In addition, due to market uncertainty, we have taken the decision to re-book our customers due to fly with airberlin, from November 1 onwards, onto alternative flights.”

The cancellation of flights to Abu Dhabi comes as airberlin grapples with uncertainty over its future after Etihad Airways said it is withdrawing financial support for the German budget carrier.

Media reports suggest airberlin will also be cancelling other long-haul flights including some routes to the US.

In mid-August, Etihad said it will not offer further funding to the struggling carrier, and described airberlin’s move to file for administration as “extremely disappointing for all parties.”