Euroberlin France

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Euroberlin France
IATA
ICAO
Callsign
EE EEB EUROBER
Founded7 November 1988 (1988-11-07)
Ceased operationsDecember 1994 (1994-12)
Parent company
HeadquartersParis, France

Euroberlin France was a

Franco-German joint venture airline founded in 1988.[1][2][3]

Overview

It was jointly owned by

Berlin Tegel Airport in what used to be West Berlin in the days prior to Germany's reunification was its operational headquarters.[3]

The airline commenced commercial operations from Tegel Airport at the start of the 1988-'89 winter timetable with a fleet of four

outsourced to a third party handling agent as well.[1][4]
)

German reunification in October 1990 resulted in Air France and Lufthansa adjusting their stakes in Euroberlin so that each airline owned exactly 50% of its

share capital.[5][6] This in turn resulted in the "France" suffix being dropped from the airline's name.[5][6]

Euroberlin was dissolved at the end of 1994.[7][8]

History

Euroberlin plane next to two of the parent airlines aircraft

Several years of successive declines and stagnation of scheduled internal German

air traffic from and to West Berlin during the 1970s and early 1980s[9][10][11] were followed by renewed expansion in this market from the mid-1980s.[12][13][14]

During the prolonged period of decline/stagnation,

air transport market from and to West Berlin, had significantly reduced the number of flight frequencies,[15] while replacing competitive with collaborative schedules on most of the routes served from Berlin.[16][17][18] This had led to a widely perceived fall in service standards and choice of airlines/air services on individual routes, as well as widespread criticism from West Berlin's city government and its business community.[18][19]

Air France, West Berlin's third scheduled carrier, had withdrawn entirely from the internal German market as long ago as 1969, reducing its presence at the city's Tegel Airport to providing a single daily non-stop scheduled service from/to

Caravelles used on the company's other services from/to Berlin.[29] Air France subsequently routed all of its CDG–Tegel flights via Düsseldorf and standardised the aircraft equipment on the 727-200/200 Advanced.[4]
)

The perceived lack of genuine competition in a growing market coincided with continuing criticism of the ailing Pan Am's internal German operation.

liberalisation, resulted in US majors American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and TWA expressing an interest in breaking the long-standing Pan Am/BA internal German duopoly in West Berlin.[4][18][31][32] Four of these airlines then proceeded to apply to the US FAA as well as to West Berlin's Allied Air Attachés to be licensed to begin operating scheduled internal German services from West Berlin.[4][18] This in turn provided the impetus for Air France and Lufthansa to secure a share of this expanding and potentially lucrative market for themselves.[1][4][33]

The only way for Air France and Lufthansa to compete successfully in this market was by way of establishing a subsidiary with substantially lower operating costs than those of the incumbent airlines.[3][4][33]

In addition, both airlines needed to find a way that would legalise Lufthansa's provision of commercial air services from/to West Berlin to comply with post-

entity and enabling it to conduct commercial airline operations in West Berlin.[1][2][3][4][33][34]

To make the newly formed airline

Luton-based UK independent Monarch Airlines and its sister company Monarch Aircraft Engineering were contracted to provide all aircraft and flightdeck crew as well as the aircraft's maintenance support under a wet lease arrangement.[2][3][4] Furthermore, all functions other than employing and managing local flight attendants as well as the operational management of the airline were outsourced.[2][3][4]

Operations commenced on November 7, 1988 with four Boeing 737-300s leased from Monarch.[1][2][34] These inaugurated high-frequency shuttle services from Berlin Tegel to Cologne/Bonn, Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart.[1][2][4][34]

Euroberlin's livery incorporated elements of both Air France's and Lufthansa's contemporary liveries using the former's corporate colours (red and blue on a white background).[1][3][4]

From the start of the 1989 summer timetable, a fifth 737-300 was leased from Monarch to increase week day frequencies on the existing four routes as well as to launch two additional routes serving Düsseldorf and

charter market from West Berlin to help it maintain a high aircraft utilisation at week-ends when frequencies on its scheduled route network were reduced.[35]

By 1990 Euroberlin's fleet had expanded to seven Boeing 737-300s. This firmly established it as the third-largest contemporary airline operator at Berlin Tegel, a position previously held by UK independent Dan-Air Services.[36] (Dan-Air had established a base at Berlin Tegel in 1969[37] and was the airport's third-largest operator during the decade from 1978 until 1988.[38][39][40])

During the 1990/91 winter season, Euroberlin leased a further three 737-300s, two of which were previously operated by Aéromaritime.

Euroberlin quickly made a name for itself in the Berlin air transport market and acquired a loyal customer following as a result of its high-quality in-flight service, which was modelled on Air France's contemporary, short-haul European in-flight service.[1][41] This, as well as its low cost base, helped make the airline profitable within a relatively short period of time, with an average scheduled load factor of 60%.[36]

Following German [re-]unification on October 3, 1990, Air France reduced its stake in Euroberlin by 1%, while Lufthansa increased its stake by the same amount.[5] This resulted in both airlines becoming equal owners of Euroberlin. It also resulted in Euroberlin dropping the "France" suffix from its name, including its physical removal from the aircraft's fuselage titles.[5][6]

German [re-]unification moreover changed Euroberlin's strategic role for Lufthansa in the Berlin market. Henceforth, the German flag carrier subcontracted Euroberlin to operate some of its internal German services from Berlin Tegel for a limited period, during which it gradually replaced Euroberlin's aircraft and employees with its own planes and staff. This was part of Lufthansa's contemporary corporate strategy to re-establish its presence in Berlin as quickly as possible after a politically enforced absence of 45 years.[5][6][7][8] As a consequence of Lufthansa's new strategy for the Berlin market, Euroberlin's aircraft fleet and employee strength gradually diminished.[5][6][7][8]

Euroberlin was finally shut down in December 1994, resulting in the return of its remaining three 737-300s to Monarch Airlines.[7][8]

Fleet

Euroberlin operated a single aircraft type fleet built around the Boeing 737-300 throughout its entire existence. All aircraft operated were subleased from Monarch Airlines, which in turn had leased the aircraft from external lessors.[3][8] From the start of the 1989 summer season, a fifth Boeing 737-300 was leased from Monarch Airlines.[3][35]

By 1990, the Euroberlin fleet comprised seven Boeing 737-300s, all of which were leased from Monarch.[36][42] Euroberlin's fleet eventually grew to a total of ten aircraft, following the introduction of an additional three 737-300s during the 1990/'91 winter season.[43]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Berlin Airport Company, November 1988 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1988 (in German)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Berlin carrier named, Flight International, 27 August 1988, p. 14
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "World Airline Directory 1989". Flight International. March 1989.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The airline from Berlin, Flight International, 5 August 1989, pp. 29-31
  5. ^ a b c d e f Berlin Airport Company, November 1990 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1990 (in German)
  6. ^ a b c d e "World Airline Directory 1991". Flight International. March 1991.
  7. ^ a b c d Berlin Airport Company, November 1994 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1994 (in German)
  8. ^ a b c d e "World Airline Directory 1995". Flight International. March 1995.
  9. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1972 Annual Report, February 1973 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1973 (in German)
  10. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1974 Annual Report, February 1975 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1975 (in German)
  11. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1980 Annual Report, February 1981 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1981 (in German)
  12. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1984 Annual Report, February 1985 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1985 (in German)
  13. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1985 Annual Report, February 1986 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1986 (in German)
  14. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1986 Annual Report, February 1987 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1987 (in German)
  15. ^ a b Pan Am: Berlin balance, Air Transport, Flight International, 26 July 1973, pp. 124/5
  16. ^ a b Berlin Airport Company, November 1974 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1974 (in German)
  17. ^ West Berlin exchange approved, Air Transport, Flight International, 8 May 1975, pp. 726/7
  18. ^ a b c d The battle for Berlin, Flight International, 23 April 1988, pp. 19-21
  19. ^ Berlin Airport Company, November 1975 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1975 (in German)
  20. ^ a b Aeroplane — Pan Am and the IGS, Vol. 116, No. 2972, p. 5, Temple Press, London, 2 October 1968
  21. ^ a b BEA in Berlin, Air Transport, Flight International, 10 August 1972, pp. 180/1
  22. ^ Aeroplane — Pan Am and the IGS, Vol. 116, No. 2972, pp. 5, 8, Temple Press, London, 2 October 1968
  23. ^ Berlin deal goes ahead, Air Transport ..., Flight International, 3 October 1968, p. 520
  24. ^ One-Eleven 500 into service ..., Flight International, 7 November 1968, p. 742
  25. ^ Berlin Change, Air Transport, Flight International, 25 May 1972, p. 755
  26. ^ British Airways Super One-Eleven Division — Internal German Services, Air Transport, Flight International, 1 August 1974, p. 104
  27. ^ Berlin Airport Company, November 1972 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1972 (in German)
  28. ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1974 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1974 (in German)
  29. ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1976 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tegel Airport, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1976 (in German)
  30. ^ Berlin Airport Company, February 1988 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1988 (in German)
  31. ^ Berlin Airport Company, March 1988 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1988 (in German)
  32. ^ "World Airline Directory 1988". Flight International. March 1988.
  33. ^ a b c d e New Berlin carrier formed, Flight International, 16 July 1988, p. 50
  34. ^ a b c d e Soviets oppose new Berlin flights, Flight International, 26 November 1988, p. 15
  35. ^ a b c Berlin Airport Company, April 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989 (in German)
  36. ^ a b c Berlin Airport Company, April 1990 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1990 (in German)
  37. ^ Berlin Airport Company, April 1969 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1969 (in German)
  38. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1978 Annual Report, February 1979 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1979 (in German)
  39. ^ Berlin Airport Company — Summary of 1988 Annual Report, February 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989 (in German)
  40. ^ Kompass – summer 1978 and summer 1988 editions, Dan Air Services Ltd., West Berlin, 1978, 1988 (in German)
  41. ^ Berlin Airport Company, November 1989 Monthly Timetable Booklet for Berlin Tempelhof and Berlin Tegel Airports, Berlin Airport Company, West Berlin, 1989 (in German)
  42. ^ "World Airline Directory 1990". Flight International. March 1990.
  43. ^ Air France — Chapter 9, Other Associated Airlines, Jones, G., Midland Publishing, Hersham, 2008, p. 145

Bibliography

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