Air Berlin was founded in 1978 by former Pam Am pilot Kim Lundgren. Strategy chief Hogan and finance chief James Rigney had already been dismissed by this stage. Etihad’s focus on driving traffic through its Abu Dhabi hub distracted Air Berlin from more pressing existential threats during the partnership. Insolvency proceedings have so far seen Lufthansa, Germany’s flag-carrier, bid for 81 of Air Berlin’s 140 planes, including the entire fleets of Niki and LGW. Another low-cost carrier, EasyJet, has agreed to take over responsibility for 25 of Air Berlin's leased aircraft.

Source: Forbes October 29, 2017 14:15 UTC