Wet-leased Airberlin A320s begin service for Austrian Airlines

The first of 5 Airberlin Airbus A320s, operating in Austrian Airlines colours, launched March 7 on services from Vienna, Austria to Skopje, Macedonia. The flight is part of a 6-year wet-lease agreement between Airberlin and the Lufthansa Group. Under the agreement, Airberlin is wet leasing 38 Airbus A319/A320 aircraft—which are stationed at German and Austrian airports—to Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Eurowings and Austrian Airlines. Eurowings is taking 33 of the aircraft and Austrian is taking the remaining 5. The deal also includes a codeshare between Lufthansa and Airberlin equity parent Etihad Airways. “With the 5 aircraft from Airberlin, we will take advantage of market opportunities to strengthen our leading position at our hub Vienna,” Austrian CE Kay Kratky said. <br/>