Lufthansa has confirmed an interest in taking over Airberlin; however, the carrier will look to Etihad Airways to take care of Airberlin’s debts. Etihad owns a 29.2% stake in Airberlin, which has debts of E1.2b (US$1.3b). In January, Lufthansa Group chairman and CE Carsten Spohr had said that Airberlin’s debts were “much too high to attract an investor.” Airberlin reported a E781.9m loss ($824m) for 2016, deepened from a E446.6m loss in the year-ago period. For the 2017 Q1, Airberlin posted a net loss of E293.3m, widened from a E182.3m loss in the year-ago period. Airberlin said 2016 and 1Q 2017 were dominated by the transition to a new business model. The old business model and high restructuring costs had a huge impact on last year’s results. <br/>
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French crash investigators probing the crash of an EgyptAir Airbus A320 over the Mediterranean Sea in May 2016 have reportedly found no trace of explosives on the bodies of the victims, according to accounts in the French media. The A320, operating as MS804, disappeared over the Mediterranean 280 km from the Egyptian coast. French air accident investigation agency BEA has been assisting Egyptian authorities on the A320 crash. France has for some time leaned toward the theory of a fire breaking out on board the aircraft. Initial evidence gleaned from messages sent by the A320’s ACARS indicated the presence of smoke in both an avionics bay under the flight deck and a lavatory. <br/>
United Airlines hasn't explained why a giant rabbit died after being flown from London to Chicago or why it had the animal cremated within hours of his death, a lawyer for the rabbit's buyers said Monday, announcing possible legal action. Attorney Guy Cook, representing an Iowa group that bought the continental giant rabbit named Simon, said his clients want details about Simon's death and an explanation of why he was cremated before a necropsy, or post-mortem examination, could be conducted. Cook said he sent a letter to United May 4 but hasn't received a reply, other than a confirmation that the matter had been referred to the airline's lawyers. "United has taken no action to rectify this," Cook said, raising larger questions about how the airline treats the animals it transports. "This case is about more than one rabbit." <br/>
Warren Buffett said Monday that United Airlines made a “terrible mistake” in handling the fallout after a man was forcibly dragged off a United flight. But the billionaire said that the incident did not undermine his investment strategy, in which Berkshire Hathaway became the largest investor in United Continental Holdings. “Obviously it was a terrible mistake,” Buffett said. Munoz has since “apologised many times, but your first reaction is going to get a lot of attention.” Buffett said the industry has become more efficient, even if fuller planes and tighter seats cause a “fair amount of discomfort”. He said the Dao incident wouldn’t change that. “They may become like cattle cars,” he said, “but a significant percentage would rather be treated that way and fly for X than have far more leg room (and other benefits) and fly for X plus 25%.” <br/>
Avianca has converted orders for 5 Airbus A319neo jets to the larger A320neo. Avianca is the largest customer for the A319neo, which has been the weakest-selling model in the re-engined family. It lifted its commitment to the variant to 28 a year ago, by converting 9 A320neo orders, but switched 3 back in December. The swap of another 5 last month leaves the carrier with orders for 20 of the type. Frontier Airlines accounts for another 18 A319neos, with the remaining 12 orders split between unidentified customers and business jet specialists. The A319neo carried out its maiden flight at the end of March this year, commencing its certification effort. Chinese lessor CALC has cancelled a pair of A320neos, while an undisclosed customer cancelled a further 4 <br/>