Airline investor Woehrl interested in Air Berlin

Airline entrepreneur Hans Rudolf Woehrl is interested in insolvent Air Berlin, a spokeswoman for his company INTRO-Verwaltungss said, responding to a media report saying he was planning a bid. She said it was the only way to avoid creating a German monopoly. Lufthansa is the sole major player remaining. German magazine Capital earlier reported that Woehrl was thinking of teaming up with other investors to make a takeover offer for Air Berlin, citing people familiar with the matter. "INTRO already declared its interest years ago to take a majority stake in the Air Berlin group jointly with additional investors. This interest still exists," the spokeswoman said, adding other investors were involved. "We think Air Berlin is meaningful only as a whole, because that is the only way to prevent a monopoly at the expense of passengers in Germany." <br/>