Air Berlin has not yet exhausted a E150m bridge loan, a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry said Friday. The government agreed in mid-August to provide the loan to ensure that Air Berlin flights continue for a period of up to three months, to return holidaymakers to Germany and secure thousands of jobs. Beate Baron, spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry, said the loan was being paid out in tranches according to demand. “The credit has not been exhausted,” she told a regular government news conference, adding she could give no further details as to how much has already been disbursed.<br/>
oneworld
The passenger volume of carrier LATAM Airlines rose 2.3% year-over-year in August, the company said late on Thursday, potentially marking a turning point for demand in Brazil, the largest market for the Santiago-based company. LATAM said Brazilian domestic volume rose 3.4% in August, the first positive reading after two years of contraction in a sign of economic recovery after a long recession. In the year through August, Brazil’s passenger volumes were down 6.2%. “We’re seeing growth in the Brazilian market, which contrasts with the decline accumulated up until now, indicating a modest recovery,” Santiago brokerage Bci said in a note on Friday.<br/>