Air Berlin's administrator sues Etihad for up to 2 billion euros

Air Berlin’s insolvency administrator is suing Abu Dhabi’s Etihad, its former owner, for damages of up E2b ($2.26b), a Berlin court said Friday. Etihad Airways’ decision to withdraw funding for Air Berlin sent Germany’s then No.2 carrier into insolvency. The administrator said previously that Etihad did not meet its financial obligations towards Air Berlin. “The claims are for payment of 500 million and the establishment that the defendant is obliged to pay further damages. The Chamber has provisionally set the amount in dispute at up to E2b,” the court said Friday. Etihad’s spokesperson confirmed the company had received a claim filed at the Berlin Regional Court by the insolvency administrator of Air Berlin. “We believe that the claim is without merit and will defend ourselves vigorously against it,” the spokesperson said, adding that they would not make further public comment on the issue at the present time. The airline has until the end of January to respond to the suit, according to the court.<br/>