EANS-News: Air Berlin increases revenue and average earnings

Improved management and higher-quality client mix – Profit eases by
27.3 percent

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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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air transport/Finacial Figures/balance sheet/3-month report
/Q1-results

London/Berlin (euro adhoc) - Despite the impact of the economic and
financial crisis, Air Berlin's profit and revenue for the first
quarter of 2009 came in according to plan. The number of passengers
transported decreased to 5.5 million, i.e. a 6.2 percent drop, a
figure that bested the branch average. For the first quarter of 2009,
seasonal operating loss (EBIT) reached minus EUR 87.3 million (Q1
2008: minus EUR 68.6 million). The reduced branch-wide demand for
flight services, in combination with the Easter flight season falling
in April rather than in the first quarter, contributed to this
development. Revenue reached EUR 661 million, an improvement of 1.2
percent, primarily as a result of the improved average earnings
(Yield) per passenger.

Revenue per passenger kilometer (RPK) jumped from 7.22 to 8.33
Eurocents, i.e. an increase of 15.4 percent. Due to the higher cost
of kerosene, EBITDAR (Earnings before interest, leasing expenses,
depreciation, amortization, interest and taxes), at EUR 27.1 million
for the reporting period, was lower than in the corresponding period
of the previous year (Q1 2008: EUR 40.3 million). Air Berlin achieved
an operating result (EBIT) of minus EUR 87.3 million (Q1 2008: minus
EUR 68.6 million). Net profit for the first three months of 2009
amounted to minus EUR 88.4 million (Q1 2008: minus EUR 59.6 million).

As Joachim Hunold, Air Berlin's CEO, concluded on Wednesday in
Berlin: "In this challenging economic environment, Air Berlin has
per-formed better than other European airline companies. We were able
to increase our charter-business revenue, especially due to improved
capacity management on our long-haul flights. Furthermore, despite a
shrinking market environment, we have succeeded in keeping
single-seat ticket sales relatively stable."

Ulf Hüttmeyer, Air Berlin's CFO, stated that the revenue increase per
available passenger kilometer hinged on the improved management and
the higher-quality client mix. Despite the slightly lower load factor
of 71,5 percent (minus 1.8 percentage points), revenue per available
seat kilometer (RASK) increased by 12.6 percent to 5.96 Eurocents.
The number of corporate agreements reached 868, with the first
quarter focusing on extending existing agreements. The growing price
consciousness among business and corporate clients has resulted in
increased demand for Air Berlin flights.

Cost development for the first quarter of 2009 (plus 3.2 percent), at
EUR 638 million, resulted mainly from the reverberating effects of
the previous year. This includes hedging transactions for fuel and
standard wage increases. Other operating expenses decreased by 5.9
percent to EUR 114 million.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Hans-Christoph Noack

Director of Corporate Communications Air Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 3434 1500

Fax: +49 30 3434 1509

E-mail: abpresse@airberlin.com

Branche: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
WKN: AB1000
Index: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade