EANS-News: Air Berlin PLC / airberlin increases revenue to EUR 751.6 million

• First quarter 2011 burdened by unrest in Northern Africa, the air
transportation tax, the price of kerosene and the absence of the
Easter-related tourism business due to Easter falling in the second
quarter
• Net result declines from EUR -93.6 million in the previous
year to
EUR -120.6 million
• Demand and bookings show a positive
trend

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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/3-month report/ Q1 figures 2011

Subtitle: • First quarter 2011 burdened by unrest in Northern Africa,
the air transportation tax, the price of kerosene and the absence of
the Easter-related tourism business due to Easter falling in the
second quarter • Net result declines from EUR -93.6 million in the
previous year to EUR -120.6 million • Demand and bookings show a
positive trend

London/ Berlin (euro adhoc) - airberlin, Germany's second-largest
airline company, remains cautiously optimistic for the further course
of the business year, despite the first-quarter results falling short
of expectations. As airberlin's CEO Joachim Hunold stated when
presenting the Interim Report for the first quarter of the 2011
business year: "Since demand and bookings are showing a positive
trend, we continue to anticipate higher revenue and a positive
operating result for the 2011 business year, provided that the
framework conditions do not further deteriorate. We expect a four to
five percent increase in the number of passengers and a higher seat
load factor. We are upgrading our range of services with a slightly
extended flight offer and a comprehensive drive for increased
passenger comfort. In this context, the focus lies on strengthening
our hubs in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Palma de Mallorca, and on the
expansion of our destination network in Italy." Hunold emphasized
that the comprehensive integration of airberlin's subsidiary, LTU,
would result in cost synergies.

In the first quarter of 2011, Air Berlin PLC increased its revenue to
EUR 751.6 million, i.e. an increase of 2 percent over the previous
year (Q1/2010: EUR 690.9 million). The number of passengers increased
by 1.9 percent to 6.87 million (Q1/2010: EUR 6.74 million).
airberlin's CFO Ulf Hüttmeyer commented: "The net result failed to
meet our expectations, primarily due to flight cancellations related
to the political unrest in several North African countries and
because of the important Easter-related tourism business falling in
the second quarter this year. Furthermore, the introduction of the
air transportation tax made it impossible to pass on the rapidly
climbing kerosene price to our customers in its entirety." EBITDAR
(Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and
leasing expenses) decreased from EUR 44.1 million to EUR -25.7
million, and EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes) decreased from
EUR -98.6 million to EUR -188.3 million. The financial result
improved from EUR -32.9 million to EUR 14.6 million. Total equity
decreased from EUR 538.2 million to EUR 376.7 million. Net
indebtedness dropped to EUR 531.2 million (2010: EUR 600.1 million).

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: Air Berlin PLC
The Hour House, High Street 32
UK-WD3 1ER Rickmansworth, Herts
phone: +49 (0)30 3434 1500
FAX: +49 (0)30/3434-1049
mail: abpresse@airberlin.com
WWW: http://www.airberlin.com
sector: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
indexes: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English

ots Originaltext: Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Uwe Berlinghoff
Director Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0)30 3434 1500
Fax: +49 (0)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