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After that the airline’s future is uncertain. Rival Lufthansa, which is Germany’s biggest carrier, and another unidentified airline are in talks to take over some operations. Winkelmann said the talks were “very well advanced.”

Union ver.di called the bankruptcy a “severe blow” for Air Berlin’s more than 7,000 employees.

“Our priority now lies with securing the jobs,” said Christine Behle, a union board director. “Air Berlin must proceed with transparency and provide all important information.”

Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said that the bridge loan should give Air Berlin enough time to wrap up talks on the sale of some operations.

The bankruptcy filing was prompted by the decision by Etihad, which holds a 29.2 per cent stake, to stop funneling money into the airline after years of propping it up.

Air Berlin said that in light of Etihad’s decision, it “came to the conclusion that there was no further positive way ahead for Air Berlin.”

Already the carrier had been trying to ease its costs and lighten its debt load of 1.2 billion euros after reporting a record loss of 782 million euros last year. In December, it reached a deal to lease 38 plans to Lufthansa’s units Eurowings and Austrian Airlines.

Etihad Airways said the bankruptcy filing was “extremely disappointing for all parties,” especially as it had supported the airline over six years, but that it could not continue pumping money into a loss-making business.