Air Berlin has failed owing to bad management, proclaims the Süddeutsche Zeitung:

“Etihad forced the German subsidiary to focus on business travellers, a segment in which Air Berlin could not compete against Lufthansa and all the other alliances. At the same time Air Berlin neglected the area in which it had initially been successful, holiday travel. Because Ryanair, Easyjet and the other budget airlines dominate the private travel market as they operate more cheaply and follow business models that actually work. The truth is that no one needs Air Berlin. As understandable as it is that the government is now supplying a bridging loan so that the planes can at least take to the air and ensure that holidaymakers make it home in the coming weeks, it is equally important that no more state aid follows.”