Air Berlin (1991) (Berlin Tegel) has announced it will switch its Milan, Italy operations from Milan Malpensa to Milan Linate with effect from October 26, 2014. The carrier said in a statement that the following routes out of Malpensa would be affected: Berlin Tegel, Düsseldorf, and Vienna (operated by Niki (Austria) (Vienna)).
No reason for the switch was offered although it is expected to be link to a closer cooperation with Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) which will also soon have Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) as its largest minority shareholder.
Air Berlin and Niki will also shortly announce plans to streamline its network dropping several leisure oriented from Germany, Switzerland and Austria as well as its services from Berlin Tegel to Barcelona El Prat, Miami International, Oslo Gardermoen, Sofia and Venice Marco Polo as well as from Vienna to Copenhagen Kastrup, Moscow Domodedovo and Frankfurt International.
