Air Berlin (1991) (Berlin Tegel) will add 14 ex-Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) A320-200s to its fleet as part of its plan to streamline its narrowbody fleet to just A320 family aircraft, ItaliaVola is reporting.

Sister carrier Alitalia is currently planning to decrease the number of its shorthaul aircraft allowing Air Berlin to get additional A320s to replace some of its outgoing B737-700s and B737-800s. Air Berlin's narrowbody fleet currently consists of 7 A319-100s, 24 A320-200s, 13 A321-200s, 4 B737-700s and 25 B737-800s. It also wet-leases additional B737NG aircraft from TUI fly (Germany) (X3, Hannover) as part of a long-term agreement.

Air Berlin is to cut 200 more jobs from its ground handling and administrative divisions as part of its restructuring drive. A spokesman for the carrier said the positions could be cut over the course of 2015.

Should the redundancies be effected, they will add to the 900 or so positions the struggling carrier has already terminated since its turnaround programme began early last year.

In an internal memo to employees, CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer underscored the importance of streamlining the carrier but also noted the significant hurdles the restructuring faced as a result of Germany's restrictive labour laws.

"We are trying to make savings, but there are a lot of obstacles to be overcome," he said.

Air Berlin's June financial figures show its workforce numbered 8'696.