Etihad Aviation Group, TUI AG in talks to form new leisure airline group

Etihad Aviation Group and TUI AG are discussing plans to create a European leisure airline group, focused on flights that connect key tourist markets.

Talks are underway to form a new airline group that would serve a vast array of destinations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The group would be supported by Etihad's expertise as the fastest-growing air group in the world while utilizing the state-of-the-art distribution methods of TUI. TUI, AG, Etihad Aviation Group and Air Berlin PLC intend to finalize an agreement in time, subject to regulator approvals.

TUI Group has 75,000 employees serving 30 million customers per year globally. The group owns a portfolio of more than 300 hotels, 14 cruise liners and six European airlines comprising 140 aircraft.

Etihad Aviation Group has more than 26,000 employees. It holds minority stakes in Air Berlin PLC, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and Virgin Australia. Air Berlin PLC's Airberlin is the second-largest airline in Germany, offering global flights through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways and the Oneworld airline alliance.