Since the launch of joint airberlin and Etihad Airways codeshare services to Australia in 2012, the airlines have reported leaps in growth on their current 39 weekly one-stop connections via Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
In 2015, the number of passengers booking a flight to Australia with airberlin increased by 46 percent over the previous year.
To support this positive trend, airberlin, in cooperation with Tourism Australia, has now selected a genuine Australian for its latest decal.
The outer skin of the A320 bearing registration number D-ABNM now features a kangaroo peering curiously from an additional cockpit window.
The #seeaustralia Airbus will be deployed on short and medium-haul airberlin flights for at least a year.
“Australia is booming and we are proud that, together with Etihad Airways, we can offer the fastest one-stop connection to Sydney from Berlin,” said Stefan Pichler, Chief Executive Officer, airberlin.
“The continuous increase in demand for travel to Australia in recent years has been a constant factor in a very dynamic travel market.
“Our long-haul flights with Etihad and around 500 weekly codeshare flights with Virgin Australia on 14 routes within Australia offer our passengers plenty of opportunity for comfortable travel across the continent,” he said.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, John O’Sullivan, said he was delighted to see its successful partnership with airberlin and Etihad Airways continue to develop.
“Our relationship with Etihad Airways and airberlin is one which has grown significantly in recent years, and has seen us work closely and collaboratively to sell seats and build demand for Australia in some of our most important international markets.
“The kangaroo is synonymous with our country. It has always played an important role in how we promote Australia to the world, so we couldn’t be happier that airberlin has given us the opportunity for our very own ‘skippy’ to welcome their German passengers as they step on board the plane,” he said.