airberlin Adds Chicago to its Expanding US Flight Operation Effective March 2013

airberlin Airbus 330

airberlin adds the windy city to its expanding US flight operations

The first non-stop flights are available for booking as of today for Easter 2013

airberlin is continuing its expansion from the USA: as of March 23, 2013 the airline will start operating nonstop flights from Chicago to Berlin, making it the first airline ever to provide a connection between this major U.S. metropolitan city and the capital of Germany. Following the inauguration of the nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Berlin in May of this year, this is the second major launch in 2012 for airberlin from the US to Germany thus far.

airberlin will start operations on the new route in time for the Easter holidays at the end of March 2013. When the summer schedule starts in May 2013, airberlin will increase the number of nonstop flights from three to five frequencies per week.

“The new Chicago-Berlin service by European carrier airberlin is a win for travelers coming to and from Chicago, one of the most accessible cities in the world,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “In addition to more travel choices for passengers, airberlin’s new routes will provide an annual regional economic impact of $130 million a year and create new jobs. This is a welcome development as we continue to grow Chicago as a major destination for tourism, culture and business.”

His Excellency Philip D. Murphy, United States Ambassador to Germany said, “I welcome this new nonstop flight from Chicago to Berlin, which opens up travel from the great German capital city to the heart of America.”

“We are pleased to welcome airberlin to Chicago’s global gateway, O’Hare International Airport,” said Rosemarie S. Andolino, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA). “Bringing airberlin to Chicago was a collaborative effort with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Choose Chicago and World Business Chicago and I thank them for their continued partnership with the City of Chicago. New service to Berlin provides more travel options and further expands the outstanding level of connectivity that O’Hare provides to destinations around the world.”

Paul Gregorowitsch, CCO airberlin said, “Chicago is already the seventh U.S. destination to be included in airberlin’s flight schedule and the airline is thus setting the course for further growth in the United States of America. The direct flight from Chicago is a strategically important step for us to further promote connectivity between our Berlin hub and our partners‘ hubs. Chicago is also the second largest hub for our oneworld® partner, American Airlines. This network expansion will provide a wide range of connections in Europe and in the USA for airberlin customers and for those of American Airlines.”

Burkhard Kieker, CEO visitBerlin stated that “visitBerlin and the Berlin hotel sector welcome airberlin’s expansion into Chicago. The new route does not only connect the city of Chicago with Berlin, it also provides numerous connections for travelers from Central and South America via the Chicago hub to Berlin. We anticipate increased business opportunities for Berlin as a convention destination.”

From May 1, 2013, an airberlin Airbus A330-200 will operate the eight-hour flight to Berlin from the Windy City on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Between March 23 and April 31 2013, airberlin will operate the direct flight every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. The flight departs from Chicago at 15:25 p.m. arriving in the German capital city at 07:00 a.m. next day. The return flight from Berlin leaves at 10:00 a.m. and arrives at Chicago O’Hare airport at 12:10 p.m. Connecting flights from Berlin are available to eight other cities in Germany as well as to Vienna, Zurich, Budapest, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm and Russia. Flying from Chicago also gives passengers access to airberlin’s extensive European route network. In addition, passengers can connect to Chicago utilizing American Airlines network which offers connections from destinations across North America.

Tickets for the new flights to Berlin are available now online at (airberlin.com), through the company’s Service Center (phone: 1-866-266-5588) or through travel agents.

About airberlin:

airberlin is Germany’s second largest airline. The company has a workforce of 9,200 employees. Each year, airberlin receives over 10 awards for service and quality. The fleet comprises 165 aircraft with an average age of five years, making it one of the most modern fleets in Europe. The airline’s state-of-the-art jets are highly fuel efficient, which contributes toward a long-term reduction in pollution emissions from aircraft. As one of the major European airlines, airberlin flies to 162 destinations in 40 countries. In 2011, over 35 million passengers were transported. In December 2011, airberlin entered into a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways. Since 20^th March 2012, airberlin has been a full member of the global airline alliance oneworld®. airberlin operates codeshare flights with oneworld® members American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and Japan Airlines.

About Chicago Department of Aviation:

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) is self-supporting, using no local or state tax dollars for operations or capital improvements at O’Hare and Midway International airports. Together, Chicago’s airports generate more than $45 billion in annual economic activity and create 540,000 jobs for the region. Please visit www.flychicago.com to learn more about the Chicago Department of Aviation. Mark your calendar for the fifth annual Airports Going Green Conference, November 4- 7, 2012, at the Westin Chicago River North in Chicago, Illinois. To learn more please visit www.airportsgoinggreen.org.

Press contact:

Jana Andresen Madeleine Vogelsang

airberlin press department Product Manager N.A.

Tel : + 49 30 3434 1500 Tel: 305-521-1012

Fax: + 49 30 3434 1509 Fax: 305-932-1545

E-mail:abpresse@airberln.com Email: madvogel@atmsusa.net

Tammy Chase

Media Relations, Chicago Department of Aviation

Tel: 773-686-3700

Fax: 773-894-1712

Email: tammy.chase@cityofchicago.org