EasyJet gets closer to deal for Air Berlin’s planes

Budget airline easyJet on Friday emerged among the front-runners to snap up insolvent Air Berlin’s aviation business.

The firm is in the mix for the acquisition alongside German flagship carrier Lufthansa.

Air Berlin said: “Authority was granted [by creditors] to conclude one or more agreements with one or more of these bidders.”

The company, which filed for insolvency last month after shareholder Etihad pulled the plug on funding, has about 8000 employees and operates 144 mostly leased planes.

It said talks with Lufthansa and easyJet, led by outgoing boss Carolyn McCall (pictured), will continue until October 12.

The update comes a week after easyJet said it had submitted a proposal to the overseers of Air Berlin’s insolvency to acquire parts of its short-haul business. Lufthansa is poised to pick up a large part of the carrier, Reuters reported.

Lufthansa has previously said that the firm wanted to secure the 38 crewed planes it leases from Air Berlin, and was interested in a further 20-40 short-haul planes.

Other companies to have bid for or looked at all or part of the business, include British Airways owner IAG, Thomas Cook’s German airline Condor, and embattled Irish carrier Ryanair. All airlines either declined to comment or could not be reached.

Talks for Air Berlin’s other assets, including its aircraft maintenance unit, are continuing with other bidders, with an October 6 deadline for offers.