For the first eleven months of 2011, airberlin transported 2.1 percent more passengers than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In total, 33,280,624 passengers travelled with Germany’s second-largest airline (2010: 32,603,590 passengers). Fleet capacity utilization for the first eleven months of the year improved by 1.9 percentage points to 78.4 percent (2010: 76.5 percent), whereas accumulated capacity decreased by 0.5 percent.

Only two months set us apart from the beginning of the leading business-to-business event in the area of meeting industry in South East Europe, Conventa 2012. The preparations for the upcoming trade show are going well and the number of attendees, both hosted buyers and exhibitors, is growing day by day.

Prague Convention Bureau accomplished many successes at EIBTM fair in Barcelona. Beside a number of successful appointments with meeting planners and lots of promising inquiries for Prague, PCB organized together with the Prague Tourist Board a press conference for international media. There was introduced groundbreaking step of Prague – marketing campaign for promoting Prague as meeting destination.

Shanghai created a special working group on November 23 which is to be heavily involved in furthering the growth of city’s cruise tourism.

Momentum continues to build for the 10th anniversary edition of IMEX in Frankfurt next May 22 – 24 with planned developments and changes to the IMEX Association Day, the trade show’s hallmark “contact the buyers” system, its education programme and the popular IMEX App. The continued expansion of the hosted buyer programme will also be a key feature of this 10th IMEX show.
More hosted buyers are set to attend from both central European countries, as well as key long-haul markets including the USA, Brazil and Asia. Hyatt Hotels will be bringing their clients to the show for the first time, alongside a host of new US intermediaries – attracted to the Frankfurt show by the success of the inaugural IMEX America in October.
IMEX will also be introducing important new changes to the format and structure of its annual Association Day in Frankfurt, taking place at the Messe Frankfurt Congress Centre. These will allow for greater choice in the education and networking programme and will also take more account of the differing levels of seniority and experience amongst the hosted buyers attending.

On 1st November 2012 airberlin will be closing its stations in Dortmund and Erfurt. This is the airline’s response to the disproportionate burden imposed by the aviation tax and its significant influence on demand.