BERLIN - In a press statement, Etihad Airways announced that Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, airberlin’s chief executive officer and James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer and vice-chairman of airberlin, unveiled an Airbus A320 aircraft in joint livery and launching of a joint media campaign dubbed "Moving Forward".

Prock-Schauer, said: “The comprehensive commercial partnership with Etihad Airways has brought many benefits to airberlin, including our shares of joint revenues of EUR 200 million, which is an integral part of our turnaround program. 

“Partnerships are vital in today’s aviation industry. Our partnership provides significant benefits to Etihad Airways, airberlin, as well as to our guests. Not only do we provide an expanded offering of destinations and services, we also have developed synergies through the entire value chain.

“This means an increasingly attractive offer with numerous benefits for customers, and continuously improved productivity and lower costs. The positive response from our guests illustrates that we’re on the right path.”

“We shall continue to expand the joint route network with Etihad Airways and look forward to offering airberlin guests new codeshare destinations in India, Australia and South Korea.”

Hogan added: “Since the launch of the partnership two years ago, commercial ties between Etihad Airways and airberlin have deepened significantly. This has increased the destinations and flight options for guests and enabled both airlines to carry nearly 900,000 guests across the two networks.

“During this time airberlin’s new business strategy has made great progress and Etihad Airways continues to place its full support behind the airline and its management. We are confident that airberlin is on the right path back to profitability and the next phase in the airline’s proud history.”

“During its 35 years of operations, airberlin has established itself as one of Europe’s leading business and leisure airlines, regularly carrying more than 30 million passengers each year. 

“This strong history and heritage, as well as its great potential, attracted Etihad Airways to make the equity investment and establish the commercial partnership, and this long term commitment remains key to the Etihad Airways business strategy.”

Etihad Airways and airberlin plan to have joint sales operations, leveraging the current 17 joint sales offices and representation in more than 50 international markets. Combine the both airlines serves 228 destinations in 84 countries.

airberlin and Etihad Airways operate 42 weekly flights between destinations in Germany and Abu Dhabi. This will increase to 49 weekly flights in February 2014 when a second daily Munich flight commences.

In 2013, 563,000 common codeshare passengers flew across the two networks, a 74 percent increase on the previous year. Currently, 66 airberlin routes carry Etihad Airways’ EY code and 33 Etihad Airways’ routes carry airberlin’s AB flight code.