(Foto: Wikimedia Commons/S. Wolter)

Air Berlin to join global network

Air Berlin is going global.  Just weeks after Berlin's biggest airline bought shares in the Austria's low cost Niki Lauda Airline, it is aiming to join a major global airline network - the OneWorld Alliance, which counts some of the world's largest airlines such as BA (British Airways), American Airlines and Spain's Iberia among its members. Air Berlin is expected to join in 2012 under the sponsorship of BA.

The move will also put it in a more competitive position against Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa, which is part of the competing global airline network Star Alliance. 

According to analyst Frost & Sullivan, Air Berlin has managed to grow from a single airline to a group of airlines through its mergers and alliances, including Austria's low cost airline, Niki. By opening the door to Air Berlin, OneWorld intends to increase its presence in Central Europe, a market long dominated by Star Alliance (Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss).

To prepare Air Berlin for full OneWorld membership, American Airlines and Finnair have formed codeshare agreements with Air Berlin to enable it to further penetrate into the United States, the Bahamas, and Asia Pacific adding 20 destinations. The codeshare operations begin this winter.

Prince Boateng on trial

Soccer-star Kevin Prince Boateng will appear in court tomorrow to answer charges of damage to car wing mirrors. After leaving a party one night in March, Boateng and his former Hertha BSC teammate Patrick Ebert reportedly strolled through the district of Berlin-Wilmersdorf at night, damaging several mopeds and cars along their way. Ebert has already reached a settlement in the case. But so far Boateng has denied responsibility.   

Animal-hunt in Berlin's zoo

The case of illegal animal hunting in Berlin's zoo is being re-opened. Members of the animal protection group PETA had accused the zoo director in 2008 of shooting wild foxes and rabbits without the appropriate hunting permit. The case had been closed even though PETA presented supporting testimony. The case is being re-opened due to new evidence that the original investigation was flawed.