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Air Berlin PLC realises total revenue of EUR 3.72 billion in 2010

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17-Mar-2011 Air Berlin PLC realises total revenue of EUR 3.72 billion in 2010 - operational result declines to EUR -9.3 million due to extraordinary charges

Ad hoc Notification Pursuant to § 15 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG)

London, 17 March 2011 - The Air Berlin PLC group´s revenue increased by 14.8 per cent to EUR 3.72 billion in 2010 as compared to EUR 3.24 billion in the previous year (2009 pro forma*: EUR 3.68 billion). The revenue growth fell short of expectations. In particular, the harsh winter in Europe, the air space restrictions imposed as a result of the volcanic eruption, as well as the air traffic controller strike in Spain and the announcement of strikes against Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG have left a clear mark in the Company´s operational result.

With regards to costs, higher winter-related additional expenses as well as the costs of the flight cancellations made an impact so that additional operating expenses on the EBITDAR level increased by 1.2 per cent from EUR 3.12 billion to EUR 3.16 billion (2009 pro forma*: EUR 2.77 billion). In fact, in the absence of the numerous additional expenses and one-off effects, operating expenses have decreased considerably.

Despite these additional expenses and the decline in revenue resulting from flight cancellations, EBITDAR increased by 22.8 per cent from EUR 503.6 million in the previous year to EUR 618.5 million in the 2010 financial year (pro forma 2009*: EUR 607.1 EUR).

The operating result (EBIT) declined from EUR 28.5 million (pro forma 2009*: EUR 29 million) to EUR -9.3 million. The financial result decreased from EUR -51 million (2009 pro forma*: EUR -59.3 million) to EUR -133.3 million. In addition to losses from the valuation of derivative financial instruments and decreased foreign exchange gains, the expenses associated with the repurchase of the 2009 convertible bonds , amounting to EUR 42.2 million, contributed in particular to increased charges. In 2009, the Company realised income of EUR 21.2 million from the repurchase of convertible bonds.

Pre-tax earnings in the 2010 financial year amounted to EUR -141.6 million compared with EUR -21.7 million in 2009 (pro forma 2009*: EUR -29.5 million). After a tax benefit in the amount of EUR 44.4 million, the net result for the reporting year amounts to EUR -97.2 million compared to EUR -9.5 million in 2009 (pro forma 2009*: EUR -21.9 million). Earnings per share based on the average number of 85.048 million shares outstanding in 2010 (2009: 73.523 million shares) thus amounted to EUR -1.14, compared with EUR -0.13 in the previous year (both basic and diluted).

As of 31 December 2010, Air Berlin PLC´s total assets amounted to EUR 2,370.1 million (2009: EUR 2,411.5 million), its total equity amounted to 505.3 million (2009: EUR 610.0 million), and its net debt amounted to EUR 489.2 million (2009: EUR 574.1 million).

On 24 March 2011, Air Berlin will publish detailed information on the financial year´s result as well as the complete annual report as at 31 December 2010. This information will be available on the Internet at ir.airberlin.com starting at 7:30 am (CET).

*pro forma: 2009 consolidated financial statements of Air Berlin PLC, include the 2009 adjusted figures for Niki Luftfahrt GmbH, which has been consolidated in Air Berlin PLC´s consolidated financial statements with effect as of 01 July 2010.