Lufthansa has said its likely purchase of the bulk of Air Berlin will make it “very well positioned” to compete better with Ryanair across Europe, even though it will still have an inferior share of the market.

A German businessman has joined the field of potential bidders for insolvent Air Berlin, proposing to focus on only a few routes to holiday destinations.

Lufthansa has submitted a letter of interest in Air Berlin’s Austrian budget airline Niki and other parts of the insolvent carrier, according to sources.

Lufthansa has received more German government support in its bid to take over substantial assets of insolvent rival Air Berlin, with German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries saying she would welcome such a move.

Lufthansa is considering buying a majority of insolvent Air Berlin’s aircraft, sources have said, as the German government and rivals race to carve it up.

Paidi O’Brien won yesterday’s opening stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan after an absolutely bruising day that saw many riders lose over 10 minutes.

They say you should never work with animals on telly and here we have a prime example of that sage advice.

Olivier Peslier ended a 14-year wait for a fourth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in very unlikely fashion as the unfancied filly Solemia induced more Japanese heartbreak at Longchamp yesterday.

Plans by German carrier Air Berlin to buy a majority stake in Thomas Cook’s charter airline Condor have been scrapped due to soaring jet fuel costs.