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 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.

Ryanair is unlikely to bid for any part of broke German carrier Air Berlin but Michael O’Leary has said the Irish airline will continue to expand in Germany.

Ryanair has lodged formal complaints with the European Commission and Germany’s competition authority over what it calls a brewing “conspiracy” surrounding the future ownership of broke carrier Air Berlin.

One of four men arrested in Australia over an alleged plot to bring down an airliner has been released without charge.

Ryanair has confirmed it has made an indicative takeover offer for struggling Italian airline Alitalia, saying the potential long-haul passenger feed opportunities make the deal “interesting”.

Emirates is letting go dozens of employees as the Persian Gulf carrier continues a push to streamline after years of rapid growth, according to sources.

Emirates is letting go dozens of employees as the Persian Gulf carrier continues a push to streamline after years of rapid growth, according to sources.

Ryanair would seek a majority stake in Alitalia if it decides to invest in the loss-making Italian airline, chief executive Michael O’Leary said during a visit to Rome yesterday.

One for the boys

Alitalia started bankruptcy proceedings for the second time in a decade, throwing the survival of Italy’s flag carrier into doubt after it failed to fend off budget rivals.

Donald Trump has hit back after a judge temporarily blocked his travel ban on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

A Qatari passenger plane has made an emergency landing in Turkey after its engine caught fire.

More than 307,000 passengers travelled through Kerry Airport last year, according to the regional airport’s annual results announced yesterday.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said that the airline is on course to usurp Air Berlin as the second largest player in the German market behind national flag carrier Lufthansa.

Kilkenny attacker Colin Fennelly has hit back at Ger Loughnane’s controversial comments about the Cats, labeling them ‘absolutely crazy’ and insisting ‘what he said means nothing’.

“Everywhere there were bodies with no heads. There was a woman screaming while she was holding her baby and she screamed: ‘Where is my baby?’ I told her she was holding her child but she said she had one other that she couldn’t find.”

Some 113,000 Lufthansa passengers are facing domestic and international cancellations due to all-day walkouts at three German airports staged by a cabin crew union protesting against cost cuts.

If someone from Etihad Airways is reading, do Walter Walsh a favour and renew his RTÉ man-of-the-match voucher from the 2012 All-Ireland final. The man is too humble to ask himself.

Lanzarote deals

Aer Lingus shareholders effectively have 60 days as of yesterday to accept the airline’s proposed sale to British Airways owner IAG before a deal lapses.

Etihad Airways has signalled it would be willing to sell its stake in Aer Lingus if the Government backs the offer made by International Airlines Group (IAG) for the Dublin-based carrier.

Ryanair is to use its next big Boeing order to compete with the likes of Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways on routes from Ireland and Britain to the Gulf States and northern Africa.

More than a dozen Irish tourists stranded in Thailand when fog closed an airport in Abu Dhabi are to make their own way home after giving up on Etihad Airways.

Hundreds of angry passengers have said they endured a 28-hour overseas flight which included 12 hours on a tarmac in the Middle East without food or proper information.

A transatlantic jet diverted to Dublin Airport this morning after suffering issues with it's navigation system.

So a quick pop quiz — name the current sponsors of the All-Ireland hurling championship?

British Airways owner IAG is expected to gain control of Aer Lingus early next year, despite having an initial takeover proposal rejected.

Ferrari’s potential exit from Italy is causing some hand-wringing in its home country.

Aer Lingus intends to hold a shareholder vote next month to formally approve its pension deficit solution, after employees yesterday voted in favour of its funding plan.

Thousands of passengers flying with Etihad Airways on Sunday will be able to tune in and watch the All-Ireland SHC final live.

Authorities in countries affected by the ebola virus should check people departing at international airports, seaports and major border crossings and stop anyone with signs of the virus from travelling, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday.

A Nigerian woman who arrived in Abu Dhabi on a transit flight and who may have been infected with the Ebola virus has died, health officials in the United Arab Emirates said.

Aer Lingus’s share price jumped nearly 5% yesterday after more than 20m of its shares changed hands — including, it is believed, the bulk of media mogul Denis O’Brien’s remaining holding in the company.

Aer Lingus hopes to use any future dilution of Ryanair’s near 30% stakeholding to significantly boost the number of shares it has in free float.

It’s been four months since our GAA season began here in Seoul, Korea and we have reached the midway point in our season.

Marvellous gave Ryan Moore a first victory in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas by cutting down 100-30 favourite Lightning Thunder at the Curragh this afternoon.

John Oxx is praying the rain stays away from the Curragh to allow My Titania to get her shot at Classic glory in tomorrow’s Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas.