previous  overview  next

dba Luftfahrtgesellschaft mbH -
formerly Deutsche BA (British Airways)

2003 - The INTRO Group was to be named by British Airways to oversee and accompany the shutdown of Deutsche BA after the British Airways Board decided to close down this notoriously lossmaking German affiliate airline. Instead of overseeing the closure INTRO decided to acquire all shares of Deutsche BA in order to reposition and restructure the airline which was renamed to dba.

From day one Hans Rudolf Wöhrl stepped in as Chief Executive Officer and after the implemented measures were beginning to take effect he moved as Chairman into the supervisory board. Peter Oncken became Member of the supervisory board.

dba with a fleet of 15 Boeing 737-300/500 followed a clear strategy from 1st day onwards:

• serving high yield business traveller routes
  in Germany and to neighbouring European business centres
• on a high frequency level
• as a full service carrier
• with a simple and transparent structure with one reasonable maximum full flexible fare on all routes. This was highly honoured by business travellers
• high value one class compartment
• friendly service
• utilisation of quick check-in systems to reduce travel time

2004 - INTRO succeeds to bring the airline into profitability within 15 months after its takeover without any major layoffs.

2005 - Acquisition of all shares of rival German airline gexx which operated 14 Fokker 100 and its full integration into dba operations.

With up to 180 daily flights and 29 aircrafts dba grew to be Germany’s third largest carrier. dba has successfully challenged the market share of Lufthansa in the domestic market where it has a steady market share of at least 30% and increasing on the same destinations. dba has a strong domestic market position and is cooperating with big international carriers on feeder and code share basis.

2006 - Placement of order for 24 Boeing 737-700
 
August 17th: Sale of all shares to Air Berlin, Germany’s second largest airline