Air Berlin and Lidl join to offer cheaper flights

European airline Air Berlin and Supermarket chain Lidl today announcedplans to sell vouchers for flights to the UK & Europe at only £19.

This outstanding offer will apply to all of Lidl's 390 supermarket stores throughout the UK for the week of 5th to 12th September. During the week-long promotion Lidl customers can purchase any Air Berlin one-way flight voucher for just £19 for flights, which at the time of the booking, represent a value of up to £69 including taxes, charges and fuel surcharge. Participants are therefore able to save up to £50. Destinations include domestic airports such as London-Stansted, Glasgow, Belfast and Manchester. Also available are European destinations such as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Vienna, Zurich, Majorca, Rome and many more.

Tony Parker, a Company Director at Lidl said: “This is a first for retailing in the UK and we are absolutely delighted to be expanding our existing range of weekly offers and extending it into a new sector. Not only are we making air travel more accessible, we are making it even cheaper by selling a flight voucher for ?19 for a flight valued at ?69, which further supports our “where quality is cheaper” message.

Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold said: “Our ethos is to provide quality products and services at low prices and we are excited to be able to continually surprise new customers with special offers and promotions in this joint venture with Lidl”.

Dr Jonathan Reynolds, Director of the Oxford Institute of Retail Management and a Fellow in Retail Marketing at Templeton College, Oxford University, said: “This is a great demonstration of the grocery retailers’ ability to move into new sectors and yet still be able to pass on value to consumers.

“There’s a natural match between a quality low-cost retailer and a quality low-cost airline. This link-up will help Lidl cement its position as the UK’s premier discount supermarket. I think it’s a really positive development”.

Mr Parker added: “This is not a sales-led gimmick, no Lidl product purchase is necessary to buy a flight voucher and there will be no special restrictions – as long as the flight has not already sold out then our customers can use their Lidl vouchers in exchange for any of the flights on the website”.

“Flights can be taken on any day from the date the offer goes live until the end of March next year – including busy periods such as Christmas and New Year – so it’s perfect for festive breaks, skiing trips, winter sun escapes, stag and hen parties or even city breaks”.

“There are more than 25 different European destinations that can be reached and the offer is also available on domestic travel, so our customers, whether through business or pleasure, can also buy vouchers to use on flights between London-Manchester, London-Belfast or London-Glasgow”

The flight voucher also provides for allocated seating, a complimentary snack and a soft drink.

30 August 2006