Werner Rothenbächer (59) has taken up the position of managing director at airberlin technik GmbH, the airberlin group’s aviation technology division. In this role he is the successor to Marco Ciomperlik, who has become Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) on the airberlin Management Board, tasked with co-ordinating and managing the restructuring and turnaround process at airberlin. As Senior Vice President Technical reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, Werner Rothenbächer is also responsible for the technical operation of the airline (maintenance systems).

Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer airberlin, says: “We are pleased that in Werner Rothenbächer we have gained a very experienced aviation manager for the airline. His many years of experience will ensure that he can further develop the technical aviation area within the airberlin group in a positive manner.”

Werner Rothenbächer has over 25 years’ experience in the aviation industry, particularly in the area of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO). As a proven aviation expert, he has held various positions in the German Air Force and with Lufthansa. As Senior Vice President, Rothenbächer was most recently responsible for technical operations at Etihad Airways.

airberlin is one of the leading airlines in Europe and flies to 171 destinations worldwide each year. The second largest airline in Germany carried more than 31.5 million passengers in 2013. airberlin offers a global route network through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, which has a 29.21% share in airberlin, and through membership of the oneworld® airline alliance. The airline with the award-winning service operates codeshare flights worldwide with 18 airlines. The fleet has an average age of five years and is among the most modern and eco-efficient in Europe.

airberlin technik GmbH (abt) is the aviation technology division within the airberlin group and the main provider of MRO services for the group’s aircraft. Its customers include not only the airberlin group, but also a steadily growing number of major German and international airlines. airberlin technik GmbH operates under licence from the LBA (German Federal Aviation Office) and has received EASA Part 145 certification. The most recent milestone in the company’s history is the merger of AB aviation technology operations under the umbrella of airberlin technik GmbH on April 1 2011.