Air Berlin was the second largest airline in Germany, with its main bases at Düsseldorf DUS and the defunct Berlin Tegel.

The airline had long been struggling financially, but still operated a dense network of routes mainly to southern Europe and America. The airline also operated two subsidiaries in Austria and Switzerland.

Unsustainable problems resulted in the filing for insolvency proceedings on 15 August 2017 and the subsequent bankruptcy of the company despite a large government bridge loan. Air Berlin operated its last flight on 28 October 2017, ending its presence in European skies after nearly 40 years.