Lufthansa and EasyJet bidding for Air Berlin after Etihad bails out

Frankfurt

DEUTSCHE Lufthansa AG and EasyJet Plc kicked off the carve-up of Air Berlin Plc as bidders submitted proposals for the carrier abandoned by investor Etihad Airways PJSC after a turnaround failed.

Air Berlin's administrators received binding offers from "several" suitors as of Friday's 2pm deadline, according to the company. Lufthansa and EasyJet confirmed that they lodged bids, while Thomas Cook Plc's German Condor unit submitted a pitch with Niki Lauda, the founder of Air Berlin's leisure arm.

"The proposal is consistent with EasyJet's focused, city-based strategy in Germany," the Luton, England-based dis…