Air Berlin appoints new CEO following restructuring

German airline Air Berlin's chief executive is to step down in the new year, to be replaced by a senior manager at Lufthansa following a wide-ranging shake-up of the loss-making carrier. Air Berlin, 29 percent owned by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, said on Sunday Stefan Pichler will step down on February 1, two years after he took over, to be replaced by Thomas Winkelmann. Air Berlin has announced a series of restructuring moves in recent weeks that will halve its fleet to around 75 aircraft,