BERLIN - Ailing German carrier Air Berlin was forced on Wednesday to cancel a new round of flights following another wave of pilots ringing in sick.
A total of about 30 flights were canceled on Wednesday after more than 100 services were axed on Tuesday, said Germany's second-biggest airline, which last month filed for insolvency.
Flights from Air Berlin's key hubs in Berlin and Dusseldorf were especially badly hit by cancellations, the airline said.
About 149 pilots and first officers had already reported sick for Wednesday, Air Berlin chief Thomas Winkelmann said, according to an internal memo seen by dpa.
Air Berlin filed for insolvency last month after its main shareholder, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, withdrew financial aid for the loss-making carrier.
The German government was to provide Air Berlin with a bridging loan of 150 million euros ($180 million) to help it to continue operating.
On Tuesday, about 200 of the 1,500 pilots due to fly that day had called in sick, the airline said.