The narrative around innovation in distribution has often focused on the perceived battle lines between the airline industry backed by IATA's NDC capability and the legacy GDS providers.

It is perhaps easy to lump the demise of Germania in with the list of recent European airline failures assuming it to be yet another casualty of a harsh market environment, and proof of the need for consolidation.

Nearly three years on from first delivery, the Airbus A320neo family is, in sales terms, an undoubted success story. More than 60 operators have the aircraft in service.

While Europe has lost its share of established carriers over the last decade, none has been bigger than the collapse of Air Berlin last autumn.