From Kreuzberg into the wide world
Foundation and first successes
A GOOD IDEA BECOMES GOOD BUSINESS
Today's AERTiCKET Group started in West Berlin back in 1988. Based on their experience organizing political trips to Nicaragua, a bunch of creative activists from Kreuzberg founded the travel agency “Titanic Reisen.” Independence and autonomy were essential to them, which is why Titanic Reisen had its own IATA number right from the start. Fellow travel agencies ordered their tickets from Titanic, and that is how the airline ticket wholesale business began.
Tickets, tickets, tickets: Three years after its founding, Titanic Reisen began wholesaling airline tickets and became a member of AER e.V. The combined buying power enabled the company to offer cheaper tickets and secure better contract conditions. In 1993, the consolidator AER Reiseservice (later AERTiCKET) was founded. Under Rainer Klee, AER signed contracts with around 30 airlines within a year. By 1995, turnover had grown to DM 40 million.
By 1998, AER had already taken over smaller consolidators in Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfurt, and Mainz. Over the next four years, branches were added in Nuremberg, Munich, and Essen, creating a nationwide network of offices.
The consolidator doubled its turnover in the next three years, employing 70 people by then, and moving into much larger offices in the summer of 2001.
Competing with the web: Online business became more important and AER invested despite the difficult situation. AER founded AERTiCKET AG with Sixt as its partner. Ten months later, the “AER Pilot” was launched, the first combined IATA and Conso fare database. This was soon followed by the Amadeus Fare Wizard, one of the first booking engines for travel agencies without their own CRS.
AERTiCKET reinvents itself
From airline ticket wholesaler to technology provider
in 2011, AERTiCKET ventured into something new and became the building owner. The "AERTiCKET House", a four-storey rear building, was completely renovated for us and now offers bright, modern lofts for around 170 colleagues. Modern windows, a cooling system and the photovoltaic system on the roof ensure a good view, a pleasant indoor climate and self-generated electricity.
Since 2018, AERTiCKET has seen itself primarily as a technology company, as founder and CEO Rainer Klee announced. The airline ticket wholesale industry has been under pressure to adapt for years. The Berlin-based company has responded creatively and developed its own reservation system, Cockpit Flights.
International growth secures competitive advantage
THE COMPANY FAMILY CONTINUES TO GROW
AERTiCKET took off internationally in 2017 on the French market with AERTiCKET France.
In 2019, AERTiCKET established itself in Switzerland, where the consolidator AERTiCKET Switzerland was founded in Zurich to provide Swiss travel agencies and tour operators with the best flight content. In the same year, AERTiCKET strengthened its market presence with the acquisition of CMS Vacances.
During the crisis year of 2020, AERTiCKET continued its expansion despite the pandemic, lockdown, and travel restrictions, and the Turkish consolidator Biletbank was integrated into the group.
With the creation of Global Conso Tech AG in 2021, AERTiCKET is creating the structures necessary to continue its international growth. In 2021, the acquisition of the Emerald UK group enabled AERTiCKET to establish itself in the United Kingdom. In 2022, the company established itself in Brazil, South America's largest domestic market, and acquired the Belgian group Skyways.
2024 marks its entry into the Scandinavian market with the acquisition of Inca Tickets in Denmark and Sweden. Finally, in 2025, AERTiCKET strengthened its presence in the Spanish market by acquiring the Madrid-based consolidator Servivuelo.