Ryanair Holdings plc (ISE:RY4C) will not bid for any assets of Air Berlin PLC (XTRA:AB1), its Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said on August 30, 2017, describing the process as "a stitch-up". Air Berlin, Germany's second-largest airline, filed for bankruptcy protection this month after shareholder Etihad Airways withdrew funding following years of losses. Bidders for Air Berlin's assets are racing to submit offers by a September 15, 2017, deadline, with around 140 leased aircraft and valuable take-off and landing slots in Germany up for grabs.