BERLIN (AP) — Germany's Transport Ministry says it is allowing Etihad Airways and Air Berlin to continue operating disputed code-sharing flights through mid-January.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad holds 29.2 percent of Germany's second-biggest airline and their code-sharing provides important income for Air Berlin. However, the German government says some of the routes aren't covered by an air transport agreement with the United Arab Emirates.

On Friday, Etihad won an injunction from a court in Braunschweig to protect code-sharing on Air Berlin flights to 29 destinations through Nov. 8. It said that the airlines' winter schedule starts Sunday and it couldn't wait longer for a decision whether to approve them.

The Transport Ministry said it was approving the code-shares through Jan. 15 to give the companies time to find a solution, news agency dpa reported.