Niki (airline)

NIKI

IATA HG ICAO NLY Callsign NIKI
Founded	2003
Operating bases	Vienna International Airport
Focus cities	Salzburg Airport
Frequent-flyer program	topbonus
Alliance	Cooperation with Air Berlin, Oneworld affiliate (future)
Fleet size	21
Destinations	33
Company slogan	The Passenger Comes First
Headquarters	Vienna International Airport Schwechat, Austria
Key people	Niki Lauda
Website	www.flyniki.com

NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH, also known as flyNiki is a scheduled semi-lowcost airline and a subsidiary of Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline. It mainly serves business and some leisure destinations and is headquartered in Office Park I at Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung, Austria.^[1][2] Niki operates charter services to leisure destinations in Europe and the Middle East from Vienna, Salzburg and Linz on behalf of tour operators as well. Although it's often called "low-cost", it provides full service, like free refreshments, newspapers, baggage, etc.

History

Niki Airbus A320-200 landing at Frankfurt Airport

Niki Lauda, ex-Grand Prix driver, had been ousted from Lauda Air by boardroom politics in November 2000.^{[citation needed]} In 2003 Niki Lauda acquired the former Aero Lloyd Austria operation. The airline started operations on 28 November 2003 with the temporary name FlyNiki. On 9 January 2004, Niki announced cooperation with Air Berlin. The two airlines call their cooperation "the first European low-cost airliner alliance".^[3] Russian carrier S7 Airlines is projected to join.^[4] In the meantime, all three will be joining oneworld Alliance — S7 late 2010, Air Berlin in early 2012, Niki at the same time as an affiliate. The full announcement was made 27 July 2010.

The airline is owned by Air Berlin since 8 November 2011 and has 650 employees (at March 2011).^[5]

Destinations

Main article: Niki destinations

Niki operates services to leisure destinations in Europe (especially Greece and Spain) and Egypt from Vienna, Salzburg, Linz and Graz. The flights are marketed by Air Berlin.

Fleet

Airbus A320-200

Airbus A321-200

Embraer E-190

Current Fleet

As of March 2011, the Niki fleet consists of the following aircraft: ^[6][7]

Niki fleet

Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Passengers	Average Age (years)[8]
Airbus A320-200	10	6	180	2.9
Airbus A321-200	4	0	212	1.4
Embraer 190	7	0	112	0.2
Total	21	9		2.2

Each of Niki's aircraft is named after a type of dance. For example, the Embraer 190 registered OE-IHB is called Lambada^[9] and an A321-200 (OE-LES) is called Boogie Woogie.

Historic Fleet

Airbus A320-200 aircraft leased from Vueling

Niki Fleet

Aircraft	Total	Notes
Airbus A319	2	Exited from service in Mar 2011 exchanged for A320 and Embraer
Airbus A320-100	2

Niki also leased 2 Airbus A320's from Vueling in March 2008. One was kept until March 2009.

Inflight service

Niki offers complimentary sandwich and non-alcoholic drink meal service on its short haul flights and an additional buy on board service that has a large range of meal items for sale.^[10] On charter services and some business destinations such as Zurich, Frankfurt or Munich hot meals are served complimentarily.

Topbonus

Niki frequent flyer programme (called topbonus) is operated jointly with Air Berlin

References

1. ^ "Contact form." Niki. Retrieved on 25 January 2011. "NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH Office Park I, Top B03 A-1300 Wien"
2. ^ "Information about the city plan." City of Schwechat. Retrieved on 5 September 2009.
3. ^ "About Niki." Air Berlin. Retrieved on 21 June 2009.
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: p. 55. 2007-04-10. 
6. ^ "Directory: World Airlines Part 3 (2009)". Flight International: 29–90. 2009-04-14. 
7. ^ Niki fleet list at planespotters.net
8. ^ Niki Fleet Age
9. ^ "Fleet FlyNiki." FlyNiki website. Retrieved on 20 July 2009.
10. ^ "Catering." Niki. Accessed October 18, 2008.

External links

	Vienna portal
	Companies portal
	Aviation portal

• Official website