NIKI expansion gathers pace

NIKI will extend its network on 26 March when it adds three new direct routes to its portfolio. The airline's summer schedule will include direct flights from Vienna to Barcelona (daily), Nice (daily), Copenhagen (daily except Saturday). The new service is made possible by recent additions to the fleet that take the total number of planes to 17. NIKI is planning to increase capacity in 2010 by significantly more than 30%. The new routes in Western European will come just two months after Belgrade, Sofia and Bucharest are added on 1 February 2010 - a clear sign that NIKI is accelerating the pace of its expansion.

"We're upping the tempo, but that's logical for us. After all I step on the gas when I spot the chance to overtake. The operating environment is good for us - one of our competitors in Vienna has disappeared, the market leader is restructuring, travellers are paying more attention to prices and I have what they are looking for. Crisis or no crisis, this is my chance and I am not going to let it pass me by!", says Niki Lauda.

NIKI will cover all the main routes out of Vienna following the expansion of its schedule at the start of 2010. NIKI's policy of adding destinations that are equally attractive to business travellers and holidaymakers has proven its worth time and again over the years.

As Niki Lauda explains, "NIKI's routes work because they appeal to everyone, and are attractive for business and holiday passengers alike. I am certain that customer numbers will increase thanks to our new services to Barcelona, Nice and Copenhagen. The new routes will bring us and our partner airberlin very close to achieving our goal of a 30% market share in Vienna in 2010 - well ahead of plan."