Niki
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
, ex-Grand Prix driver, had been ousted from Lauda Air
by boardroom politics in November 2000. 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
". Russian carrier S7 Airlines
is projected to join. 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).
(especially Greece
and Spain
) and Egypt
from Vienna
, Salzburg
, Linz
and Graz
. The flights are marketed by Air Berlin
.
Each of Niki's aircraft is named after a type of dance. For example, the Embraer 190 registered
OE-IHB is called Lambada
and an A321-200 (OE-LES) is called Boogie Woogie.
Niki also leased 2 Airbus A320's from Vueling in March 2008. One was kept until March 2009.
service that has a large range of meal items for sale. On charter services and some business destinations such as Zurich
, Frankfurt
or Munich
hot meals are served complimentarily.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
and a subsidiary of Air Berlin
Air Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....
, Germany's second largest airline. It mainly serves business and some leisure destinations and is headquartered in Office Park I at Vienna International Airport
Vienna International Airport
Vienna International Airport , located in Schwechat and southeast of central Vienna, is the busiest and biggest airport in Austria. It is often referred to as Schwechat, the name of the county it is in. The airport is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340...
in Schwechat
Schwechat
Schwechat is a city south-east of Vienna known for the Vienna International Airport and Schwechater beer. It is also home to the refineries belonging to the Austrian national oil company OMV.- Geography :...
, Wien-Umgebung
Wien-Umgebung
Bezirk Wien-Umgebung is a district of the state of Lower Austria in Austria. The district comprises four non-contiguous districts on the outer fringes of Vienna: these are Klosterneuburg and Gerasdorf to the north of the city, Schwechat to its south-east and Purkersdorf on Vienna's western...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Niki operates charter services to leisure destinations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
and Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
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 LaudaNiki Lauda
Andreas Nikolaus "Niki" Lauda is an Austrian former Formula One racing driver and three-time F1 World Champion. More recently an aviation entrepreneur, he has founded and run two airlines and was manager of the Jaguar Formula One racing team for two years.- Early years in racing :Born in Vienna,...
, ex-Grand Prix driver, had been ousted from Lauda Air
Lauda Air
Lauda Air is an airline based in Schwechat, Austria. It operates scheduled leisure flights and charters to holiday destinations in Europe and North Africa. Its main base is Vienna International Airport. Lauda Air is a member of the Austrian Airlines Group and a affiliate Star Alliance...
by boardroom politics in November 2000. 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
Air Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....
. The two airlines call their cooperation "the first European low-cost airliner alliance
Airline alliance
An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines to cooperate on a substantial level. The three largest passenger alliances are the Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld. Alliances also form between cargo airlines, such as that of WOW Alliance, SkyTeam Cargo and ANA/UPS Alliance...
". Russian carrier S7 Airlines
S7 Airlines
OJSC Siberia Airlines , operating as S7 Airlines, is an airline headquartered in Ob, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia, with offices in Moscow. S7 Airlines has been Russia's fastest-growing airline and recently passed Aeroflot as Russia's largest domestic airline.S7 has operated scheduled passenger...
is projected to join. 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
Air Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....
since 8 November 2011 and has 650 employees (at March 2011).
Destinations
Niki operates services to leisure destinations in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(especially Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
and Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
. The flights are marketed by Air Berlin
Air Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....
.
Fleet
Current Fleet
As of March 2011, the Niki fleet consists of the following aircraft:| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Average Age (years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | ||||
| Airbus A321-200 | ||||
| Embraer 190 | ||||
| Total | 21 | 9 | 2.2 |
Each of Niki's aircraft is named after a type of dance. For example, the Embraer 190 registered
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
OE-IHB is called Lambada
Lambada
Lambada is a dance from Pará, Brazil. The dance became internationally popular in the 1980s, especially in Latin America and Caribbean countries...
and an A321-200 (OE-LES) is called Boogie Woogie.
Historic 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 boardBuy on board
In commercial flight, buy on board is a system where food or beverages are paid for on board; often food or beverages are not included in the ticket price for certain fare classes....
service that has a large range of meal items for sale. On charter services and some business destinations such as Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
or Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
hot meals are served complimentarily.
Topbonus
Niki frequent flyer programme (called topbonus) is operated jointly with Air BerlinAir Berlin
Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG is Germany's second largest airline, after Lufthansa, and Europe's sixth largest airline in terms of passengers....