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Fly Niki in the Oneworld network with interesting innovations

700394

Photo credit: Kurt Hofmann

700394

Photo credit: Kurt Hofmann

The membership of Fly Niki and Air Berlin in the Oneworld alliance, which will officially take place on March 20 in Berlin, provides the Austrian airline with a further basis for growth. Niki will increase its fleet from 23 aircraft this year to 26 next year, explained Niki board member Christian Lesjak in Tel Aviv. It is not unimportant that Oneworld will help to promote global distribution and leverage enormous potential. In other words, to generate more passengers and growth momentum. In addition to cooperation agreements, such as American Airlines etc., the Vienna hub in the Oneworld network is therefore likely to become more important in the future. One of the reasons for this is that the Oneworld hub in Budapest has finally been lost with the bankruptcy of Malev. In addition, British Airways, for example, has not yet really gained a foothold in many countries in the East. "Hub connectivity between the Air Berlin hubs, i.e. Vienna, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Palma and Abu Dhabi (Etihad), has top priority," says Lesjak. In addition, the possibility of new main routes from Vienna will soon be exhausted, and Niki's management will continue to strive for traffic rights in markets such as the Ukraine or the Balkans, such as Tirana or Sarajevo. Efforts to obtain traffic rights to Russia, such as St. Petersburg, are in any case an ongoing matter.

Lesjak is convinced that much more can be made of the Air Berlin hub in Vienna. "In 2011, the transfer share of Niki and Air Berlin was less than ten percent, this year this figure should rise to well over ten percent "Today, we have a transfer share of around 30 percent on routes with optimized connections". For example, from Sofia via Vienna to the Air Berlin/Niki network. Lesjak is also convinced that a long-haul route of a Oneworld partner will be added to Vienna. Lesjak was not yet able to provide any information about when or who. The same applies to the possibility of a Vienna - Abu Dhabi connection.

As a Oneworld member, Niki is not obliged to offer a Business Class. Nevertheless, product improvements are essential. "For our frequent flyers, we want to place them at the front of the cabin in future, depending on availability, and keep the middle seat free". A system that has also been introduced by other airlines such as Lufthansa or Austrian Airlines. In addition, so-called dedicated waiting areas will be available at the gate at Vienna Airport when the West Pier, Air Berlin/Niki and partner airlines are available after the opening of SkyLink. In other words, a separate area with refreshments, newspapers, etc. Similar to what Air Berlin recently opened at Munich Airport. "Where we need to improve is in the ground area, i.e. separate check-in, fast lane, etc.," he says. And with the arrival of a long-haul flight in Vienna, there will definitely be a lounge on site".

A positive result is expected for 2011 with a turnover of 435 million euros. In the previous year, 4.45 million passengers were transported, Lesjak expects over five million passengers. Two thirds of Niki's passengers are already carried on scheduled services, one third on charter flights.

Kurt Hofmann

(Feb 2012)