News

IAG hopes NIKI deal will be ‘resolved quickly’

British Airways parent International Airlines Group (IAG) has reiterated its interest in the assets of Austrian airline NIKI.

Vueling, a Spanish airline in the IAG group, announced plans to buy the assets of NIKI, which was formerly part of the defunct Air Berlin group, on December 27.

The €20 million deal would also provide liquidity to NIKI of up to €16.5 million.

Since then, Vueling has been in discussions with the Austrian and German administrators and “continue to follow developments closely”.

In a statement, IAG said: “They [Vueling] believe that there is a desire from all parties involved for the process to be resolved quickly.

“IAG remains interested in the assets of NIKI and is looking forward to the new process being completed promptly. The group remains hopeful that Vueling can continue with its acquisition and safeguard up to 740 former NIKI jobs in Austria and Germany and provide airline customers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland with a greater choice of flights.”

NIKI was originally founded by the Austrian former Formula One racing driver Niki Lauda.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.