EANS-Adhoc: Air Berlin PLC / Increase in shareholding NIKI from 24% to 49.9%

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ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro
adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Increase in shareholding

17.02.2010

Ad-hoc Notification Pursuant to §15 of the German Securities Trading
Act (WpHG)

London, 17 February 2010 - Air Berlin PLC announces an increase in
its shareholding in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH. The contracts described
below were notarized on 17 February 2010.

Air Berlin PLC and its subsidiary Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs
KG have contractually agreed with the Privatstiftung Lauda (private
Lauda foundation) that Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG will
indirectly acquire 25.9% of the shares of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH and
thereby increase its current shareholding in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH from
24% to 49.9%. The purchase price for the shares is 21 million Euros.

In connection with the increase of its shareholding, Air Berlin PLC &
Co. Luftverkehrs KG will grant the private Lauda foundation a 40.5
million Euro loan. The private foundation has the option to repay the
loan in three years with cash or through the the transfer to the
remaining 50.1% of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH´s shares.

Andreas Nikolaus (Niki) Lauda will remain available for services to
NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH for at least another three years.

The execution of the measures described above remains subject to
receipt of the necessary anti-trust approvals.

Within the Air Berlin group, NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH will be consolidated
in full. It will remain a legally independent company with its own
management.

Air Berlin PLC
The Hour House
32 High Street
Rickmansworth WD3 1ER
Hertfordshire Great Britain
WKN AB1000 (Share)
on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
(Regulated Market, Prime Standard)
WKN A0NQ9H (Convertible Bond 2007)
Euro MTF Market
on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange
WKN A1ALH0 (Convertible Bond 2009)
Open Market on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Air Berlin PLC & Co Luftverkehrs KG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Ingolf Hegner

Head of Investor Relations

+49 (0)30 3434 1532

ihegner@airberlin.com

Branche: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
WKN: AB1000
Index: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade