EANS-News: Air Berlin PLC / Air Berlin intensifies its cooperation with NIKI and increases its participation

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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Strategic management decisions

London/Berlin (euro adhoc) - Air Berlin PLC announces an increase of
its participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH. The contracts 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 percent of the
shares of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH and thereby increase its current
participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH from 24 to 49.9 percent. The
purchase price for the shares is EUR 21 million.

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

Andreas Nikolaus (Niki) Lauda will remain at NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH's
disposal for at least another three years. The implementation of the
measures described above remains subject to receiving the necessary
anti-trust approvals. NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH will be fully consolidated
within the Air Berlin Group. NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH will remain a
legally independent company with its own management. The "NIKI" brand
will continue to exist in the foreseeable future.

Joachim Hunold, CEO of Air Berlin PLC, commented on the increased
participation, as follows: "Following years of successful cooperation
and partnership with NIKI, the increase of Air Berlin's participation
is a logical development. NIKI's network complements Air Berlin's
network very well. For Air Berlin, the Vienna hub opens up an
additional access to the fast-growing markets of Eastern Europe."

Ulf Hüttmeyer, CFO of Air Berlin PLC, added: "The increase of Air
Berlin's participation in the profitable NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH which -
counter to the trend witnessed in the airline sector - continued to
expand in the past year and can show respectable financial figures,
increases the value of Air Berlin."

Niki Lauda, the founder and Chairman of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH,
commented on the participation, as follows: "It is important to me
that we can provide NIKI with a broad base for future growth. The
intensified cooperation with Air Berlin will make us more profitable,
more efficient and more attractive to the passengers."

NIKI's integration into the Air Berlin Group increases Air Berlin's
fleet size by eleven aircraft. Based on the provisional figures for
the 2009 business year, the number of passengers transported by the
Air Berlin Group will increase by 2.6 million - at a fleet capacity
utilization rate of 77 percent. According to the provisional figures,
NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH achieved a revenue of EUR 260.2 million (i.e. an
increase of 17 percent over the previous year) and an EBIT (Earnings
before interest and taxes) of EUR 23.1 million, i.e. an increase of
71 percent over the 2008 business year.

For the current business year, NIKI has planned an expansion of its
network. The planned connections include Sofia, Bucharest, Copenhagen
and Nice. Additional flight routes to Olbia/Cagliari, Belgrade and
Barcelona complement Air Berlin's existing flight network.

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:

Hans-Christoph Noack

Director Corporate Communications Air Berlin

phone: + 49 30 3434 1500

fax: + 49 30 3434 1509

e-mail: abpresse@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