EANS-Adhoc: Air Berlin PLC / Approval under Austrian competition law for increase in shareholding in NIKI

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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

07.05.2010

London, 07 May 2010 - Through the withdrawal of its request to the
Cartel Court for an investigation with respect to the 25.9% indirect
increase (from 24% to 49%) in Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG´s
shareholding in Niki Luftfahrt GmbH as agreed among the Private Lauda
Foundation (Privatstiftung Lauda), Air Berlin PLC and Air Berlin PLC
& Co. Luftverkehrs KG, the Austrian Federal Competition Authority
(Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde) has approved this transaction under
Austrian competition law. Today the Cartel Court has decided to close
the relevant proceeding.

The clearance extends to the acquisition of the remaining 50.1% of
NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH's shares through Air Berlin PLC & Co.
Luftverkehrs KG, if a loan to be issued by Air Berlin PLC & Co.
Luftverkehrs KG to Private Lauda Foundation in connection with the
above-mentioned transaction is settled by means of an indirect
transfer of such 50.1% shareholding.

Completion of the entire transaction (see the Ad-hoc Notification
dated February 17, 2010) remains inter alia subject to the granting
of further anti-trust approvals.

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