FlyNiki to replace E-190s with A320s

FlyNiki A320. Courtesy, HG

Austrian-based low-cost carrier FlyNiki (HG), an Air Berlin (AB) partner, will phase out all seven Embraer E-190s during the winter and exchange them with AB’s Airbus A320 family aircraft (ATW Daily News, Oct. 15).
“In 2013 we will operate four [Airbus] A321s, six A319s and 13 A320s, meaning a capacity increase in terms of seats of about 2%,” MD Christian Lesjak told ATW in Istanbul. Three of the A320s will be delivered new from Airbus.
HG expects positive financial results this year and to transport five million passengers, up from 4.5 million last year.
According to AB CCO Paul Gregorowich, the E-190s will remain within the Air Berlin Group. AB, which is expecting the delivery of its first Boeing 787 in 2015, may operate some of these aircraft with HG. “Theoretically this could be possible [that HG will operate 787s]. We don’t rule out anything, when HG continues to grow and it makes economical sense for AB and HG.”
AB has 15 787s on order with options and purchase rights on a further 15 aircraft (ATW Daily News, March 17, 2010). AB and Etihad Airways have integrated their 787 programs in a deal for 56 aircraft (ATW Daily News, March 14).