IAG to buy Niki; CALC launches first ABS and new funding vehicle

At the close of 2017, International Airlines Group (IAG) confirmed plans to purchase Austrian airline NIKI, which was formerly part of the Air Berlin group, for €20 million and provide liquidity to NIKI of up to €16.5 million. NIKI will be acquired by a newly formed subsidiary of Vueling which will be incorporated as an Austrian company and run initially as a separate operation, said IAG in a statement on December 29. The deal remains subject to EC competition approval. NIKI’s assets include up to 15 A320 family aircraft and a slot portfolio at various airports including Vienna, Dusseldorf, Munich,