Niki

Niki was an Austrian low-cost leisure airline founded by former Formula One racing driver Niki Lauda in 2003. Operating under the IATA code HG and ICAO code NLY with the callsign FLYNIKI, the carrier focused primarily on holiday and leisure routes across Europe and to North Africa. The airline was acquired by airberlin in 2011, becoming a subsidiary while retaining its own brand and operating certificate. At its peak, Niki operated a fleet of Airbus narrowbody aircraft and served numerous destinations from its base in Vienna. Following airberlin's insolvency in 2017, Niki itself entered administration. After a complex bidding process, IAG (International Airlines Group) initially agreed to acquire the carrier, but the deal collapsed. Niki was ultimately purchased by Lauda's own company and rebranded as Lauda Motion, later operating as Laudamotion under Ryanair ownership.