The role of Niki (HG) in OneWorld?
 

I was wonder if anyone has any insight about how Niki will be used in the alliance. Will the airline go through any customer-facing changes? Will it eventually be positioned against OS on the intra-EU routes?

For one, the livery and the name scream ULCC. It doesn't look like an alliance carrier at all. The logo and that big horsefly on the front have to go. I like the silver paint, but the logo needs to be more professional.

My understanding is that Niki is a de facto subsidiary of AB. Also according to Wiki it will join Oneworld as an affiliate of AB.

As a matter of fact, both AB and HG have a strong holiday/charter business, which is not very typical for airlines in alliances - but HG is very much the same as AB in this respect, really. Some on FT even claim that HG is superior in terms of service quality.

AB and HG are pretty much same airline. I even had flights which were announced to be operated by AB and later I simply got HG metal and crew while operating carrier remained officially AB.

Personally I would change the name to something like Vienna Airways, and operate it as a separate brand. I'm not sure how much of Niki Lauda's ego comes into play in regards to the airlines name.

I wold do the same for Belair(4T) as well.

Maybe to Austrains Niki means more than Vienna?:eek:

Isn't there a very old and tired little car called NIKI?

Niki brand is completely OK in Austria, but might be problem abroad. Personally I'd love to see it operate under Air Berlin name, there's no point in having two brands. But please keep separate IATA codes so I know if I'm gonna get their great sandwich on my next flight:D

Whichever livery they fly under HG is a good addition to the network (AA needs more connections at non oneworld European cities including CDG, ZHR, MXP and FCO).

However I wonder if the average Austrian would object/notice Niki switching to AB livery around the same time as OS switches to LH livery.

Anyone knows when are they joining OW? I can't wait to read about FFP changes, I hope they will do it way that would allow me to get lounge access since HG is my number one carrier (I'm not sure if I'm gonna renew my status at BAEC this year).

Early 2012 when the new Berlin airport opened. At this moment it is setted on 3rd June 2012..But delay is very much expected...

Is June 3rd the planned date for the airport opening or membership beginning? A month or two ago the best info I could find was May-June 2012 with membership starting a couple weeks before the airport opened.

AB's membership in OW has nothing to do with the opening of the airport.

You will rarely see a hard date for airline membership into any alliance. The usual press releases will state a certain time frame like 1Q, 1H, or early/mid/late 201x.

Every article I read about AB's entry mentions early or April 2012. Even AB's site says at the start of 2012.

[QUOTE=the810;17320338]Niki brand is completely OK in Austria, but might be problem abroad.

I could see brand recognition issues for foreign travelers to Austria. The Niki brand doesn't look professional on instil confidence in potential customers.

I see the upside and downside to that. The upside for AB is that they gain more brand awareness if they operate from Austria(HG) and Belguim(4T). The downside is for OW as they would lose out on potentially creating distinct carriers in markets with no current OW member.

April was the date for the new Berlin airport planed opening but it was delayed to May and then June.

If you read the OneWorld press release on AB joining the alliance carefully you would be able to trace the origin that the AB joining date is very closely connected with the airport opening. Ideally AB hoped that new airport would have all signatures of AB with OneWorld logos ready to use.

I did notice that AB/HG are gonna change baggage allowances for flights after 1st of May which seems to be made in order to match oneworld.

Today they give shorthaul passengers 20 kg (they don't mention if it has to be one bag) with status passengers having 10 extra kg + sport item for free.

After May, shorthaul passengers will be entitled to one bag up to 23 kg (which is standard in oneworld) and status passengers will get two bags up to 23 kg each (same as with British Airways).

Their website also mention "tariff zones" valid until 30th of April.

So could be 1st May day when they join oneworld?