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17. 03. 10. - 10:00

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17. 03. 10. - 10:00

Niki Lauda to promote Romania in Austria

Romanian Times

Former Formula 1 champion Niki Lauda said yesterday (Tues) in Bucharest that he would try to promote Romania in Austria.

Lauda was in Bucharest officially to inaugurate flights his discount airline FlyNiki began between Bucharest and Vienna on 1 February.

Lauda said: "Bucharest and Romania need more promotion in Austria. I am going to promote the new flights between Vienna and Bucharest."

He also said he would make additional investments in the Romanian market. "I am going to invest 1.5 million Euros to make this destination profitable," he claimed.

For the future, the Austrian businessman is considering flights to other Romanian destinations.

He said: "We are analysing the possibility of launching new flights to other destinations in Romania, possibly on the Black Sea coast, starting in summer 2011."

Romanian Tourism Minister Elena Udrea, who met with Lauda yesterday, suggested to him that seaside town Constanta would be a good future destination that would attract more Austrian tourists to Romania.

FlyNiki entered the Romanian market only this year, with its first Bucharest-Vienna flight from Henri Coanda international airport in Bucharest. There are six flights a week, with none on Saturdays. Prices start at 29 Euros one way, with all taxes included.

Lauda launched FlyNiki in 2003. Air Berlin increased its stake in FlyNiki from 25.9 per cent to 49.9 per cent last month. The German company also has an option for a total takeover of the Austrian discount airline.

FlyNiki, which has 450 employees, had around 2.6 million passengers last year.

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Millions of Euro losses per day due to snowy roads
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AA introduces new flights from Bucharest to Vienna
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Anti-corruption chief prosecutor's mandate extended
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