The Austrian based low cost airline Niki is close to finally receiving necessary licenses to commence services to Serbia’s capital Belgrade. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has said that it is still to officially approve an operating license for Niki but will do so after the airline sends technical specifications for the aircraft it will be using on this service. “Niki has practically received a license although it will gain official confirmation once aircraft specifications are sent to us”, a spokesperson from the Directorate said. Once the temporary license is approved, Niki will be able to commence services from Vienna on February 1.Niki, owned by the famous formula 1 driver Niki Lauda, has been applying for a license since 2007. Even Lauda himself travelled to Serbia in 2008 and 2009 in order to secure a license. However, Niki was unable to receive a license due to a bilateral air agreement between Austria and Serbia which allows only 2 airlines to operate between the 2 countries (in this case Jat Airways and Austrian). Lauda has revealed plans that he wants to make Belgrade one of the airline’s hubs, but for now he will have to be content with flights to Vienna. Niki will become the third low cost airline to operate from Belgrade after Germanwings and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Niki will stir up competition on the Belgrade – Vienna sector currently served by Jat and Austrian.
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