Lauda to start flying with 14 planes from Germany

Niki Lauda will start his new airline Laudamotion, the former Air Berlin unit Niki, on March 25 with flights from Germany, the group said today. 

Lauda agreed a deal to buy Niki, a unit of collapsed Air Berlin, in January, beating a rival offer from Aer Lingus and British Airways-owner IAG.

The airline will start operating from Switzerland in April and from Austria in June, it said in a statement. 

The group will operate 14 Airbus planes and fly to holiday destinations such as Spain, Greece and Italy, Laudamotion said.