With FlyNiki RT to Vienna for Less than 100 Euros
Thursday, 14 April 2011
The lowcost airline "Flyniki" made Thursday a promotional flight from Vienna to Skopje as an announcement for regular lowcost flights, which will be introduced as of September 2011.
The first "Flyniki" plane was flown by former three-time F1 World Champion, Niki Lauda. At the same time, a number of tourists from Austria arrived in Skopje.
Lauda, the owner of "Flyniki", is making a second attempt to enter the Macedonian market with his company following his business endeavour with the previous airline "Lauda Air" 20 years ago. Skopje has been chosen as a destination because of offers by two tour operators and possibilities for good business.
"Now there are better working conditions, because "Flyniki" is a lowcost airline, which is now a trend. We offer excellent services as an airline company," Lauda said after landing at the Alexander the Great airport.
"Flyniki" will introduce flights Skopje-Vienna-Skopje twice a week as of September. A return ticket together with airport taxes will cost less than 100 euros.
Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski welcomed the business endeavor of "Flyniki" in Macedonia.
"Promoting lowcost flights is an anticipated result from the project modernizing the Macedonian airport system. By enforcing the agreement for concession of Macedonia's airport system, the interest for regular and lowcost airlines has been already increased," he stated at a press conference at the Skopje airport.
The minister said there were expectations the number of passengers at the Skopje airport to increase to 900.000 by year's end. "Wizz Air company as of this June will introduce cheap flights to and from London. Moreover, TAV - the concessioner of the Macedonian airports - is finalising negotiations with several well-known airline companies, which is expected to boost the number of flights and passengers and to lower the price of plane tickets," Janakieski added.
"Slowly but surely, the goals set by giving the Macedonian airports under concession to be modernized and overhauled are being met," Minister Janakieski stressed.
Last week, the reconstructed airport in Ohrid was promoted and the Skopje airport, which is still under reconstruction, is expected to be promoted on September 8.
Niki coming to Skopje
After securing the arrival of low cost airline Wizz Air, Skopje Aleksandar the Great Airport has another new high profile arrival. The Austrian low cost airline, Niki, will commence flights to Skopje this summer with 2 weekly flights from Vienna.
A promotional flight is set to be operated on Thursday when a press conference is also scheduled to take place in Skopje, where details of the new service will be revealed. On Thursday, the public will be informed of the launch date of the new route, flights information and ticket prices.
Niki recently requested for a permit in order to operate flights to Skopje. A month ago, when the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency made public the airlines that are set to operate flights to Skopje this summer, Niki was not listed as one of them. The Austrian no frills airline has been lured by Macedonia‘s airport operator TAV Holdings, local media report. This summer another low cost airline, Wizz Air, will launch services from London Luton and Venice to Skopje.
Currently, within the EX-YU region Niki only operates flights to Belgrade. From June 29, the airline will launch flights to Priština.
