The German low-cost carrier Air Berlin and its Austrian partner NIKI have taken delivery of their first newly delivered Airbus A320 aircraft out of an order for 60 from Air Berlin and 10 for NIKI. The airlines present both aircraft to the public during a ceremony at Berlin-Tempelhof airport.

The A320s for Air Berlin and NIKI are powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International and will be deployed on both airlines’ routes to holiday destinations in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, as well as on Air Berlin's and NIKI’s fast-growing scheduled network of Euro Shuttle destinations across Europe.

Gustav Humbert, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer said: "We are particularly pleased that Air Berlin is joining our list of airline operators from the low-cost market segment, which – together with the growing Airbus fleet at NIKI – underlines the leading role of the A320 Family in this newly developing market. Airbus is fully committed to supporting both airlines in growing their business with the A320 aircraft."

With the lowest operating costs in its class and a cabin designed to assist Low Cost Airlines to achieve rapid turnarounds, the A320 Family is recognised as the aircraft family of choice in the low cost market. Currently, there are more than 430 A320 Family aircraft in service with low cost airlines worldwide, and around 500 are on order, representing some two-thirds of the order backlog in this growing market segment.

Airbus is an EADS Company with BAE Systems.

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