EANS-Adhoc: Air Berlin PLC / Approval under Austrian competition law for increase in shareholding in NIKI

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ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro
adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
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07.05.2010

London, 07 May 2010 - Through the withdrawal of its request to the Cartel Court
for an investigation with respect to the 25.9% indirect increase (from 24% to
49%) in Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG´s shareholding in Niki Luftfahrt
GmbH as agreed among the Private Lauda Foundation (Privatstiftung Lauda), Air
Berlin PLC and Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG, the Austrian Federal
Competition Authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde) has approved this transaction
under Austrian competition law. Today the Cartel Court has decided to close the
relevant proceeding.

The clearance extends to the acquisition of the remaining 50.1% of NIKI
Luftfahrt GmbH's shares through Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG, if a loan
to be issued by Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG to Private Lauda Foundation
in connection with the above-mentioned transaction is settled by means of an
indirect transfer of such 50.1% shareholding.

Completion of the entire transaction (see the Ad-hoc Notification dated February
17, 2010) remains inter alia subject to the granting of further anti-trust
approvals.

Air Berlin PLC
The Hour House
32 High Street
Rickmansworth WD3 1ER
Hertfordshire Great Britain
WKN AB1000 (Share)
on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
(Regulated Market, Prime Standard)
WKN A0NQ9H (Convertible Bond 2007)
Euro MTF Market
on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange
WKN A1ALH0 (Convertible Bond 2009)
Open Market on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Further inquiry note:
Ingolf Hegner
Head of Investor Relations
+49 (0)30 3434 1532
[email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer:   Air Berlin PLC
          The Hour House, High Street 32
          UK-WD3 1ER Rickmansworth, Herts
phone:    +49 (0)30 3434 1500
FAX:      +49 (0)30/3434-1049
mail:     [email protected]
WWW:      http://www.airberlin.com
sector:   Air Transport

ISIN: GB00B128C026
indexes: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English

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