Austrian airline Niki and Dubai-based Emirates are in talks about a cooperation pact, the magazine News reported on Thursday, citing executives from the two carriers.

An accord would give Emirates a regional partner to handle passengers arriving in Vienna from Dubai.

"I am open for anything when it comes to cooperation agreements, with Emirates as well," the magazine quoted Niki founder and former race car driver Niki Lauda as saying.

"We could do some things for Emirates," it quoted Niki chief executive Otmar Lenz as saying. "The more flights we offer from Vienna, the more ideal the connections are to and from Dubai."    

The magazine reported that Martin Gross, the head of Emirates in Austria, said he saw Niki as a potential partner.
   
"Although Vienna is a final destination and we have no partner companies here at the moment, in theory we could fill an Airbus A380 daily," he said of the route from Dubai. - Reuters