TUI fly (Germany) (X3, Hannover) has outlined early details of a cost-cutting plan aimed at allowing the carrier to absorb the financial impact of the impending return of fourteen B737NextGens currently in service for Air Berlin (1991) (Berlin Tegel) unit, Niki (Austria) (Vienna).

According to Reuters, the plan is looking at saving at least EUR30 million (USD36 million) of which EUR20 million would come from more flexible working hours for its nearly 500 pilots.

TUIfly has five B737-700s and nine B737-800s in service for Niki which is in the process of being sold off as part of its parent Air Berlin's bankruptcy process.

“There is a chance that some aircraft and crew from that wet lease could fly for TUIfly again, increasing capacity. But such ‘insourcing’ would only work if we become more economical than we are now,” a spokesman for TUI told Reuters in a statement.

Aside from the fourteen Niki jets, TUI fly also operates twenty-six B737-800s.