IAG among bidders chosen for Austrian airline Niki-sources

IAG is one of the 4 bidders selected for the final stages of talks over the assets of insolvent Austrian airline Niki, 3 people familiar with the bidding said. IAG had made an offer for Niki as a whole and was the frontrunner in talks for the carrier, the sources said. If no deal is struck with IAG, it is possible that Niki will be carved up among several buyers. Thomas Cook and Niki's founder, former Formula One world champion Niki Lauda, are also among the 4, Lauda told German daily Handelsblatt. The administrators running the process aim to agree a deal by the end of next week, one of the administrators said Friday. They did not confirm the identity of the bidders. Lauda, who set up the airline in 2003, said he had been told a decision was to be made Dec 28. <br/>