Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier of Austria and a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, operating scheduled services to over 130 destinations worldwide, including Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, and Zurich Airport. The airline is headquartered at Vienna International Airport, which also serves as its main hub, and is a member of the Star Alliance, founded by Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways, Air Canada, and Lufthansa. Austrian Airlines has codeshare agreements with several airlines, including Adria Airways, Air Baltic, and Swiss International Air Lines, and is also a partner of United Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Croatia Airlines.

● History

Austrian Airlines was founded in 1957, with its first flight taking place on March 31, 1958, from Vienna to London Heathrow Airport, Zurich Airport, and Paris-Orly Airport. The airline initially operated with a fleet of Douglas DC-3 aircraft, later introducing the Vickers Viscount and Sud Aviation Caravelle. In the 1970s, Austrian Airlines began to expand its route network, launching services to Athens Airport, Istanbul Airport, and Tel Aviv Airport, and introducing the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 707 to its fleet. The airline joined the Star Alliance in 2000, alongside Ansett Australia, Varig, and British Midland International, and was acquired by the Lufthansa Group in 2009, following a major restructuring effort, with the support of European Commission, International Air Transport Association, and Austrian Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology.

● Fleet

The Austrian Airlines fleet consists of Airbus A320-200 and Airbus A321-100 aircraft, as well as Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 777-200ER planes, which are used for long-haul flights to destinations such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Tokyo Narita Airport. The airline has also operated the Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 in the past, and has codeshare agreements with Tyrolean Airways, which operates Bombardier Q400 aircraft, and Swiss International Air Lines, which operates Avro RJ100 planes. Austrian Airlines has also partnered with Airbus and Boeing to develop more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and has worked with Rolls-Royce Holdings and General Electric to improve engine performance.

● Destinations

Austrian Airlines operates scheduled services to over 130 destinations worldwide, including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, and Copenhagen Airport. The airline has a strong presence in Eastern Europe, with flights to Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport, Prague Vaclav Havel Airport, and Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport, and also operates services to Africa, including Cairo International Airport and Tunis-Carthage International Airport, in partnership with EgyptAir and Tunisair. Austrian Airlines has also expanded its route network in Asia, with flights to Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and Seoul Incheon International Airport, and has codeshare agreements with China Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.

● Services

Austrian Airlines offers a range of services to its passengers, including in-flight entertainment systems, in-flight meals, and checked baggage allowance. The airline has also introduced a loyalty program, Miles & More, which allows passengers to earn points on flights operated by Austrian Airlines and its partner airlines, such as Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines. Austrian Airlines has also partnered with Austrian Federal Railways to offer rail & fly tickets, which allow passengers to travel by train to and from Vienna International Airport, and has worked with Vienna Airport to improve passenger experience, including the introduction of self-service check-in kiosks and baggage drop-off facilities.

● Corporate Affairs

Austrian Airlines is a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, which also owns Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, and Brussels Airlines. The airline is headquartered at Vienna International Airport and is led by a Management Board, which includes representatives from Lufthansa Group and Austrian Airlines. Austrian Airlines has also established partnerships with several organizations, including Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Vienna Tourist Board, and Austrian National Tourist Office, to promote tourism in Austria and support the development of the aviation industry in Europe, in cooperation with European Aviation Safety Agency, International Air Transport Association, and Airports Council International Europe. Category: Airlines of Austria