Austrian Airlines

Due to the high kerosene purchase price, the Austrian Airlines Group is increasing its fuel surcharge for short- and medium-haul flights from the current level of EUR 21 to EUR 24. Fuel surcharges on long-haul routes are also increased, from EUR 82 to EUR 92.

In a concerted effort to meet the requirements of the IATA (International Air Transport Association), Austrian Airlines will only offer etix electronic tickets for all its 130 destinations from now onwards. The company changed over to the new system on 1 June 2008, within the agreed deadline.

Austrian is expanding its presence in the high-growth regions of the Levant and Middle East. The uniquely strong geographical position of Vienna at the heart of Europe means Austrian can serve even distant destinations up to six hours’ flight away with medium-haul aircraft. The new Premium Service will significantly improve the competitiveness of the company in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Due to the new record high in the kerosene purchase price, the Austrian Airlines Group is increasing its fuel surcharge for short- and medium-haul flights from the current level of EUR 17 to EUR 21. Fuel surcharges on long-haul routes also have to be increased, from EUR 77 to EUR 82.

In its 22nd annual survey Capital magazine asked its readers to assess their airline experiences. The survey was based on evaluations of 17,000 flights taken by more than 1,000 German frequent flyers. Precise results can be viewed at Capital.de. Austrian has again been voted in first place with best results in the categories of service and catering.

Austrian, together with Lufthansa and Swiss, has been voted into first place in its traditional European scheduled segment in the readers’ survey of specialist business magazine Capital.

Austrian continues to see the benefits of Focus East network strategy as passenger traffic expands. Commenting on the latest traffic results, Austrian Chief Executive Officer Alfred Ötsch said the following “This strong traffic result is based first and foremost on continuing strong growth in the short and medium-haul segment, above all in the Focus East regions.”

Austrian Airlines is to open its first Customer Service Center in L’viv at the end of April, ensuring the company continues to offer the highest possible levels of customer care and support in Ukrainian and Russian markets. The move sees the company placing further strong emphasis on expansion of its successful Focus East strategy.

To celebrate the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the firtst Austrian Airlines scheduled flight, the company has launched services using one of its aircraft in a design dating back to the 1950s. The Austrian Airbus A320 bearing the identification OE-LBP now appears in the same design as the first aircraft ever flown by Austrian Airlines, the Vickers Viscount, from 1958.

At a ceremony held in Istanbul on April 1st, Turkish Airlines was welcomed as the 20th Star Alliance member airline. With the new membership Turkish Airlines and Austrian Airlines are now also launching a new partnership.

On 31 March 2008, 8,000 members of staff will proudly come together to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. Almost 90 years ago, on 1 April 1918, the world’s first regular international airmail carrier opened for business, plying the route from Vienna to Kiev via Krakow and Lvov.

Continuing the successful Focus East network strategy Austrian introduces 3 new destinations in Central & Eastern Europe and 2 in the Middle East. The introduction of Sochi (1 April – host city of 2014 Winter Olympics) and Nizhny Novgorod (2 April) brings to 7 the destinations in Russia and makes Austrian the world’s second largest airline when judged by traffic to Russia. From 21 April Baia Mare will become the 6th city in Austrian’s Romanian network.

From August 2008 Austrian will introduce services to Riyadh and Jeddah, both services will feature the new Austrian Premium Service concept including sleeper seats in Business Class.

Since the continuing rise in the price of crude oil resulted in new record prices for kerosene, Austrian Airlines will increase the fuel surcharge for short and medium haul flights from currently 14 EUR to 17 EUR. The adjustment applies for all scheduled flights of the Austrian Airlines Group purchased and issued as of March 17th, 2008.

The Austrian Airlines Group is aiming at a reduction of the Canadair CRJ fleet in the medium-term, in order to partially replace these 50-seat aircraft with 80-100-seat aircraft. For this, a Canadair CRJ should be handed over and be replaced with an additional Fokker 100.

Austrian has completed the lion’s share of its preparations for the European Football Championship 2008 more than 100 days before the competition is due to begin: In the short- and medium-haul scheduled segment, based on the higher passenger volumes expected, the domestic carrier will employ substantially larger aircraft on European routes.

An aircraft of the type Dash 8-400 took off from Nuremberg for Vienna at 07.45 on Monday 25th February carrying 67 passengers. As the aircraft was approaching Vienna, the pilot became aware of a fault with the main display, which shows the full extent to which the landing gear has lowered and locked into position, but that the alternative display showed it was still functioning correctly.

January traffic figures confirmed positive results from Austrian’s ‘Focus East’ strategy with passenger growth of 8.1% achieved. Austrians ‘Focus East’ strategy is based on network development in Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Far East.

Austrian Airlines has launched an English language version of its Euro 2008 fan website, fanline08.at to support the biggest sporting event to be held in Austria for many years.

Austrian was the first European carrier to be granted landing rights in Iraq. The highly successful service operated from December 2006 until August 2007. Having conducted a detailed examination of conditions in Iraq, and based on the security situation as it stands at present, Austrian Airlines will resume flights to Erbil from 2 April 2008 onwards.

Since 2005 Austrian has participated in the ‘EcoBusinessPlan’ initiative of the City of Vienna, as a result of the far reaching environmental strategies implemented it has been named an ‘Ecoprofit’ company.

From 21 April 2008, Austrian will incorporate a service to the destination of Baia Mare into its schedule for the first time, and launch flights to the northern Romanian city three times a week.

Austrian Airlines has taken another step towards fine-tuning its approach to the European Football Championship 2008 with its new internet website, fanline08.at. The site is oriented towards football fans worldwide, and anybody who thinks they might like to become one.

From autumn 2008 onwards, due to healthy demand for the service, Austrian Airlines will begin operating twice-daily direct connections to Dubai. Due to the new flight times on both services, Austrian has provided the best possible connections for business passengers and for tourists travelling to and from Western and Eastern Europe, and the optimum times for passengers from Austria and Dubai.

In the annual survey carried out by the specialist magazine Business Traveller, Austrian Airlines has taken 1st place in the “Food & Drink” category. In the area of “Best Airline Europe”, Austrian achieved 2nd place.

With immediate effect, Austrian Airlines is offering flights to 20 cities in the US in cooperation with Star Alliance partner United Airlines. Austrian offers a direct connection across the Atlantic, from Vienna to Chicago, and from Chicago O’Hare Airport, the central hub of United Airlines, passengers can use a wide range of new and attractive transfer connections throughout the USA.

The Austrian Airlines Group continues to develop and expand its route network in Russia. From the beginning of the summer schedule 2008 onwards, three flights a week will take off for each of two new destinations in the Austrian schedule, the cities of Sochi and Nizhniy Novgorod. Fokker 70 aircraft will operate both routes.

Commencing during the summer schedule 2008, Austrian will add two new flight destinations in Russia bringing the total to seven Russian cities. Services to Sochi and Nizhniy Novgorod will operate three times a week from April in addition to operations to Rostov, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Karsnodar.

The Austrian Airlines Group remained firmly on course to achieve its objectives in November 2007, carrying a total of 10.1 million passengers on scheduled and charter services from January to end-November.

Austrian Airlines AG has appointed Dr. Peter Malanik (46) and Dr. Andreas Bierwirth (36) to complete the four-member Board of Management. Dr. Malanik is appointed as Chief Operations Officer (COO) from 1 January 2008, and Dr. Bierwirth as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) from 1 April 2008.

Commencing 17 December new slots at London City Airport will enable passengers to connect with Austrian long haul services to Bangkok and Tokyo. Monday to Friday passengers taking OS470 from LCY will benefit from a comfortable 30-minute connection at Vienna on to OS025 to Bangkok.

The Austrian Airlines Group carried approximately 9.3 million passengers in total on scheduled and charter services between the beginning of the year and October and increased its load factor to 76.1%. The traffic result shows that the strong growth in the short- and medium-haul segment has been able to compensate for the planned reduction in long-haul routes.

The Austrian route network continues to develop dynamically, not only in Eastern Europe but also in the Middle East and Levant region. Due to the strategic geographical location of Vienna, Austrian can use its fleet of medium-haul aircraft to serve destinations up to six hours’ flight from Central Europe.

With the forthcoming introduction of the winter schedule on 28 October 2007, Austrian Airlines is once again placing a strong accent on the expansion of its successful Focus East strategy.

Commencing 29 October 2007 Austrian will launch double daily services from London City Airport (LCY) direct to Vienna. This is an important new service for Austrian Airlines and offers the London business audience an important alternative to travel from the City.

The Austrian Airlines Group carried 7.28 million passengers in the first eight months of 2007. In the short and medium-haul segment passenger numbers were up 8.3% on the previous year, this trend continued in August with further growth of 8%.

Recently refurbished and the winner of a Skytrax survey award Austrian Airlines long-haul Business Class cabin bears comparison with some First Class products without the price tag.

Austrian Airlines like to go that extra mile for the top-qualifying members of the Miles & More programme. Already offered a top quality in-flight experience, they now seek to replicate that level of service before take off at a dedicated terminal within Vienna airport itself.

Austrian was outright winner in the categories of service, catering and punctuality and secured second place in the fields of price performance, seating comfort and bonus programmes, thus securing the overall top position in the reader poll of "Capital" magazine.

Kazakhstan is one of the most resource rich countries in the world, a thriving region within Central Asia offering sustainable growth potential. Oil, natural gas and uranium deposits form the backbone of the booming Kazakh economy.

Electronic ticketing is now available on over 65% of all Austrian routes and is now used by almost 60% of all passengers. To date Austrian’s global network includes 85 destinations where ‘paper-free’ flying is an option.

Contrary to recent press reports British property buyers do not have to fly to Croatia to get to their homes in Montenegro. Austrian Airlines operates flights to Podgorica as well as cities in all the surrounding countries.

With excess systems based on the ticket price the cost of carrying excess baggage has been difficult for passengers to calculate which can result in frustration and delays at check-in. Austrian’s new zonal system provides greater transparency and simplicity. The network is segmented in to five zones and excess is charged per kilo accordingly.

In May 2007 Austrian Airlines’ Business Jet service was launched. This enables long-haul Business Class passengers the option to take a flexible feeder flight from anywhere in Europe. A time saving, exclusive service from a single provider at attractive fixed prices.

Fly the family to Austria with Austrian Airlines and up to two kids per adult will pay only the taxes and airport charges, that’s a remarkable 100% discount on the child’s airfare. The travel period includes the entire summer holiday and the offer is available between London and Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg.

AEA (Association of European Airlines) reports place Austrian Airlines as the most punctual European airline in the long-haul sector and the third most punctual in short and medium-haul, making Austrian the overall most punctual network carrier.

Austrian’s Eastern expansion continues with the introduction of Astana in Kazakhstan. The ‘Focus East’ strategy is enhanced with new services to Tallinn, Estonia and increased frequencies to Erbil in Iraq.

Fly to Vienna with Austrian and your boarding card becomes your golden ticket; opening doors to celebrated museums, free of charge, or awarding you a welcome drink at the city’s most celebrated restaurant. This summer a flight with Austrian to Vienna really is a passport to the cities treasures.

Austrian Airlines extends its premier position with the introduction of Bourgas in Bulgaria. This Black Sea city is central to the overseas property boom in Bulgaria and will become Austrian’s 46th destination in Central & Eastern Europe.

Exclusive DO & CO, world class catering, previously only available on long haul, scheduled flights will be served to all passengers from Summer 2007. The internationally renowned company has acquired the catering arm of Airest and, from this summer, will assume responsibility for all in-flight catering on Austrian as well as in the Business Class lounges at Vienna Airport.

The drive to top quality service continues with the introduction of a complimentary “hot” meal service on short-haul Economy flights. The very successful introduction of the complimentary snack service will be further enhanced, from 14 December 2006, by the addition of hot and tempting, traditional Austrian treats.

Austrian Airlines has added Nis in Serbia to its extensive Central and Eastern European network further extending its leadership in this dynamic economic region.

The new meal service is served in a specially designed presentation box where the lid is actually an oversized postcard. So as you’re tucking in and heading for the Alps just write a note to someone you want to make green with envy and pass the card to the cabin crew who will post it free of charge. It’s a gift, you can say, “Wish you were here” before you actually arrive.