Austrian continues Eastern Europe expansion

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.

By making frequency increases to no fewer than eight cities in Eastern Europe, the Austrian national carrier is underlining its leading role and strong market presence in Central and Eastern Europe and setting the benchmark for connections to eastern economic centres of genuine quality.

Chief Executive Officer Alfred Ötsch made the following statement: “High flight frequency is decisive in modern journey planning, especially for business travellers. Now that we have increased the number of connecting flights we offer, however, those unexpected meetings lasting extended periods no longer need be a problem. Tourists will also benefit from this greater flexibility, and can now begin their journey at a time that suits them.

“We currently offer passengers 45 destinations and almost 600 flights a week to Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to this, passengers can enjoy the very best service on the ground and on board our aircraft, top catering by Do & Co, benefit from the Miles & More frequent flyer programme – and all at an extremely attractive price-performance ratio.”

ROMANIA
Austrian will now be offering up to five scheduled connections a day from Vienna to Bucharest, this includes the double daily codeshare services operated by TAROM. Sibiu, European Capital of Culture, 2007, will have a daily connection from Vienna as well as three codeshare frequencies per week, again operated by TAROM, providing ten, attractive connecting flights a week to the city.

BULGARIA
Early morning connections, operating in both directions, between Vienna and Sofia were introduced in early September 2007. These have been extremely well received and offer attractive connections between the Austrian capital and the political, economic and cultural centre of Bulgaria. When codeshare flights operated by Bulgaria Air are taken into account passengers now have a choice of five flights a day.

SERBIA
From 28 October 2007 Austrian will be strengthening its early morning services to Belgrade, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Including the partnership connection operated by JAT Airways Austrian will offer up to four connections a day from Vienna.

MONTENEGRO
Previously flights to Podgorica have been reduced through the winter but such is the demand for this route that a full service of five flights a week will be operated throughout the winter schedule. The addition of a weekly codeshare with Montenegro Airlines will give passengers a choice of six flights a week.

RUSSIA
Rostov on the Don, gateway to the Caucasus, is one of the largest cities in European Russia. In its winter schedule, Austrian is increasing the number of scheduled flights it offers to the city by one frequency, so that it will now operate five services a week to Rostov. The city of Krasnodar, significant for its industrial facilities, is to acquire an ever more important role in the Austrian Airlines schedule.

At the beginning of September 2007, the frequency of services to the city had already increased from four to five connections a week, and the winter schedule will see the introduction of another frequency to Krasnodar, so that Austrian will operate six connections a week to the city on the River Kuban in future.

KIEV
The capital of Europe’s largest country by area, Kiev is often described as the mother of all Russian cities due to its historical role, which can be traced back as far as the sixth century. From the beginning of the winter schedule, Austrian is strengthening its flight availability to the city, providing up to four flights a day together with partner Ukraine International Airlines.