Austrian resumes service to Erbil

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.

The safety of passengers and employees is of paramount importance and additional security measures have been implemented over the past months in conjunction with the local authorities. The situation in the region is still being continuously monitored in cooperation with the security authorities, enabling the company to act without delay in the event of any irregularities or changes in the situation.

Three flights a week (on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) are planned for April and May and four a week (including Sunday) from June onwards. As a result, a direct service to Erbil will be reincorporated into the Austrian route network, opening up numerous new connecting flights for passengers.

The new service offers excellent connection from London, OS 458 departs Heathrow 06.15, arriving Vienna 09.35. On the return OS 457 departs Vienna 19.50, arriving Heathrow 21.25. Vienna offers the fastest transfer times in Europe where the minimum connection is just 25 minutes and the maximum distance between gates is 500 meters.

Flight Days - Departure - Arrival
From 2 April:
Mon, Wed, Fri - OS 829 Vienna 10.20, Erbil 16.05
From June:
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun - OS 830 Erbil 16.55, Vienna 19.00

From the end of September 2008, the new Premium Service, in which the Business Class sections of four Airbus A320 will be equipped with 24 Business Sleeper Seats by Recaro, will begin operating on the route to Erbil. Features of the new service including 116 cm of legroom between seats, a pleasant angle of recline, electronically adjustable back- and footrests and an integrated massage function are guaranteed to provide relaxing travel conditions.