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Austrian ready for Euro 2008

4th March 2008 Print
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.

If applicable, frequencies to existing destinations will also be increased. In the charter segment, Austrian is currently involved in wide-ranging negotiations with different tour operators and organisations.

A huge amount has been done to boost the excitement of passengers travelling on Austrian aircraft to the largest sporting event ever held in Austria: For example, Austrian has specially redesigned three aircraft from its fleet, also the exclusive Do&Co catering provided on board all Austrian flights will pick up on the football-related themes with a range of appropriately decorated dishes.

Enlargement of Austrian scheduled traffic: International routes
The Austrian Airlines Group is offering scheduled flights to all Euro 2008 match venues, with the exception of Berne. The company will be deploying larger aircraft than usual, especially on flights to neighbouring countries during the European Championship.

These greater capacities will be managed in line with demand, depending on passenger volume. On the days shortly before and after the Austria-Germany match– 15th, 16th and 17th of June 2008 – and from the quarter finals on June 19th until the Finals, one of the 5 daily Vienna-Frankfurt-Vienna services will operate using an Austrian Boeing 777 or an Austrian Boeing 767.

As a co-host country, Switzerland will also be tightly connected to the Austrian hub of Vienna: Starting with June 8th throughout June 20th, one of up to 4 daily connections will be carried out using a Austrian Boeing 767. With up to 5 flights a day to Geneva and up to 3 flights a day to Basle, high-value and rapid connections between the venues of the European Football Championship 2008 are guaranteed.

As the leading Airline in Central- and Eastern Europe, Austrian Airlines serves Moscow with its biggest Aircraft of the Austrian Airlines Airbus Fleet. Using an Airbus A321, Austrian flies to Moscow Domodedovo 3 times a day. Moscow Domodedovo plays a central role as a traffic junction to inner-russian destinations. Due to the large amount of connection flights, Russian football fans can easily travel to the venues of their team, Salzburg, Innsbruck and perhaps Vienna, with Austrian Airlines.

Additionally, all Russian destinations in the Austrian network will be served with greater capacities selectively. These destinations are Saint Petersburg, Rostov, Yekaterinburg and Krasnodar. According to schedule, flights to Nizhniy Novgorod and Sochi will be carried out with Fokker 70.

Enlargement of Austrian scheduled traffic: Domestic routes
All venues in Austria are already being served by Austrian on a scheduled basis. Also, these destinations will see larger capacities than usually deployed: From June 4th until June 18th, Klagenfurt will be served up to 5 times a day with either a Fokker 100 or an Aircraft of the Austrian Airbus A320-family.

From June 8th until June 20th, up to 4 daily flights to Salzburg will be carried out by either a Fokker 100 or an Aircraft of the Austrian Airbus A320-family also. Innsbruck will be served from June 2nd until June 30th up to 6 times a day, mostly with an Aircraft of the Austrian Airbus A320-family.

Extensive negotiations for charter flights
In addition to the greater scheduled traffic capacity that this will produce, Austrian is working hard to carry out individual charter flights. The company is currently conducting negotiations with a number of tour operators with regards to flying large groups of fans into and out of Austria. Direct discussions are being held with related associations and organisations to enable high levels of mobility for official delegations at the Euro 2008 competition.

The Austrian Euro fleet
With its special redesign of a medium-haul Airbus A320 jet (registration OE-LBU), Austrian Airlines is picking up on the euphoria of fans and sporting and commercial importance of the Championship for Austria. With a wink of the eye, Austrian will play the role of an “Unofficial Fan Line”, carrying the huge enthusiasm for the first European Football Championship ever to be held in Austria right across Europe.

In over 120 hours of highly specialised work, Austrian Airlines’ own Technical Department at Vienna Airport has attached plastic foils measuring 123 square metres in area to the exterior of the aircraft. An Austrian Airbus A321 (registration OE-LBC) sporting the “McDonald’s Football Escort” design has been inspiring football fans around Europe since December 2007.

The Austrian Arrows Fokker 100 “2008 – Österreich am Ball” (registration OE-LVK) took off on its maiden flight on 6 January 2008 as an ambassador for the passion that football arouses.

Austrian on the Fan Mile of the City of the Vienna and Fan site fanline08.at
Austrian is also a partner to the City of Vienna for the UEFA European Football Championship 2008. With an area covering 200 square metres in size, Austrian Airlines will occupy a prominent place on the centrally located Fan Mile at Vienna’s Rathausplatz, where it will present all football fans with a colourful programme.

All these activites are completed with the Austrian football fan website at fanline08.at. It is oriented to lovers of the beautiful game of all countries, and to those who want to become just that. Fans throughout Europe will be able to use this fun and informative site long before Euro 2008 kicks off to find out all the facts worth knowing about Austria and the venue cities, fan miles, stadiums and public viewing zones.

For more information, visit Austrian.com.