Austrian Airlines | News, deals and offers from Austrian Airlines

Due to a continued relaxation in conditions on fuel markets, the fuel surcharge for Austrian Airlines’ short and medium haul scheduled flights has been reduced by 3 Euros from 24 Euros to 21 Euros as of 23 December 2008. The surcharge for long-haul flights is reduced by 16 Euros from 98 Euros to 82 Euros.

The aviation industry is currently reporting falls in passenger volume and collapsing demand worldwide, a negative trend which continued in November. The Austrian Airlines Group carried 7.1% fewer passengers last month in the scheduled and charter segments than in November 2007, although this was also due to capacity reductions.

From May 2009 Austrian is planning to expand capacity on services to Tel Aviv by utilising a Boeing 767 that offers an additional 42 seats per flight as well as the Business Class comfort previously only available on long-haul routes.

The Middle East traffic region is a fundamental and strong pillar in the corporate strategy of Austrian Airlines. The route to Tel Aviv is amongst the routes in the Austrian route network distinguished by a very high load factor of more than 80% and strong demand. Austrian Airlines is therefore planning to expand its seating capacity on the route by 30% from May 2009 onwards.

The Supervisory Board of ÖIAG today gave a green light to the sale to Lufthansa of ÖIAG’s 41.56 percent share in Austrian Airlines. The signing of the contract took place after a meeting of the Supervisory Board of ÖIAG.

Austrian Airlines has resumed the daily scheduled flights from and to Thailand at Bangkok International airport. Passenger care and flight operations can be guaranteed due to the end of the blockade of the airport.

Austrian Airlines is opening an impressive new Business Lounge at Moscow Domodedovo Airport. Across almost 500 square meters of floor space and in pleasant surroundings, users of the Lounge will be able to relax or prepare for that important business meeting – the Lounge in Moscow offers the perfect conditions for doing so.

Austrian Airlines is to cease operating its service to the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) from 1 March 2009 onwards. As a result of drastic overcapacity between European airports and the city in southwestern India, the weakening Indian economy and the consequences of the crisis in European financial markets, it is no longer possible to operate this route profitably in the medium term.

Due to a relaxation in conditions on fuel markets, the fuel surcharge for Austrian Airlines short- and medium haul scheduled flights, which account for the majority of the Austrian Airlines Group traffic, has been reduced by EUR 3.00 from EUR 27 to EUR 24. The surcharges for long-haul flights remain unchanged at EUR 98.

In time for Christmas and the prime ski season Austrian is launching a ‘Skibus’ service that will take passengers from Innsbruck directly to the slopes of the top Alpine resorts. Between 27 November 2008 and 19 April 2009 the Austrian ‘Skibus’ will connect with Austrian flights to Innsbruck to offer passengers a seamless service to the resorts of St. Anton, Ischgl and Soelden.

Austrian Airlines AG the flag carrier airline of Austria hosted two events in Riyadh and Jeddah in celebration of its new direct routes uniting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with Vienna.

Austrian introduces Amman from May 2009 building its position as a major carrier to the Middle East with a total of fourteen destinations. The new service will feature the recently launched Premium Service Business Class.

Due to the general weakness in economic cycles overall capacity of the Austrian Airlines Group fell slightly in September, by 1.0 percentage points to reach 78.1%. In total, around 1.02 million passengers were carried in the scheduled and charter segment, 4.0% fewer than last year. The general financial and economic crisis is also expected to have effects on the aviation industry in months to come.

Austrian Airlines have a long tradition of naming aircraft for Austria’s rich musical heritage. Mozart and the Salzburg Festival have previously been honoured and now it is the turn of the Vienna Boys Choir.

The newly constructed training centre, where all training facilities currently spread out over several sites will be combined at one location, is the third and final complex of the “Vienna Aviation Campus”, which was formally opened today. The training building provides a connection between the simulator centre of Lufthansa Flight Training and the already existent Flight Safety and Security Center (mock-up hall) of Austrian Airlines.

Austrian Airlines and Bombardier Inc. signed a contract to purchase four Bombardier Q400 NextGen Series Aircraft and two additional options. At the same time as newly incorporating these aircraft into its fleet, the Austrian Airlines Group will release the final two “Dash 8-300 non Q” and two Canadair CRJ from use.

Despite the wider slowdown in the aviation industry Austrian has achieved a significant growth of 11.2% in the number of passengers carried in the Focus East regions. This increase virtually offsets the planned reduction in passenger volume of 12% on long-haul flights.

More than 15 million air passengers from 95 countries around the world have taken part in an online survey to evaluate the world’s best airlines for British consultancy Skytrax. Austrian Airlines took top places in a number of different categories of the World Airline Awards 2008.

With continuing security restrictions on liquids, Austrian airlines now offers all long-haul passengers their personal 0.5 litre water bottle as they board. Lucky Business Class passengers can also opt to have their ‘beds’ turned down a service normally restricted to First Class on other airlines.

Austrian is launching another service upgrade for passengers on all long-haul flights. The new feel-good programme for all the senses offers passengers that “little bit extra” service on flights to Bangkok, Tokyo, Beijing, Toronto, Washington, New York, Chicago (until 26 October), Delhi, Mumbai and Malé (from 5 November).

Against the background of the current crisis in the aviation industry, high kerosene prices and reduced demand, the Austrian Airlines Group is evaluating a series of measures designed to optimise its own production. Now, in a first step, the company will be carrying out selective capacity adjustments in the coming months. The London City Airport and Chicago destinations will both be taken out of the schedule (from 18 August and the winter schedule respectively), while other targeted reductions will be made in Europe over the winter.

Due to the rising kerosene purchase price, the Austrian Airlines Group is increasing its fuel surcharge for short- and medium-haul flights from the current level of EUR 24 to EUR 27. Fuel surcharges on long-haul routes are also increased, from EUR 92 to EUR 98. These new charges apply to all tickets for scheduled flights operated by the Austrian Airlines Group sold or issued from 15 July 2008 onwards.

A new era dawns for all Austrian Business Class passengers on flights to the Middle East and Central Asia on 15 July: this is when the Austrian Premium Service, which combines Austrian hospitality with Oriental flair, is to be used for the very first time on flights to Damascus and Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.

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.