Airline Industry

Comprehensive COVID-19 Tests for High-Risk-Country-Travelers Should Bring Back Freedom to Travel

AUA Austrian Airlines calls for comprehensive COVID-19 testing to replace general landing and entry bans.

August 19, 2020

Austria Lifts Landing Bans for Airplanes from All 18 Countries that were Previously Banned

The previous landing bans for aircraft from 18 countries expired on 1 August 2020. From now on, new entry regulations will apply, requiring a mandatory Covid 19 test. There are exceptions for diplomats and some other groups.

August 1, 2020

Landing Ban at Austrian Airports Extended from 10 to 18 Countries

In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Austria will reinforce the landing bans for aircraft from COVID-19 risk areas as of Thursday, 16 July. Thus, landing bans will apply to aircraft from the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Iran, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, United Kingdom and Ukraine.

July 14, 2020

Another COVID Casualty: Austrian Airline Discontinues Flight Operations

The Austrian low-cost airline "Level" and subsidiary of British Airways (IAG International Airlines Group) has discontinued flight operations with immediate effect. The airline was hit hard economically by the consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic in Europe. A continuation of flight operations is not planned. About 200 employees in Vienna are affected by the bankruptcy.

June 19, 2020

Austrian Airlines Deal: EUR 450 Million for Vienna Hub Guarantee

The Lufthansa subsidiary will receive EUR 450 million from the Republic of Austria, EUR 300 million of which as a loan guarantee and EUR 150 million as equity.

June 9, 2020

Deal: Bail-out for Austrian Airlines

According to media reports, AUA Austrian Airlines is to receive a total of EUR 600 million and thus retain its Austrian headquarters.

June 8, 2020

Austrian Airlines to Resume Flight Operations on 15 June

After an interruption of almost three months, Austrian Airlines will resume flight operations to selected destinations in Europe and Tel Aviv from mid-June onwards. Since no neighbouring seats will be kept empty in case of demand, bold passengers will again be able to fly to up to 40 destinations by the end of June. For specific destinations, see below.

May 28, 2020

Ryanair's Laudamotion to Close Vienna Base

Laudamotion closes its base in Vienna on 29 May, 300 people lose their jobs. The trade union Vida did not agree to an ultimatum by the airline, which would have brought a new collective agreement with significantly lower wages.

May 22, 2020

Drastic Drop of over 99% in Passengers at Vienna International Airport

The worldwide travel restrictions and flight cancellations resulting from Covid-19 have had a major impact on the development of traffic and earnings AT Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien Group). In April, the Group recorded a decline of 99.6% in the number of passengers and 99.5% at Vienna International Airport. Revenues for Q1/2020 fell by -9.0% to € 161.4 million.

May 20, 2020

Vienna International Airport: 98 Percent Fewer Passengers

Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien AG) is currently registering a decline of 98% in the number of passengers and the workforce is on short-time working. The airport is therefore cancelling the dividend for 2019 and launching a savings programme of over € 220m.

April 17, 2020

Austrian Airlines Extends Short-Time Work and Temporary Cessation of Flight Operations

Due to the global developments in connection with the Coronavirus and the continuing restrictions on travel, Austrian Airlines is extending the short-time working model for its 7,000 employees by a further month until May 19, 2020. Also, Austrian Airlines prolongs the cessation of its regular scheduled flight operations for an additional two weeks until May 17, 2020.

April 17, 2020

Laudamotion Ceases Air Operations

Following today's announcement that Austrian Airlines will cease flight operations with effect from Wednesday, Ryanair's subsidiary Laudamotion will cease flight operations with immediate effect.

March 16, 2020

Austrian Airlines Terminates Flight Operations

Austrian Airlines is temporarily suspending its regular flight operations from Wednesday night. The last flight will arrive in Vienna on Thursday morning from Chicago. All further flights until at least March 28, 2020, or "until further notice" are cancelled. The airline is aware of its responsibility, will cooperate with the Austrian government and try to bring home as many Austrians as possible. One long-haul and one medium-haul aircraft will remain in use for emergency and relief flights.

March 16, 2020

Austria Suspends Travel also with Great Britain, Russia, the Netherlands and Ukraine

After Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France, Iran and parts of China, Austria is now also discontinuing air and rail traffic with Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine.

March 15, 2020

Highest Security Level: Austria also Suspends Travelling with Switzerland, Spain and France

In addition to Italy, air and rail traffic to Switzerland, Spain and France will now be discontinued. Alongside the existing border controls, checks are now also carried out at the border to Switzerland. The highest travel warning (security level 6) applies to all 4 countries (incl. Italy). As a result of recent decisions, security level 6 now applies to 6 countries: Italy, Iran, parts of China, Switzerland, Spain and France. The Austrian government's "goal is to prevent a situation like that in Italy with all democratic possibilities".

March 13, 2020

High Security Risk - Travel Warning for Austrians to Return as Long as Still Possible

Due to the coronavirus crisis, Austria's Foreign Minister Schallenberg has raised the travel warning for all countries worldwide to "high security risk" (security level 4 of 6). He is calling for citizens to return to Austria as long as there are still opportunities for return travel.

March 13, 2020

Coronavirus: Profit Warning Issued by Vienna International Airport - Reduced Working Time Planned

Travel restrictions and the resulting massive reduction in the number of scheduled flights at Vienna International Airport severely depress revenues and annual results for 2020.

March 12, 2020

Vienna International Airport: What Arriving Passengers Should Know

Numerous measures and precautions are currently in place or under implementation at Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) in connection with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For updated details and Viennese specifics see below.

March 12, 2020

Vienna International Airport: What Departing Passengers Should Know

If you want to leave Vienna by plane, you must of course arrive in time at Vienna International Airport, called Flughafen Wien-Schwechat by locals. This is followed by check-in and possibly baggage check-in, boarding pass control, security control and possibly passport control. For details and Vienna differences see below.

March 11, 2020

Slump in Passenger Numbers at Vienna International Airport

While Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) recorded an increase of 8.3% in the number of passengers to 2 million in February, the coronavirus crisis led to a decline of roughly 30% in the number of passengers in March 2020, and this trend is expected to continue.

March 11, 2020

Etihad Airways Adds Abu Dhabi-Vienna Route to its Programme

In times of the coronavirus, when flights are being cancelled, it is encouraging that Etihad Airways will start a non-stop connection between Vienna and Abu Dhabi on 22 May 2020.

March 11, 2020

Rebookings: Austrian Airlines Responds to Customers' Needs

Since the number of cancellations and rebookings has risen sharply as a result of the coronavirus crisis, AUA Austrian Airlines is forced to be flexible in accommodating existing customers when rebooking. In the case of higher ticket prices, however, the differences must be borne by the customer himself.

March 9, 2020

Coronavirus: Air Travel via Vienna International Airport - Latest Update

Total and gradual restriction of air traffic to countries and territories severely affected by coronavirus is currently being implemented. On this website, Vindobona.org provides information on questions and answers regarding the current status at Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) and the international airlines operating from there, as the relevant websites often contain hardly any updated information on the recently enforced flight bans and flight connection suspensions of individual airlines.

March 8, 2020

Austrian Airlines Extends China Flight Ban as Coronavirus Toll Climbs

AUA Austrian Airlines extends its flight suspensions to mainland China (Beijing and Shanghai) until the end of the winter flight schedule on 28 March 2020. Most recently the flights had been suspended until 29 February.

February 16, 2020

Corona Virus: Austrian Airlines Suspends Flights to Mainland China

AUA Austrian Airlines will suspend its flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai. Also its parent company Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines will suspend their flights to and from Mainland China until February 9th.

January 29, 2020

Austrian Airlines Sacks 10% of Its Workforce

AUA Austrian Airlines is planning drastic job cuts. Of the current 7,000 jobs, one in ten will be cut by the end of 2021. 700 to 800 employees are expected to be affected. EUR 90 million should be saved annually.

November 7, 2019

Austrian Airlines Takes Over Eurowings Flights to Strengthen Vienna Hub

Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines takes over the commercial management of all Eurowings flights from Vienna. Vienna is to be strengthened as a hub. At the same time, Eurowings will strongly expand its presence at Salzburg Airport and increase the number of Airbus A319 aircraft stationed in Salzburg to a total of three.

September 27, 2019

Ryanair's Austrian Subsidiary Laudamotion Renamed to Lauda

The Austrian Ryanair subsidiary, the low-cost airline Laudamotion, has separated from the name "Motion" for marketing reasons and is now called only "Lauda". In addition, the fleet will be expanded and more destinations will be served.

March 22, 2019

Vienna in Airport Ranking only in Midfield

According to a comparative study entitled "Airport Worldwide Rankings 2018" with 141 airports surveyed worldwide, Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien Schwechat) occupies only 49th place.

March 5, 2019

Austrian-Israeli Economic Relations - 20% Increase in Exports

On the occasion of the official state visit of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the accompanying business delegation of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the issue of the actual state of economic relations has arisen. The Austrian-Israeli foreign trade volume amounted to 568 million euros in 2017, with a trade balance surplus for Austria of 229 million euros. The Chamber of Commerce reports that Austrian exports to Israel increased by 20.3% in 2017. The trend seems to have continued in 2018. More than 600,000 overnight stays by Israeli tourists make Israel one of the top nations in Austrian tourism statistics.

February 4, 2019

Irish Ryanair Acquires Austrian Laudamotion Completely

The Austrian Niki-Airline successor Laudamotion has now been taken over 100% by Ryanair. Ryanair last held three quarters of the shares of Laudamotion. No information was given about the price for the remaining 25 percent.

January 29, 2019

Vienna Airport Surpasses 27 Million Passengers for the First Time

Vienna International Airport was able to handle 27 million passengers for the first time last year, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. The top destinations were London, Moscow and Bangkok. 74 airlines serve 205 destinations in 71 countries. In the ranking of airlines as measured by their share of overall passenger volume, Austrian Airlines was followed by Eurowings (incl. Germanwings), the easyJet Group, Lufthansa and Laudamotion. The increase in the number of passengers in 2019 is estimated at 10%.

January 28, 2019

Japan's Largest Airline ANA Expands Service Between Tokyo and Vienna

The Japanese ANA - All Nippon Airways relies on Vienna as its European hub for business flights to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Poland and is expanding its range of services as a result of the facilitation provided by the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

October 31, 2018

Austrian Airlines - More Women in the Cockpit and Daily Flights to Tokyo

Become one of the few female pilots at Austrian Airlines. A total of 100 fully-trained pilots are currently being sought. As part of its expansion, Lufthansa's subsidiary intends to significantly increase the proportion of women pilots. The airline is also expanding its services to Tokyo, namely six weekly flights from March 2019 and daily flights during the 2019 summer timetable.

October 25, 2018

Austrian Airlines Celebrates 60th Birthday

Austrian Airlines Österreichische Luftverkehrs Aktiengesellschaft was founded on 31 March 1958. This week, 2,500 guests celebrated the 60th birthday of the red-white-red airline in the hangar at Vienna Schwechat Airport.

May 25, 2018

Austrian Budget Airline LaudaMotion: Fighting the Top Dog Lufthansa

LaudaMotion is to become a powerful low-cost airline. Ryanair ultimately intends to acquire a 75 percent stake. From June 2018, a total of 65 routes are to be served from Vienna, from seven German airports (Berlin/Tegel, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart) and from Zurich to the Mediterranean region and to the Canary Islands.

March 30, 2018

Ryanair Acquires 75 Percent of LaudaMotion

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is paying 100 million euros for the share. Ryanair will initially take over 24.9 percent of Laudamotion and intends to increase it to 75 percent, subject to the approval of the EU competition authority. The airline founder will continue to be in charge.

March 20, 2018

Air India to Fly Daily Between Vienna and New Delhi

India's national passenger carrier Air India launched direct non-stop flight operations between Vienna and Delhi, India.

March 31, 2016

Transport & Logistics - DB Schenker Opens New Logistics Center in Belgrade

DB Schenker will be moving into a new logistics center near Belgrade/Serbia at the beginning of 2015. The center will offer customers the technology for specialized logistics solutions.

August 29, 2014

Tonight Emirates Will Take the First Airbus A380 to Vienna

Emirates airline will operate a one-off A380 service to Vienna, celebrating 10 years of flying to Vienna International Airport.

May 26, 2014

Emirates: The Air Rights Quarrel Between Austria and UAE Continues

The Arab airline demands considerably more landings in Vienna.

May 23, 2014 · Updated: May 24, 2014; 16:15

Polish Airline LOT Staves off State Aid

Because of the effective restructuring measures, the airline carrier has fended off the need for a capital injection by the Polish state, accordint to Deputy Treasury Minister Rafal Baniak.

October 15, 2013

Croatia: Not Plans of Privatizing State-Owned Companies

Croatian government denies it planned to privatize 28 large state-owned companies.

October 14, 2013

Slovenia: Privatization Program to Boost FDI?

The government of the financially ailing country is forced to privatize a substantial part of the publicly held companies. Prime Minister Bratusek hopes foreign direct investments to increase.

September 20, 2013

Turkish Airlines Not Interested in Croatia Airlines

The Turkish airline carrier has denied rumors of acquiring states at Croatia Airlines.

September 11, 2013

Transport & Logistics - DB Schenker to Expand its Operations in Croatia

Simultaneously with the accession of Croatia into the EU, and thus the abolition of customs borders between Croatia and the EU countries, Schenker positions itself on that market as a potential logistics partner.

September 3, 2013 · Sponsored Content

Polish Airline LOT Puts Pressure on Boeing

Polish carrier LOT is threatening Boeing with claims for compensations. Dreamliner purchased by the airline company were faced with weeks of grounding due to a series of technical problems. Losses are estimated in the amount of up to € 25m.

August 23, 2013

AUA Posts Positive Operating Result

Austrian Airlines´operating result was up by EUR 20 million in the first half-year.

August 2, 2013

China: Big Plans for Ljubljana Airport

China Southern, Asia’s biggest airline company, plans to establish a hub in Ljubljana for SEE.

July 24, 2013

Good Outlook for Austrian Airlines

CEO Jaan Albrecht thinks that the Austrian subsidiary of German Lufthansa will record positive results this year.

July 22, 2013