Austrian Airlines Business Class Cabins
Walter Barda-Bardenau asked for permission from the Austrian government in 1923 to start an airline. He was granted the right to start an airline and given 1% ownership. The remaining shares, 50%, went to the Austrian railway transportation company and 49% to airplane manufacturer Junkers-Werke. The fleet consisted of Junkers F-13’s. Their first flight was in Vienna Jedlesee in May 1923.
Austrian Airlines Routes
In 1927, routes to Berlin, Budapest and Milan Vienna were added to their schedule. In 1938, the company added flights to Rome, Paris and London. After the annexation of Austria by Germany in March 1938, these plans were abandoned. The airline was fully under the control of Lufthansa from January 1939. In June 1939, the company was deleted from the commercial register.
After World War II, Austria was separated from Germany and Austria was left without a national airline. In 1957, a merger between Air Austria and Austrian Airways became Austrian Airlines. Their first official flight was in March of 1958 from Vienna to Zurich and London.
In the 2000s, Austrian Air expanded when it purchased Lauda Air and Rheintalflug Air. In the early 2000’s, Austrian Airlines was losing millions of dollars a year. In 2008, the owner of the airlines which was the Austrian government received guidance that they should sell the airlines to a foreign company to stop the losses to the government. In 2009, it did just that, and sold to Lufthansa Group.
The next few years were also difficult for Austrian Airlines with arguments over how to become profitable. Cost cutting measures were enacted which led to several flights being cancelled. All flights were transferred to its subsidiary Tyrolean Airways in 2012. In 2015, all flights were transferred back to Austrian Airlines and Tyrolean Airways actually merged into Austrian Airlines.
Austrian Airlines is now a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. The airline is headquartered at the Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, which is also the main hub for the airline. Austria Airlines is now the official flag carrier of Austria.
Austrian Airlines Destinations and Lounges
It currently operates six flights throughout Austria and more than 120 international year-round flights. It also has seasonal destinations to as many as 60 countries. Being a subsidiary of Lufthansa Airlines, it naturally is a member of the Star Alliance program. The airline has been profitable for the past 15 years.
Austrian operates several lounges at its hub in Vienna. There are three Business, two Senator and two HON-Circle Lounges. The lounges are consistently ranked in the top percentage of lounges in the world. They are reserved for business and first class passengers as well as Star Alliance Gold Members travelling internationally. Day passes are avaialble for $120 per day.
Austrian Airlines Business Class Meals
Business Class meals are prepared by a chef on board. Most of the planes are from the Airbus family. A320’s are a big portion of their fleet and all received new seats and new cabin designs. Their long haul planes are Boeing 767 and Boeing 777’s, which include video on demand and full flat beds.
Austrian myHoliday is Austrian Airlines holiday brand and operates seasonal charter flights to popular tourist destinations. All flights are operated by Austrian Airlines aircraft, crew and their catering company which is called Do & Co.
