Vacations Blog

Austrian Airlines is the flagship carrier of Austria, with headquarters in Vienna, which is also the airline’s main hub at Vienna International Airport.  Vienna International prides itself on the ability of passengers to change flights quickly and easily.  Airport personnel promise that a passenger should never have to spend more than 30 minutes waiting for a connecting flight.  There are plenty of lounges and cafes at Vienna International Airport for those passengers who do have to wait to board connecting flights.

Austria’s flagship carrier was founded in 1957. Focusing on Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, Austrian Airlines also routes some passengers on flights run by its subsidiary, Tyrolean. Austrian Airlines is staffed by over 8,500 workers, and is a member of both the Austrian Airlines Group and the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance on the planet with 24 different brands. Most Austrian Airlines flights operate on jets built by Boeing and Airbus.

The frequent flyer program for Austrian Airlines customers is known as Miles & More. Over 15 million people earn Miles & More on Austrian Airlines and 12 other European carriers, and use their miles on these carrier as well as the 24 carriers in the Star Alliance.

Few airlines place a greater emphasis on safety. For nearly 30 years, since 1981, every Austrian Airlines flight has been accompanied by at least two undercover sky marshals. All pilots and flight attendants receive frequent training with a special emphasis on safety, as well as new technology.

Much as the Vienna airport offers singular efficiency in transferring passengers between flights in 30 minutes or less, Austrian Airlines offers outstanding customer service. Completely revamping its customer service program in 2006, Austrian Airlines added dozens of new features, ranging from new passenger lounges to free snack service in economy to all-inclusive customer care for passengers on the ground. Calling their new program a success, Austrian Airlines proudly points to multiple industry surveys giving them top rankings in customer service and quality.

In February 2009, the airline appointed Dr. Andreas Bierwirth and Dr. Peter   chief co-executives, with equal management rights. Austrian’s board of directors anticipates this new and unique management team will boost the airlines’ bottom line despite declining passenger numbers. In 2008, the airline carried 10.7 million passengers, down from 2007, and further loss of traffic is expected in 2009. Emphasizing its well-known strengths, Austrian Airlines is maintaining its image as the carrier of choice for flights from Europe to the Middle East, adding four flights each week to Jordan’s capital, Amman.