Austrian Airlines to launch new flights to Los Angeles

After several rumors being disseminated in the media and online, Austrian Airline, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, revealed a great news for both Europeans and American citizens, as the company will launch a seasonal weekly flight from Vienna to Los Angeles. Starting on April 10th, 2017, a Boeing 777 will take off to Vienna from the American west coast city, up to six times a week.

“After Chicago, Newark and Miami, Los Angeles is now the fourth new flight destination and the so far biggest leap into the USA. We will fly to the West Coast with our existing fleet and are already very excited about this new venture,” said Austrian Airlines chief commercial officer, Andreas Otto.

With a monopoly of the Vienna to US West Coast market, Austrian Airlines would expect to attract a greater number of high fare-paying business people to use the new route. Currently there are few if any non-stop air links between points in Eastern Europe and the US West Coast and that would give Austrian Airlines a market advantage.

“We believe there is potential for this route because there is no direct competition from Vienna to Los Angeles,” Austrian CEO Kay Kratky told ATW. “Initially, the Vienna-Los Angeles route will be served seasonally in the summer 2017 flight schedule with a Boeing 777-200ER. The Star Alliance member’s long-haul fleet comprises six 767-300ERs and five 777-200ERs.”

Separately, Austrian is preparing for a difficult 2016 second half. “My feelings for [the second half of the year] are not good ones,” Kratky said, citing a “double-digit drop in bookings” from the US and China to Europe following terrorist attacks in Europe and amid economic uncertainty.