note

Although Austrian Airlines name existed before the WWII, the airline was absorbed into Deutsche Lufthansa during the war and never resurrected after the war. Two other airlines were proposed in the post-war era, Austrian Airways and Air Austria, but neither started operations, instead they were comprised together and formed core of today's Austrian Airlines. First operations were undertaken with leased Vickers Viscount to London in March 1958. Since 1963, Austrian began to take deliveries of Caravelle jets to expand operations. Those were replaced gradually after the first DC-9-32 arrived in 1971. Airline eventually operated only variants of DC-9 aircraft in the Europe and the Middle East from Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Graz in Austria. 90's were pivotal era for Austrian. Traditionally only regional, Austrian decided to go ahead and become worldwide operator as other flag carriers of nations in Europe done. Austrian acquired in 1989 Airbus A310, which was the first wide-body in the fleet. Later, Airbus A340 and A330 were ordered and Intercontinental service started. For a while, Austrian operated Zurich-Washington route together with Swissair using Austrian's A310. When A330 came in, Austrian scratched that route in favor of its own Vienna-Washington. Austrian today flies to Chicago, New York and Washington in the U.S. Tokyo and Beijing in Asia and Johannesburg in South Africa, making it true global carrier. DC-9s have also been phased out in favor of Airbus A320/321's. Airline operated regional network with Fokker F50/70 in the 80's and early 90's, but those were transferred to Tyrolean Airways. Tyrolean is now full subsidiary of Austrian Airlines and operates low density routes throughout Europe for Austrian using Dash-8's, Fokker F70's and Canadair RJ's. The airline is a 100% subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and a member of Star Alliance.

founded - demised (age)

September 30 1957 - present  (68years)

headquarters

Fontanastrasse 1, Vienna

web

www.austrian.com

base airports

LOWW Schwechat Vienna (Wien)

related operators

Lauda Air	acquired 2001
Tyrolean Airways	acquired 2003
Austrian Arrows	regional subsidary
Lufthansa	100% stake