Austrian Airlines
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- OS/AUA
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Vienna International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1957
- Alliance:
- Star Alliance
- Airline Group:
- Lufthansa Group
- CEO:
- Annette Mann
- Country:
- Austria
Austrian Airlines could be next in line in the Lufthansa Group to acquire new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, according to Carsten Spohr, Chief Executive Officer of the European airline holding.
Is Austrian renewing its long-haul fleet?
The Vienna-based carrier could soon be launching flights with new Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes. Recently reported by aeroTELEGRAPH, Carsten Spohr met with employees, stating that Austrian Airlines is next in line in the long-haul plans for the group.
He said that it is becoming “more and more expensive to keep the aircraft we have now fit in terms of maintenance and the condition we need them to be in.” Austrian Airlines currently has a fleet of 64 aircraft, according to data by ch-aviation. The airline has three Boeing 767-300(ER)s, with an average age of 23.3 years old, and six Boeing 777-200(ER)s, with an average age of 22.1 years old. Most of these planes were acquired by Lauda Air, which was later purchased by Austrian.
Earlier this year, Annette Mann, Chief Executive Officer of Austrian, told Air Insight that the decision to renew the company’s long-haul fleet mostly depends on the airline returning to profitability after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Lufthansa Group.
The Boeing 777X delays
Lufthansa is expected to be the launch customer for the new Boeing 777X aircraft program. The airline has an order for 27 aircraft of this model. The problem is that this new aircraft has been delayed for years now, forcing the North American OEM to handle compensation payments to the impacted companies, including Lufthansa Group.
Carsten Spohr said it is better to take these payments in kind, that is, receiving an aircraft rather than cash. He added that the group is talking to Boeing about whether to add a few more Dreamliners. According to Boeing’s unfilled orders, Lufthansa still has to receive 30 Boeing 787-9s.
Carsten Spohr added that it is too early to make concrete statements despite these talks with employees. We will keep following Austrian and Boeing developments in 2023.
Photo: Austrian Airlines.
Austrian’s long-haul fleet
Austrian’s Boeing 767-300(ER) fleet is composed of three aircraft. These widebody jetliners have 211 seats in a three class configuration, which includes 24 in business, 30 in premium economy, and 157 in economy. The 767-300(ER) has a maximum range of 10,500 kilometers.
The company has six Boeing 777-200(ER)s, which are currently undergoing a seat reconfiguration, according to Austrian’s website. These planes currently have a configuration to carry 306 passengers in three classes. Business class has 38 seats, premium economy has 24 seats, and economy class has 244 seats. From May 2023 onwards, these jetliners will have a capacity for 330 passengers, decreasing the number of business class seats to 32, and increasing the seats in premium economy and economy to 40 and 258, respectively. The maximum range of these planes is 12,100 kilometers.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner 8 has a configuration for about 220 passengers, the 787-9 can receive about 270 passengers and the 787-10 about 310.
What do you think about Austrian Airlines renewing its fleet with Boeing 787 Dreamliners? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: aeroTELEGRAPH, Air Insight, ch-aviation.
