Vienna International Airpot (VIE)- based Austrian Airlines announced in a statement on Friday seen by Simple Flying that they would resume international flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Montreals Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in May 2021.
The Lufthansa Group airline said that it would begin ramping up its summer schedule in May with three flights per week from Vienna to Montreal and New York JFK. The Austrian national flag carrier is already flying to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. With New York JFK’s resumption, it takes “The Big Apple” total to eight flights per week from the Austrian capital.
YUL and JFK flights to resume in May
• As of May, Austrian Airlines expands its long-haul service
• Montreal and New York JFK back on offer
• “Our long-haul services are back on a slight climb,” says CCO Michael Trestl
“With five destinations in North America and three in Asia, including Tokyo and Bangkok, our long-haul services are back on a slight climb this summer. Unfortunately, however, we are still a long way from reaching cruising altitude. We hope that a rapid increase in the vaccination rate and a corresponding relaxation of travel restrictions will give us a further boost in the future”, says Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl.
Austrian returns to Hannover after 11-years
A week earlier, the Austrian national flag carrier announced an increase in flights for the summer schedule. Starting at the end of March, Austrian Airlines will resume flights to Barcelona, Dubrovnik, and Florence. Austrian Airlines will again resume flights to Hannover Airport in Lower Saxony, a service Austrian airlines suspended in 2009. In addition to the numerous vacation hot spots in Greece, Italy, and Spain, Austrian is increasing its intercontinental flights from Vienna to the following destinations:
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, Jordan
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, Thailand
- Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo, Japan
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago, USA
According to the aviation enthusiast website, Planespotters.net, Austrian Airlines has a fleet of 79 aircraft with an average age of 16-years-old made up of the following aircraft:
- 7 x Airbus A319-100s
- 29 x Airbus A320-200s
- 3 x Airbus A321-100s
- 3 x Airbus A321-200s
- 6 x Boeing 767-300s
- 6 x Boeing 777-200s
- 8 x De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400s
- 17 x Embraer ERJ-195s
Austrian Airlines 100th cargo flight
In other Austrian Airlines-related news, the central European carrier and German time-sensitive cargo logistics company time:matter just celebrated their 100th cargo flight. The flight using a specially modified Boeing 777-200 departed VIE for Penang International Airport (PEN) in Malaysia on February 26 and is expected to return to Vienna on Monday carrying much-needed PPE. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe, Austrian Airlines and time:matter-Vienna have transported over 2,000 tons of PPE and rapid antigen tests on 100 cargo flights from Penang, Shanghai, and Xiamen.
When speaking about the relief efforts in a statement yesterday, Austrian Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said:
“I am extremely pleased that we are able to do something good thanks to the strong partnership with time: matters, especially with its team of cargo experts in Vienna. On the basis of our joint airlift, we can contribute to halting the spread of the pandemic.”
It is nice to see Austrian Airlines betting a recovery in the number of people returning to the skies. Let’s hope that with rapid coronavirus vaccinations being rolled out that other airlines will also start betting on a recovery.
What do you think of Austrian Airlines resuming flights to Montreal and New York JFK? Is it too soon, or have Austrian Airlines calculated correctly? Please tell us what you think in the comments.
