Europe’s strong airlines will get stronger and the weak will get weaker as consolidation in the region continues and small carriers see pressure on yields intensifying.
The region’s largest route development forum will provide attendees with unmatched insight into the critical drivers shaping the future position of several leading airlines.
Star Alliance member, Austrian Airlines is to debut on the US west coast next year with the launch of a new service between Vienna and Los Angeles. The seasonal flight will operate on an up to six times weekly schedule from April 10, 2017 and will be flown using a Boeing 777.
The Dutch flag carrier is understood to have already held discussions with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Developments in Iran and is closely liaising with sister carrier Air France ahead of its own return to Tehran.
The Gulf carrier is both the world’s strongest and most valuable brand, with an increase of 17 percent from 2015. Emirates brand value is weighted at $7,743 million.
The new flight will be operated by an Airbus A319 and its introduction follows a recent revision to the previously heavily restrictive bilateral between Austria and Iran following the official state visit of Austria’s President Heinz Fischer to Iran in September this year. A link to Shiraz is also understood to be under consideration by Austrian Airlines.
The Supervisory Board of Austrian Airlines first approved the purchase of 17 Embraer aircraft in June 2015 with the first example being transferred across to Austrian Airlines in mid-August this year and redelivered to the carrier at the end of last month following modification work and repainting into the Austrian livery. The aircraft was originally delivered to Lufthansa CityLine in March 2011.
Lufthansa is to launch a new three times weekly link between its Munich hub and Tehran from April 14, 2016 using an Airbus A330-300, while also boosting capacity on its existing Frankfurt – Tehran service by switching from an A340-600 to a Boeing 747-400. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines is to introduce a second daily rotation on its Vienna – Tehran route from March 11, 2016 with a new day flight complementing its existing night operation.
The return to Shanghai highlights the continued importance of the Chinese market to the leading European carriers and the high value attached to its outbound market in particular. The airline previously served the Chinese city between April 2004 and January 2007 but stopped the flight as part of the redimensioning of the airline’s long-haul fleet and the decommissioning of its Airbus A330 and A340 long-haul fleets.
Austrian Airlines has been serving Dubai since 1996 but the arrival of Emirates Airline into the Vienna market has meant it has been under pressure for some time. Although the European carrier upped frequencies to a more than daily schedule in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it has recently cut back its activities to match capacity to seasonal point-to-point demand.
The Star Alliance member, part of the Lufthansa Group, currently operates four flights per day between Vienna International Airport and London Heathrow and will introduce the new Manchester link from September 10, 2015. The route will be served with Fokker 70 and Fokker 100 equipment.
Austrian Airlines has announced its plans to expand its North American offering to include five-weekly flights to Miami, as well as additional flights to destinations in Europe.
According to the German flag carrier, following “close consultation with Austrian Airlines and at the carrier’s own request,” Eurowings will initially station two Airbus A320s at Vienna International Airport to offer point-to-point connections on European routes, but could grow the fleet and network in the coming years.
Bristol Airport and airBaltic have topped the charts in a recent report by OAG which has revealed its punctuality league for 2014, highlighting on-time performance results for airlines and airports.
The network expansion supports the airline’s strategy to enhance aircraft utilisation during the quieter winter season. In recent years destinations in the Indian Ocean have seen market growth for Austrian passengers and the carrier’s existing flights to the Maldives have been extremely popular, showing the high potential in the Austrian long-haul tourism segment.
Aviation History Month is still underway, and this week we’re looking at airlines from 1940 – 1960. Despite World War II ongoing during the first quarter of the period, aviation still saw a great deal of progression and many new airlines commenced operation.
