Hofmann's recommendations

Austrian Airlines - stable summer program

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AUA Boeing 777-200ER, after landing in Tokyo photo co: K Hofmann

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AUA Boeing 777-200ER, after landing in Tokyo photo co: K Hofmann

The discussions in recent weeks about the departure of numerous Austrian Airlines pilots have led to uncertainty among many passengers as to whether their vacation flights could be at risk due to a lack of personnel. Connoisseur Circle has checked the scenario again.

A total of 110 Austrian Airlines pilots, i.e. around one in five, have left the company. Background: They rejected the transfer of operations from Austrian Airlines to the cheaper Tyrloean Airways on July 1 and preferred a "privileged self-termination". With the right to maximum handling. The management hopes that the transfer of the remaining 450 pilots and 1,300 flight attendants will result in annual savings of 45 million euros on the personnel side.

This is all part of the implementation of a savings package of up to 263 million euros by the Austrian Lufthansa subsidiary. However, this means that there will be bottlenecks in the cockpit during the extremely important summer business. The following solutions have been implemented in order to be able to handle the summer program in a stable manner: Up to five Boeing 737-300/500s, including crews, have been ordered from Lufthansa for July and August to prevent any pilot shortages. In addition, a Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 will be deployed on the Vienna - Dubai route in July. A special feature for Business Class passengers: as this aircraft has a First Class cabin, Business Class passengers will be asked to sit in this section of the aircraft. Austrian Airlines will also be assisted by aircraft and crews from Augsburg Airways, Welcome Air and Swiss with an AVRO RJ100 on the Vienna - Zurich route. In addition, some of the pilots who are leaving AUA in the summer will continue to fly on a limited fee basis during the high season. AUA emphasizes that there will probably be between ten and 30 pilots. As freelancers on the Boeing 777, Boeing 767 and Airbus A320 aircraft types as required.

It should also be emphasized that after more than 30 years of company history, the Lauda Air brand will disappear next year. Only the Austrian brand will then be used nationally and internationally, including in the leisure flight sector. Conclusion: Passengers of Austrian Airlines can assume with a clear conscience that the summer flight program will be carried out as planned. And should there be any changes, passengers will be informed as soon as possible, according to the airline.

Kurt Hofmann

(June 2012)