Austro Control puts Lauda under increased supervision ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Austrian Airlines (OS, Vienna) has declared that it will have to reposition itself in light of the rapid growth of low-cost carriers (LCCs) at its home base Vienna.

With the threat of losses in 2019 and 2020 after six profitable years, the Star Alliance carrier will attempt to counteract these unfavourable market developments with a package of operational and cost-saving measures.

The carrier's management board opinion, voiced by its Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto, was very clear: “We will not retreat a single millimetre and will maintain our premium strategy.”

As a result of this defiant stance, the airline is bundling its fleet strength in the Austrian capital city and will attempt to stand up to the encroaching LCCs.

Although Austrian Airlines remains the largest seat provider in Vienna, commanding 42% of weekly capacity, which jumps to nearly 50% when partner Eurowings (EW, Düsseldorf Int'l) is included, it is facing increasing pressure from LCCs like Lauda (OE, Vienna), Wizz Air (W6, Budapest), and easyJet (U2,...

Lauda (OE, Vienna) will expand its presence in Palma de Mallorca with first flights from the Spanish island to non-German speaking destinations planned in the Summer 2020 season, Routes Online has reported.

The Austrian subsidiary of Ryanair (FR, Dublin Int'l) will launch its own services from Palma de Mallorca to Klagenfurt in Austria and Knock in Ireland, both operated 2x weekly from March 31, 2020. In addition, the carrier will also operate select flights of its parent airline from Palma to multiple destinations in Europe.

According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Lauda currently operates from its Palma base to nine destinations in Germany and two in Austria.

The Austrian carrier will continue to operate all flights from Mallorca using A320 narrowbodies. Besides Palma, Lauda currently has bases at Düsseldorf Int'l, Stuttgart Manfred Rommel, and Vienna airports.

Separately, AviationNetOnline has reported that Lauda will relocate its Crew Control and Operations centre from Vienna to Dublin as its function will be merged with Ryanair's centre. The carrier...