Austrian Airlines to return with Lauda Air

The Austrian Airlines group yesterday announced it would soon start operating five non-stop flights per week between Malta and Vienna, using group airline Lauda Air.

Lauda Air chief executive Thomas Suritsch hailed the move at a press conference as excellent news.

"Austrian Airlines are coming back to Malta after an absence of six years. The Austrian product, which has built a name for quality and excellence, is well known in Malta and our reputation in the market is outstanding," he said.

Lauda Air will start flying to Malta from Vienna International Airport on April 3.

Yesterday's launch was also attended by MIA chairman Lawrence Zammit, MIA chief executive Peter Bolech and the executive vice-president of Vienna International Airport plc, Michael Hoeferer.

Vienna International Airport leads a consortium which has bought a 40 per cent shareholding in MIA.

Mr Bolech said he was delighted that the Austrian Airlines group had decided to end its absence from Malta. He said this development would also compensate for the loss of Swiss Air.

"This is another step in the transformation of MIA into a regional hub for the Mediterranean. We were delighted to hear that Emirates and British Airways have decided to increase their frequency. We are also delighted that Air Malta has managed to clinch an open sky agreement with Germany."

Mr Bolech said other airlines were also actively looking at Malta and those that were already established recently announced increases in frequency.

"I am looking forward to seeing more, of course, but this is a very promising start. MIA has a social obligation to Malta and its national economy and we give our full support to the Malta Tourism Authority and all other partners engaged in increasing tourist arrivals to Malta. This for us is a true commitment."

Mr Bolech said the move came at the right time of the year. After 24 consecutive months during which there had been drops in arrivals at MIA due to the international aviation situation, October registered an increase of 9.4 per cent and November an increase of 5.5 per cent over the corresponding periods last year.

The increase came mainly from British, German, French and Italian passengers.

Mr Zammit said he was delighted that Austrian Airlines had taken the decision to start operating so frequently between the two destinations.

The schedule offers connections in both directions to and from major western and eastern European cities. It also offers connections to long haul destinations such as Beijing, Melbourne and Sydney, Washington and New York, Tokyo and Osaka as well as Toronto and Montreal.

The aircraft being used on the route are 737-400s and 737-800s.

"For example, a Maltese businessman may go to Paris, Geneva or Berlin for a meeting, leaving Malta at 6.30 a.m. and bringing him back home at 10.30 p.m. A couple who wish to spend a long weekend in Vienna, Budapest or Prague will find the proposal ideal. What is being offered with this schedule, in both directions, is a product that fits the business and leisure markets," Mr Suritsch said.

He said that the prices would be "very competitive" and that the group intended to announce its introductory offers over the coming weeks.

He also said the company was still holding talks over who will be the general sales agent for the company in Malta.

Mr Suritsch also said there was potential for a substantial increase in incoming tourism to Malta from Vienna, especially in particular months of the year, such as April and May.

"We are in contact with different tour operators in Vienna to attract more Austrian tourists to Malta."

Mr Hoeferer said he was delighted that Austrian Airlines was joining Air Malta on the Vienna route.

"This will bring more passengers through Vienna Airport which is Europe's foremost hub airport for traffic between West and East Europe."