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In the winter flight schedule, the offer will only be 30 percent instead of 50 percent for the 2019/20 comparison period.
Austrian Airlines wanted to provide about half of the previous year’s supply in the upcoming winter flight schedule. Due to low demand in the wake of the latest travel restrictions, the AUA must now significantly lower its targets, as the board of directors announced today at an employee event: production will therefore not exceed 30 percent in winter .
Cape Town, Mauritius and Maldives in winter flight schedule
On the upcoming winter flight schedule, which runs from late October 2020 to late March 2021, Austrian Airlines will offer flights to around 60 destinations. That’s about 20 destinations less than the previous year, and many destinations are served with very low frequencies.
Despite Corona, the AUA will fly to classic winter destinations such as Cape Town (Photo: Martin Metzenbauer).
In addition to long-haul flights to Newark, Chicago, Washington and Bangkok, Austrian resumed its flight connection to Shanghai last week. Flights to holiday destinations such as Cape Town, Mauritius and the Maldives are scheduled again from mid-December. Subject to extended entry restrictions, these destinations must be served twice a week.
AUA loses 40 million euros per month
Despite difficult times, the red-white-red airline’s liquidity situation is “over budget due to strict cost discipline,” as it says in a broadcast. The last tranche of the loan amounting to 100 million euros will be transferred shortly. In addition to the € 300 million in credit, the national airline received € 150 million in disaster relief from the state of Austria and € 150 million as a capital contribution from owner Lufthansa. On average, the liquidity of the company is reduced by about 40 million euros per month.
Austrian Airlines headquarters (Photo: Martin Metzenbauer).
That is why Austrian has decided to further reduce costs. “This also includes expanding short-time work in the company to accommodate reduced production,” explained Andreas Otto, who also took over as CFO at Austrian in September in addition to his CCO role. “Thanks to our good liquidity situation, we are prepared for a second wave, but next summer will be decisive. If by then we control the virus, the ground will be in sight again. Many passengers will have a corresponding need to catch up on terms travel”. says Andreas Otto.
Rapid antigen tests for free travel
As previously reported, Austrian Airlines is working on introducing rapid antigen tests for passengers in order to restore freedom of movement before a possible vaccination solution is introduced. “The current travel restrictions are a burden on the entire tourism industry. We need comprehensive testing for travelers and we must reconcile travel freedom and infection protection in order to reduce travel restrictions and quarantine obligations,” explained the Austrian COO Jens Ritter. The first test flights are already scheduled for mid-October.
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