Austrian Airlines announced on Monday that they will temporarily suspend regular flight operations from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 due to travel restrictions and reduced demand related to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Austrian Airlines announced the suspension of all regular flight operations from Wednesday, March 18, 2020, due to travel restrictions and reduced demand related to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier will keep one long-haul and one short-haul aircraft in service for emergency and relief flights. The last flight (OS 066) will depart Chicago and land in Vienna on the morning of March 19, 2020. In the next few days, the carrier will wind-down operations in a controlled and structured manner in order to repatriate as many guests, team members and aircraft as possible. Flights will initially be cancelled until March 28, 2020 and customers booked on Austrian Airlines during this period will be rebooked on another Group airline, if available. In Monday’s announcement, Austrian Airlines’ CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech said,
“As Austria’s national carrier, we are aware of our responsibility and will cooperate with the government and try to bring home as many Austrians as possible.”
Austrian Airlines’ customers booked on flights over the next 48 hours will be automatically rebooked and the airline asks guests to check the status of their flights on Austrian.com under “my bookings.” Flights scheduled beyond 48 hours will also be automatically rebooked. Customers who have provided a telephone number and e-mail address as well as Miles & More members will be automatically notified of changes by SMS or e-mail, so there is no need to contact the Austrian Airlines Service Hotline. Mr. von Hoensbroech further explained that Austrian Airlines is preparing to relaunch as soon as the crisis passes and demand returns, adding, “This is not a goodbye, it’s a ‘servus’ and ‘see you later.’”
Source: Austrian Airlines
Editor's Note: We stand by the Austrian Airlines team and all airlines during this difficult period as the entire world fights to limit the transmission of, and ultimately recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic. Once it has been defeated, we look forward to the emergence of an even stronger and more robust global commercial airline industry.