Austrian Airlines is restructuring the fleet. Give up 7 x A319 and 3 x B767.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the aviation industry and tourism. Authorities around the world have taken harsh measures of social distancing, which has greatly affected travel. And world aviation and travel organizations are very pessimistic when it comes to post-coronavirus period.

Most airlines are going through a difficult period, in which the economic crisis is deepening. IATA warns that up to 25 million jobs will be affected from aviation, tourism and related sectors.

Austrian Airlines is one of the airlines severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. It has suspended all flights since March 18, 2020. There are hopes that flights can be resumed from May 17, only if the numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic will be declining. But nothing will be the same as before the new coronavirus.

By 2020, Austrian Airlines expects a 25% to 50% reduction in flight demand. The entire aviation industry is pessimistic. The return to "normal" will be slow, which will last 1-2-3 years.

Austrian Airlines is restructuring its fleet.

In these circumstances, Austrian Airlines has submitted an operational plan, which will be implemented post-COVID. It will size the fleet according to market demand. In addition to the phasing out of the 18 Dash turboprop aircraft, a process that began in 2019, Austrian Airlines will withdraw 7 more A319s and 3 Boeing 767s (OE-LAT, OE-LAW and OE-LAX).

Austrian Airlines currently has about 80 aircraft. By implementing the restructuring plan, the fleet will reach 60 aircraft, of which 9 will be dedicated to long-haul flights. Austrian Airlines will reduce transport capacity by about 20%. Despite the resizing of the fleet, he hopes to be able to keep as many jobs as possible.

"It simply came to our notice then. It is now our responsibility to make Austrian Airlines fit for the post-Corona future. We want to keep our hub for long-haul flights, even if we don't have another option yet. but to adapt to a slightly smaller market. We need to be able to finance ourselves, be able to pay taxes, salaries and investments and, of course, repay any loans during the crisis, ' emphasizes Austrian Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.

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