Austrian marks 15 years in Lufthansa Group: financial stability, but need for fleet modernisation
Austrian Airlines (AUA) has been part of the Lufthansa Group for 15 years.
The sale by the Austrian government in Sep-2009 was prompted by the 2008 global financial crisis, which exacerbated a period of loss-making by its national airline.
Lufthansa's ownership has given AUA a more financially secure footing, and it reported positive operating profits from 2013 until the COVID-19 crisis.
AUA's fleet has been simplified and its route network has been pruned. It recently started replacing its Boeing 777 and 767 widebody fleet (average age 25 years) with 787-9s - a modernisation programme that is due to last until 2028.
AUA's Airbus A320 family fleet has an average age of 19 years, so new narrowbodies must be next on the shopping list.
However, although the airline returned to profit in 2023, AUA's profitability remains somewhat brittle, and its parent will expect a suitable return on any further investment in new fleet.
Become a CAPA Member to access Analysis Reports
Our Analysis Reports are only available to CAPA Members. CAPA Membership provides exclusive access to in-depth insights on the latest developments in the aviation and travel industry, developed by our team of dedicated analysts located in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Each report offers a fresh perspective on the latest industry trends and is available online or via the CAPA mobile app, with customisable alerts to help you stay informed and identify new business opportunities.
CAPA Membership also provides access to our full suite of tools, including a tailored selection of more than 1,000 News Briefs every week and comprehensive data and analysis on thousands of companies around the world.