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Additional Austrian flight between Dubai and Vienna

DUBAI — Due to rapid demand out of UAE market and high loads Austrian Airlines has decided to increase frequency of flights on Vienna-Dubai route. The airline will operate six flights per week from October 22 this year, says Karim El Sanadily, Regional Manager of Austrian Airlines for Gulf Cooperation Council region.

The new flight OS041 will leave Vienna at 17.15 on Saturday and arrive Dubai at 01.50 on Sunday. The return flight OS042 will depart Dubai at 02.45 on Sunday and arrive Vienna at 06.05. The aircraft is B737-800 with 16-business class and 142 economy class seats. The new flights are in the system and open for bookings, he said.

“We will announce the new destinations in Gulf region before the end of this month after we finish our market research for the Gulf cities of Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi,” Karim said.

Re-launched in April 2004 after a brief halt following the Iraq war Austrian has been operating three flights between the Austrian capital Vienna and Dubai.

With the increase in demand and sustained load factor of 75-80 per cent throughout the year, Austrian Airlines is operating five flights a week from November last.

The group, which has the average fleet age of 6.3 years, is operating with all sizes of new generation aircraft like A-340, A-330, B-347 and B-767.

“Sales during 2004 far exceeded our expectations and the Dubai venture of the airline is considered very successful as the twin cities of Vienna and Dubai experiencing tremendous boom. Currently we are operating 95 per cent above our target,” Karim added. No wonder, the Gulf and Middle East region won the top award last year for achieving the maximum coupon sale.

The passenger traffic to Austria is a mixed bag as people travel for business, to avail of spas, medical and leisure attractions. — By Joseph Lonth