Austrian Airlines threatens to cut Boeing 787 fleet over Austrian taxes
Austrian Airlines may reduce its planned Boeing 787-9 intake from twelve to seven aircraft by 2028 if government taxes are not lowered, warning that long-haul operations at Vienna hub could be compromised.
Austrian Airlines has warned it could scale back its long-haul fleet modernization due to escalating operational taxes in Austria. The carrier initially scheduled twelve Boeing 787-9 aircraft by 2028 to phase out its aging Boeing 767 and Boeing 777 long-haul fleet.
According to Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann, the carrier might only introduce seven Boeing 787-9 jets if operating conditions fail to improve. While airport charges saw moderate changes, state taxes and levies in Austria surged by 85 percent since 2019. The airline urges a cut in the passenger ticket tax from 12 to 8 euros, providing 70 to 75 million euros in financial relief, deeming a 60-million-euro package floated by the transport minister insufficient.
The carrier cautioned that uncompetitive state-imposed costs, which are nearly double the European average, could relegate Austrian Airlines to a short- and medium-haul feeder for Lufthansa Group. Low-cost operators Ryanair and Wizz Air have already reduced or closed bases in Vienna. A reduction in the long-haul program would directly impact flight crew positions and aviation jobs across the Vienna hub.
Why it matters for your training
Fleet modernization and long-haul fleet sizing directly govern type rating opportunities, command upgrades, and long-haul crew rosters within network carriers.
Sources
Article rewritten with the help of AI from the cited sources.