Austrian Airlines will increase frequencies on select routes across the former Yugoslavia during the second half of the 2026/27 winter season, beginning in January next year. While frequencies during the first half of the winter schedule, from late October through January, will remain unchanged compared to the previous year, they will then increase. The Lufthansa Group carrier plans to add four weekly flights between Vienna and Zagreb, bringing the total to seven weekly services, up from just three during the same period the previous year. Austrian intends to utilise the Embraer E195 aircraft on all its Zagreb flights, while a number of services will be operated on its behalf by partner Air Dolomiti, also using the E195.
In Belgrade, frequencies will increase by between two and four weekly flights, depending on the month. From January, the airline plans to operate up to eighteen weekly services between the two capitals. The increase comes after competitor Air Serbia boosted its own frequencies on the route, with plans to operate up to seventeen weekly flights during the upcoming winter season. Austrian Airlines will maintain all of its Belgrade services with a mix of Airbus A320 and E195 aircraft.
On its Pristina route, Austrian Airlines will add one additional weekly flight from January, bringing the total to nine weekly services. Frequencies will then increase to twelve weekly flights in March, up from eleven during the same period last year. The airline will operate its Pristina services with the A320 throughout the winter season, with the exception of November 1, when it currently plans to deploy the larger Airbus A321 on one of its two departures that day.
The only exception to Austrian Airlines' planned growth during the upcoming winter season is its Vienna - Dubrovnik service. Last year, the seasonal route was extended into the winter schedule, operating until December 28. This winter, however, services will conclude a month earlier, with the final flight currently scheduled for November 28. Operations are set to resume on March 4, 2027.
Great to see Austrian growing in the region again
ReplyDeleteOnly if you support reviving old colonial ambitions. In reality, Austrian influence in the region is not what it used to be. For example, Austrian stopped flying to Toronto, sought-after destination for Ex Yu diaspora, but both Zagreb and Belgrade now have non-stop flights to Toronto. Austrian and Vienna hub are slowly losing their appeal as Ex Yu region expands direct connectivity.
DeleteGreat news, seems that Lufthansa group started to consolidate their market in different way. Hopefully we will see ITA Airways soon
ReplyDeleteWell Lufthansa now sells JU flights carrying the ITA code-share, that's a step in the right direction.
Delete9.03 makes not much sense. consolidating doesnt mean
Deleteincreasing
It does if they are reducing the region from elsewhere like they are doing from FRA and MUC.
DeleteHuh
DeleteInteresting that Zagreb gets such a big boost from just three to seven weekly flights.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Lufthansa is handing over the region back to OS. They reduced FRA-ZAG from 14 to 7 so they boosted VIE-ZAG from 3 to 7.
DeleteAnd boost MUC from 11 to 14. So, FRA reduction is equal to increases to the other two hubs by flight number.
DeleteGood
DeleteThe Frankfurt reduction is because Croatia Airlines carries Lufthansa passengers for very cheap.
DeleteThe Belgrade route is becoming very competitive. Austrian with up to 18 weekly flights versus Air Serbia's 17 should keep fares in check.
ReplyDeleteThats true. JU have some really good fares to Vienna even in August.
DeleteThat's because JU recently revised the way they price their flights. That is why they are more competitive in last few months.
DeleteI wonder if this OS increase is permanent or just a response to Air Serbia adding more capacity on the Vienna route.
DeleteLet's see if JU responds to OS.
DeleteWhat for? They have 17 weekly flights. It's enough.
DeleteMaybe they will match their frequencies.
DeleteWhat difference will one extra flight make? Both have enough frequencies. They can compete on service, price and transfer passengers.
DeleteBelgrade–Vienna could soon support hourly departures at peak times
DeleteWell one weekly flights for a network carrier means a lot since it improves connectivity quite a bit and in both directions.
DeleteAnd if they add 1 more your next demand will be for them to fly 19 weekly.
DeleteGoing from 17 to 18 "improves connectivity quite a bit"? It's just 5.5% increase in flights, connectivity can't be increased a little but not quite a bit!
DeleteWhen will they come to Ljubljana finally?
ReplyDeleteWe have FRA, no need for other routes.
DeleteUse Flixbus or drive up.
DeleteOn a serious noted, is there any prospect Austrian may launch flights to LJU?
DeleteIs there really a need? Serious question
DeleteNo need, we have FRA :)
Delete@9.43 I don't think so. They would have launched it by now if there was.
DeleteWho would even fly Ljubljana-Vienna? Transfer passengers can go through Frankfurt or Munich
DeleteExactly. LJU should have 30 daily flights to FRA and thats it. No need for more.
DeleteHow about Skopje, any change there?
ReplyDeleteAt the moment there are no plans to boost SKP. If loads improve OS will respond.
DeleteHow much weekly flights for now Skopje will have at that period ?
Delete11 weekly in November and December, 9 weekly in January and February and 11 weekly from March.
Delete@9.12 lol
Delete11 flights weekly is still great , thank you 09:31
DeleteWhy would they? SKP is LCC fortress
DeleteToo bad Dubrovnik is losing part of its winter service.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised.
DeleteDoesn't Ryanair fly this route too? Year round?
DeleteNot any more, Ryanair is discontinuing route this winter
DeleteThanks. Pity
DeleteGood news overall
ReplyDeleteOverall, there hasn't been any significant increase in flights to the region. They increase, then stop, then increase again. There has been no explosive growth since 2010.
ReplyDeleteLike Turkish for example
+1
DeleteThey increase, then stop, then increase again.
DeleteWhat's the problem?
+1
DeleteIt's not easy to have explosive growth when you have solid base. Austrian is here for quite some decades in good numbers. I guess they could have that kind of expansion to the regions they cover at the similar fashion Turkish did with Balkans until recently, half a decade - decade before.
DeleteThen again, Austrian is part of the group where different airlines have to run their strategies (unlike Turkish which covers all by itself and its LCC pair). Different strategies for different state of the market presence and different business models. I like them both, at least at BEG both are super reliable airlines with great transfer options for different markets and segments.
I still prefer connecting through Vienna over Frankfurt or Munich. Much easier airport to transfer at.
ReplyDeletebut less options....
DeleteI don't find VIE particularly appealing. Just a very long corridor.
DeleteRather like Belgrade hahah
DeleteSwitching terminals in VIE with overcrowded bus is also not great. To me, MUC feels the most comfy
DeleteYeah a lot of bus gates in VIE and almost all ex-Yu flights are bus gates.
DeleteThe increases only start in January. I wonder if that's because bookings for November and December are softer.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if these schedules actually hold.
ReplyDeleteAgree. LH group often reduces ops closer to the planned date of operations.
DeleteThis probably means Austrian is seeing healthy connecting traffic on these routes.
ReplyDeleteHave they expanded their long haul network lately?
DeleteNo new destinations but they did add more frequencies to places like Shanghai, Bangkok and Cape Town. I guess they are profiting from the crisis in the Middle East.
DeleteWould love to know the average load factors on these routes.
ReplyDeletethe low yield expert wants to know?
DeleteWhat? I'm just wondering what the load factors are. Not yields
DeleteWow what a bitter comment Anon 10.50
DeleteGood news for frequent flyers collecting Miles & More points. More frequencies always mean more flexibility.
ReplyDeletePart of LH group's success is that they have integrated their flights and pricing so you may be flying out with Austrian via Vienna but flying in with Swiss via Zurich.
DeleteIs there are return to LJU also possible?
ReplyDeleteHighly unlikely. Would be nice though.
DeleteIf they still had Dash planes could be a possibility but now I doubt it.
DeleteNow let's see whether Lufthansa follows Austrian's lead or continues reducing regional capacity.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same company. Lufthansa's new strategy has been made to coordinate with its other companies, like Austrian.
DeleteI mean to coordinate schedules.
Deleteex-Yu markets are important for Austrian.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the best LH group airline.
ReplyDeleteSwiss is better
DeleteWeren't they using Braathens ATRs on many ex-Yu routes last winter?
ReplyDeleteFor the first part of winter. Then they discontinued the wet lease.
Delete