Austrian Airlines Extends Summer Schedule with 100 Flights, Boosts Tropical Winter Routes

If you're already missing the summer sun and aren't quite ready to face the impending winter chill, Austrian Airlines has some fantastic news for your travel plans. Just in time for the autumn school holidays, the Lufthansa subsidiary announced it is significantly expanding its schedule with approximately 100 additional flights.

In response to a surge in demand for late-October getaways, Austrian Airlines is keeping the dream of a warm-weather escape alive by extending several routes that typically end with the summer flight schedule.

Here is everything you need to know about Austrian Airlines’ latest schedule updates.

Chasing the Sun: Extended Summer Routes

For travelers hoping to squeeze in one last beach trip, Austrian Airlines is maintaining connections to several beloved southern European destinations well into the autumn season.

Instead of wrapping up these routes as usual, the airline is continuing flights to:

• Ibiza, Spain
• Fuerteventura, Spain
• Funchal, Madeira (Portugal)
• Olbia, Sardinia (Italy)
• Heraklion, Crete (Greece)

In addition to keeping these summer hotspots accessible, Austrian is also bumping up the frequency of its flights to other sunny staples, including Palma de Mallorca, Larnaca (Cyprus), Rome, Naples, and Nice. Whether you are after a relaxing island retreat or a Mediterranean city break, the extended schedule offers plenty of flexibility.

Winter Long-Haul Pivot: Asia and the Indian Ocean

As the official winter flight schedule kicks in at the end of October, Austrian Airlines is shifting its heavy-duty operational focus toward warmer, long-haul destinations across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

If a tropical winter escape is on your radar, you'll have more options than ever:

• The Maldives & Mauritius: Flights to Malé and Mauritius will gradually ramp up to seven times a week. During the peak February semester break, this will increase to an impressive ten weekly connections.
• An Equipment Upgrade: Starting in mid-January, passengers flying to Mauritius will get to experience the route on a modern Boeing 787-9 long-haul aircraft.
• Thailand Bound: If you are heading to Southeast Asia, the Bangkok route will see a massive boost, offering up to two daily flights throughout January and February.

Adjustments to the North Atlantic Network

To make room for the extra capacity needed for these popular Asian and Indian Ocean routes, Austrian Airlines is temporarily reshuffling its North Atlantic schedule.

During January and February—typically a slower season for transatlantic travel—the airline will temporarily suspend select flights to Chicago, Boston, and New York (JFK). However, if you need to travel to North America during this window, flights to Newark, Washington, D.C., and Montreal will continue to operate completely uninterrupted.

European City Hops Remain Steady

For business travelers and weekend city-hoppers, rest assured that Austrian’s core European network remains rock solid. Key winter flight connections to major hubs like London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin will operate without any changes.

Whether you want to catch the tail end of the Mediterranean summer or plan a tropical February escape, Austrian Airlines' expanded schedule makes it easier than ever to avoid the winter blues.

Where are you planning to fly this autumn? Let us know in the comments below!

Austrian Airlines Takes Off with Starlink: A New Era of In-Flight Connectivity

Aviation fans and business travelers, rejoice! The era of slow, unreliable in-flight internet is steadily coming to an end. Austrian Airlines has officially entered the next generation of connectivity, operating its first-ever flight equipped with SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet.

The inaugural Starlink-equipped flight took to the skies on September 7, 2026, with an Airbus A320neo (registration OE-LXF) flying passengers from Vienna to Porto. This milestone marks a major step forward for the carrier and sets a new baseline for what we can expect from European air travel.

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Why Starlink is a Game-Changer

Historically, in-flight Wi-Fi has been one of the most frustrating amenities in the sky, relying on geostationary satellites that cause high latency. Starlink changes the equation completely. By using a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites sitting just 550 kilometers above the earth, the signal time is drastically reduced.

What passengers can expect:

• Blazing Speeds: Typical download speeds range from 100 to 300 Mbps. During testing, peak speeds even topped 450 Mbps!
• Low Latency: With latency reported at under 99 milliseconds, real-time video calls, streaming, and cloud-based work are now genuinely possible.

Free Connectivity for Members

Perhaps the most exciting news for travelers is the pricing model. Austrian Airlines is treating high-speed internet as a standard amenity rather than a premium upsell. The Starlink Wi-Fi service is completely free of charge in all travel classes for passengers who are Miles & More members or who register for a free Travel ID account.

The Rollout Plan

While the Vienna-Porto route was the first, it certainly won't be the last. Austrian Airlines has set a near-term goal to equip 20 aircraft—spanning both the A320 family and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet—by the end of the 2026/27 winter schedule.

This is all part of a massive, group-wide initiative by the Lufthansa Group, which plans to roll out Starlink technology across approximately 850 aircraft by the year 2029.

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Lufthansa Group Is Heading Back to Dubai: Flights Resume Late October 2026

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Great news for travelers looking to escape to the sun-soaked luxury of the UAE! Following a period of suspended services, the Lufthansa Group has officially announced that its airlines will gradually resume flight connections to Dubai, starting at the end of October 2026.

Whether you’re a business traveler with meetings in the financial district or a leisure seeker craving winter sunshine and world-class shopping, this update brings a much-needed boost to Middle Eastern travel options.

📅 The Flight Plan: What You Need to Know

Here are the key details of the resumption:

• When does it start? The gradual roll-out of resumed services kicks off in late October 2026.
• How often will they fly? Once peak operations are reached, airlines under the Lufthansa Group umbrella will offer up to 36 weekly flights to and from Dubai.
• Who is flying? While the group includes carriers like Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines, the combined network will give passengers more routing options across Europe into the UAE.

🌍 Why This Matters

The return of the Lufthansa Group to Dubai is a significant milestone for connectivity. According to the airline group, this gradual resumption is designed to strengthen their presence in the Middle East while "significantly expanding travel options for both business and leisure customers".

For European travelers, it means more competitive fares, better schedule flexibility, and the return of premium cabin options on a major legacy carrier. For Dubai, it’s yet another strong indicator of a bustling winter tourism season ahead.

🧳 Ready to Pack Your Bags?

With the end of October just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your winter getaway. From the towering Burj Khalifa to the sprawling desert dunes, Dubai is ready to welcome you back—and soon, Lufthansa Group will be ready to take you there.

The New Personalized Premium Menu Plan From The Lufthansa Group Allows You To Pre-Order Your Meals And Drinks

What food options are available on my flight, and which meal would I like to pre-order? What drinks would I like? How can I ensure that I will receive my favorite meal?

Due to the Lufthansa Group's new “Culinary Journey,” guests flying with Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian Airlines, will find it even easier to pre-order and enjoy their favorite meals and snacks. The “Culinary Journey” bundles all food and beverage offerings for the entire flight experience, regardless of whether guests are flying with one or more Group Airlines on their trip. It includes the digital menu, pre-order options, and a feedback function. The offerings vary depending on the airline and travel class.

Premium in all travel classes

Customers can access the new offer either directly via the Lufthansa Group app, the website, or via a link in the information email sent before departure. The appropriate culinary selection is automatically provided for each guest based on their booking. Whether it's a short-haul flight in Economy Class or a long-haul flight in First Class, the “Culinary Journey” offers a tailor-made experience in all travel classes.

Guests also benefit from this new offer if they have a connecting flight and are flying with more than one Lufthansa Group airline. For example, a guest who has booked a trip with several flights can travel with Austrian Airlines from Vienna to Frankfurt and from there with Lufthansa to New York – and select their meals and drinks in advance for both flights via the “Culinary Journey.”

Tailor-made cuisine on every flight

“For the first time, customers flying with Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines can see all their food and beverage options for their flight at a glance - even on connecting flights with different airlines,” explained Caroline Drischel, Senior Vice President Customer Journey for the Group. “The ‘Culinary Journey’ makes the comprehensive range of services offered by the Lufthansa Group, which we represent with our premium airlines, even more consistent and enjoyable for our customers than ever before.”

More choice and guaranteed favorite dishes

Additionally, customers often benefit from an expanded range of meals that may not be available later on board. For example, passengers on long-haul flights can choose from up to nine main courses, including exclusive creations prepared especially for users of the new service. The “Culinary Journey” also gives travelers the certainty that they will always receive exactly the meal they want.

On shorter flights, guests can choose from a range of tasty buy-on-board products such as sandwiches, bowls, salads or cakes. These guests also benefit from an exclusive 10 percent discount. Pre-orders enable better planning for flight catering, which helps reduce food surpluses.

The offer also includes a direct option for providing feedback and preferences so that customer opinions can be incorporated into the further development of the “Culinary Journey.”

New Non-Schengen Austrian Lounge Space In Vienna

Austrian Airlines has opened its new lounge area at the G-Gates in the non-Schengen zone at Vienna Airport on Level 3. The new lounge area offers premium service, culinary delights and privacy for guests, along with a fresh design concept. The space is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Until the planned completion of the South Terminal extension in 2027, non-Schengen guests will now be warmly welcomed in close proximity to the former G01 and G03 gates. This is an ideal location during the major construction phase, allowing guests to reach their gates even more quickly and, thanks to its elevated position, have a direct view of the airfield and the large construction site. After completion, the Austrian Lounges at Vienna Airport will be relocated to a new, central and significantly larger area. “I am delighted that we will be able to offer our non-Schengen guests an attractive lounge experience with this newly designed area until the completion of the South Terminal extension in 2027,” said Austrian Airlines CCO, Dr Michael Trestl.

Coziness and Austrian hospitality for the best lounge experience

Natural, high-quality materials in rich, earthy colors dominate the new lounge concept. The furniture impresses with modern interpretations of classics such as the Austrian design Thonet armchairs with elements in Austrian red and cozy Ovale single chairs for extra privacy, undisturbed work or simply for relaxing. Soft carpets and a sophisticated lighting concept in the various zones complete the feel-good character of the lounge - always in reference to the diverse landscapes and cultural identity of Austria.

The lounge experience is now complemented by a serviced coffee house area with coffee and cakes, in addition to the existing food offering, to complete the Austrian culinary experience. The new lounge offers space for up to 180 guests, and HON Circle members will continue to have an exclusive area within the space with their own service. Automated access control to a lounge (incl. an accompanying person) is now being introduced for the first time at Austrian, and the use of ‘Star Alliance Biometrics Entrance’ will also be possible in the future.

On average, 800 guests visit the lounges in the non-Schengen area every day. Austrian Airlines’ Brand Management & Customer Experience department is responsible for the new lounge concept, and the Viennese architecture and interior design studio Archisphere has been engaged as architects.

Lufthansa Strike: Special Flight Schedule In Effect For Friday November 25th

Yesterday evening, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union announced another extension of the strike that has been ongoing since Wednesday.

Tomorrow, Friday, 25 November, all Lufthansa flights within Germany and Europe will be affected. A special flight schedule is in effect for tomorrow.

On Friday, 2,170 of the Lufthansa Group’s approximately 3,000 scheduled flights will be operating as planned. Tomorrow, on the third consecutive day of strikes, over 100,000 passengers will be affected due to the cancellations of 830 short- and medium-haul flights. Long-haul flights will be operating almost as scheduled, although there may be occasional cancellations of these flights resulting from the strikes on the previous days. In total, over 315,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellation of 2,618 flights.

Lufthansa is calling on the pilots’ union once more to develop a joint solution for the dispute through arbitration. Harry Hohmeister, Chief Officer Hub Management of Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “The status quo is that we pay our pilots significantly more than our competitors do. As members of the executive board, we are responsible for more than 120,000 employees and want to keep Lufthansa viable for the future. That will not be possible with a demand for a 20 percent increase in pay.”

The Group airlines Eurowings, Germanwings, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines are not affected by the strike. The pilots of Lufthansa Cargo have also not been called on to strike. Flights to and from Germany that are operated by Group airlines are proceeding as scheduled. Austrian Airlines and SWISS have also increased their capacity on flights to Germany by using larger aircraft for the time being.

Customers whose flights have been cancelled due to the strike have the one-time option to transfer or cancel their booking free of charge. In addition to this, all passengers with tickets for flights travelling to, from or through Germany by tomorrow have the one-time option to transfer their booking at no cost. For routes within Germany, there is also the option to exchange the flight ticket for a Deutsche Bahn voucher. On LH.com, passengers can find additional information under “Aktuelle Fluginformationen” (current travel information).

Lufthansa is doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of the strike on its guests. Thousands of hotel rooms have been booked in the Rhine-Main and Munich areas. For passengers who cannot enter Germany due to visa restrictions, Lufthansa has set up folding cots in cooperation with Fraport. Employees are providing passengers in the terminals who have been affected by the strike with beverages, snacks and telecommunication options. Lufthansa is notifying all passengers that have provided contact information in their customer profiles of any cancellations by e-mail or SMS.

Lufthansa is asking all its customers to take precaution by checking the status of their flight on LH.com before travelling to the airport. Customers in Germany can also call our free hotline at 0800 850 60 70 for information (free from German landlines).

Austrian Airlines Announces Flight Service From Los Angeles To Vienna

• Austrian Airlines flies from the west coast for the first time
• Up to six direct flights per week on a Boeing 777 from Los Angeles to Vienna starting April 10, 2017
• As of summer 2017: up to 44 weekly flights from North America with Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines will add a new long-haul destination in North America to its flight schedule in the summer of 2017. Starting on April 10, 2017, a Boeing 777 will take off to Vienna from Los Angeles, up to six times a week. 

“After Chicago, Newark and Miami, Los Angeles is now the fourth new flight destination and the so far biggest leap into the USA. We will fly to the West Coast with our existing fleet and are already very excited about this new venture,” said Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto. Initially, the Los Angeles-Vienna route will be served seasonally in the summer 2017 flight schedule. 

Angelenos will particularly enjoy the direct access to Vienna on the country’s home air carrier. One of the great European capitals, Vienna was the stomping ground for the Habsburg rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries. The empire is long gone, but reminders have been preserved by the Viennese. Past artistic glories thrive due to the cultural legacy of the artistic geniuses nourished in this city—including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, and Gustav Klimt. Today's visitors discover a city with a special grace and a cohesive architectural character that sets it so memorably apart from other European cities. Austria, at large, is a country that has not forgotten the elegance of a time gone by.

Those traveling from Los Angeles will also be able to easily embark on onward flights to other destinations. In fact, about two-thirds of passengers will transfer flights at the Vienna hub.

In its summer 2017 flight schedule, Austrian Airlines will offer a total of up to 44 weekly non-stop flights from North America. This will include up to five times per week from Miami, a maximum of six weekly flights from both Los Angeles and Toronto, and up to one flight a day from Washington and Chicago. Austrian Airlines will continue to offer thirteen weekly flights from New York. However, flight times from New York JFK will be adjusted as of March 27, 2017. Of the six weekly flights from New York, four of the departures will be shifted (see schedule enclosed).

Flight Times from New York JFK to Vienna till March, 26, 2017:

Route	Flight number	Flight days	Departure – Arrival (local times)
New York JFK – Vienna	OS 088	varies; up to daily	5:40 p.m. – 8:20 a.m. (next day)
Vienna – New York JFK	OS 087	varies; up to daily	10:45 a.m.- 2:45 p.m.

NEW: Flight Times from New York JFK from March, 27, 2017:

Route	Flight number	Flight days	Departure – Arrival (local times)
New York JFK – Vienna	OS 088	Tuesdays, Thursday	5:40 p.m. – 8:20 a.m. (next day)
	OS 086	Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays	NEW: 10:05 p.m. - 12:20 p.m. (next day)
Vienna – New York JFK	OS 087	Tuesdays, Thursday	10:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
	OS 085	Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays	NEW: 5:10 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.

Austrian Airlines will operate a Boeing 777 from Los Angeles:

Route	Flight number	Flight days	Departure – Arrival (local times)
Los Angeles – Vienna	OS 082	Daily except Sundays	3:05 p.m. – 12 p.m. (next day)
Vienna – Los Angeles	OS 081	Daily except Sundays	10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Lufthansa Group flight offerings from Los Angeles, starting with the summer 2017 flight schedule:

Route	Flight number	Flight days	Departure – Arrival (local times)
Los Angeles – Frankfurt	LH 457 LH 451	Daily Daily	3:25 p.m. - 11:20 a.m. (next day) 7:15 p.m. – 3 p.m. (next day)
Frankfurt – Los Angeles	LH 456 LH 450	Daily Daily	10:15 a.m. - 12:55 p.m. 2:05 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Los Angeles – Munich	LH 453	Daily	5:05 p.m. – 1:30 p.-m. (next day)
Munich – Los Angeles	LH 452	Daily	12 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Los Angeles – Zürich	LX 041	Daily	7:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. (next day)
Zürich – Los Angeles	LX 040	Daily	1:15 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Austrian Airlines Begins Nonstop Service From Miami To Vienna

  

·         Inaugural flight departs today from Miami

·         Five weekly flights from Miami to Vienna

·         Austrian Star Alliance Terminal in Vienna: Short transfer times to 81 European destinations     

·         Chefs and authentic Viennese coffee house service on board

Austrian Airlines begins its new, nonstop service from Miami, Florida to Vienna, Austria. The airline will operate five weekly, nonstop flights, with a Boeing 777 aircraft, from Miami to Vienna. Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Andreas Otto, personally greeted the passengers today on the occasion of the initial flight from Vienna to Miami, thus formally inaugurating this route: “The addition of Miami shows that we are significantly expanding our service from North America, and now offer a total of 27 weekly flights from six destinations in the USA and Canada in our winter flight schedule,” said Andreas Otto.

Austrian Star Alliance Terminal in Vienna: Short transfer times

Thanks to its central geographical location at the heart of Europe, the Austrian hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. The airport’s minimum transfer time of 25 minutes is unique among the world’s hubs and is of special value to the passengers transferring with Austrian to 81 European destinations.

Chefs and original Viennese coffee house service on board

Business Class passengers on Austrian long-haul flights can indulge in gourmet menus created by Austrian and international chefs, and subsequently refined à la minute by a professional chef on board. Austrian also offers the first ‘Viennese coffee house’ above the clouds by serving a selection of Vienna’s ten most popular, specialty coffees, ranging from the Großer Brauner and ever-popular Wiener Melange, to specialties such as the Wiener Fiaker. Austrian Airlines is the only airline in the world to provide this unique service.

In addition to Miami, Austrian Airlines offers eight flights per week from the New York Metropolitan Area, non-stop to Vienna, in the current winter flight schedule. This includes four weekly flights each, from New York JFK and Newark, with a Boeing 767 aircraft. Moreover, Austrian Airlines offers five flights each week from Washington, DC with a Boeing 767, up to five weekly flights from Chicago and four from Toronto to the Austrian capital.

Flight service from Miami is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Austrian Airlines will fly to Miami throughout the entire year. The flight duration from Miami to Vienna, a distance of 8,400 kilometers, is approximately 9 hrs 45 minutes. Flights can be booked at www.austrian.com, by telephone at +1-800-843-0002 or in a travel agency.     

route	flight number	flight days	departure – arrival (local time)
Miami – Vienna	OS098	Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	17:00 – 08:45 (+1)
Vienna – Miami	OS097	Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays	09:55 – 15:20