It seems Austrian Airlines can’t hack the Vienna to Dubai market, with the airline pulling its service between the two cities from the 13th September 2015 (returning 14th September).
An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 at Zurich (Alas, I have no file images of an Austrian Boeing 767-300ER). Image, Economy Class and Beyond
Austrian Airlines cite overcapacity on the route as a reason to pull the route.
Emirates contested – and won the route between Vienna and Dubai with over 800 seats a day between the two cities. Along with downward price pressure, this sharpened the axe for the route.
The loss of the Boeing 767 will loose around 200 seats a day.
Passengers will need to route through either Zurich or Frankfurt if they wish to stay on Lufthansa group airlines. People hunting the lower cost fares will have to hang on until December when Eurowings starts its Dubai Route.
Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto states:
“Unfortunately, the Vienna-Dubai route has become unsustainable for us. The capacities which will become available will be deployed for attractive, new destinations, such as Miami, Mauritius and Colombo in Sri Lanka starting in October”
Instead, Austrian Airlines will concentrate its efforts on its upcoming Miami, Colombo and Mauritius routes.
Whilst its sad to see a route being pulled, economics is the name of the game in aviation these days. If an airline can make money elsewhere, it should try to.
Sadly, the competition between Vienna and Dubai is to dry up, with Emirates taking the crown.
And I doubt this is the last time Emirates will win such a battle.
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