Austrian Airlines has presented its 2025 summer flight schedule, which includes 127 destinations and a variety of short, medium and long-haul flights. Particularly noteworthy are the numerous destinations in the Mediterranean region and the expanded offering to Northern Europe. But given the increasing competition from low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, the question arises as to whether Austrian Airlines' traditional offering will continue to be attractive to price-conscious customers.
With 105 short- and medium-haul destinations and up to 1.374 flights per week, Austrian Airlines stands out positively compared to other network providers. The focus on destinations such as Greece, Italy and Spain covers the typical holidaymaker's needs well. However, low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air have long since established similar or even more extensive offers from Vienna - often at significantly cheaper prices. Ryanair, for example, offers a wide portfolio of Mediterranean destinations, including many smaller airports that Austrian Airlines does not serve. Wizz Air also scores with connections to Eastern European destinations that are missing from the Austrian Airlines flight schedule.
The expansion of Austrian Airlines' offering to include destinations such as Edinburgh, Sylt and the Lofoten Islands has brought a breath of fresh air to the flight schedule. But competition remains tough here too. Ryanair also flies to Edinburgh and offers this at prices that are often well below Austrian Airlines' rates. For destinations such as Reykjavik or Tromsø, which appear to be exclusive destinations for Austrian Airlines, competitors currently have no direct alternative from Vienna - a possible advantage, but one that remains a niche.
Long-haul connections: classic destinations, limited innovation
With 18 long-haul destinations, including New York, Tokyo and Bangkok, Austrian Airlines has a solid offering. But here too it is clear that low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air are increasingly gaining a foothold in long-haul routes. While Wizz Air is concentrating on new markets such as Abu Dhabi, Austrian Airlines' routes remain predominantly traditional. Ryanair, on the other hand, is not yet focusing on long-haul routes, which could give Austrian Airlines an advantage in this segment - but only for travelers who are willing to pay the airline's higher prices.
The main point of criticism remains the price. While Austrian Airlines is known for its "premium services", such as checked baggage for a fee and on-board service for an additional charge, Ryanair and Wizz Air convince with cheaper fares and also extra costs for baggage, etc. Price-conscious travelers in particular, who can do without additional services, often do not choose the low-cost airlines. In addition, these are even more flexible thanks to additional connections from regional airports such as Bratislava.
claim and reality
With its 2025 summer flight schedule, Austrian Airlines is focusing on variety and a proven route network. The innovations in Northern Europe and the solid long-haul offering show the will to develop further. Nevertheless, the question remains whether the offering can withstand competition from low-cost airlines.
While Austrian Airlines continues to focus on quality, Ryanair and Wizz Air score points with a more aggressive price-performance ratio and a broader target group approach. For customers, this means a clear trade-off between comfort and cost, although seat pitch on short-haul flights is unlikely to be a deciding factor for a long time, as there are hardly any differences anymore.
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