Despite an expected negative result in the first quarter of 2025, Austrian Airlines is optimistic about the upcoming summer months. With targeted investments in technology, service, and brand identity, the airline is preparing for an intensive travel season.
In the traditionally weak first quarter, Austrian Airlines recorded an adjusted EBIT of minus 111 million euros. This represents an improvement over the previous year's figure of minus 122 million euros. Revenue increased by 14 percent to 458 million euros, while total revenues increased by 15 percent to 477 million euros. Operating expenses increased by 9 percent to 588 million euros. The number of employees remained virtually constant at around 6.200.
At 2,5 million passengers, the number of passengers remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous year. Available seat kilometers increased by 10 percent to 5,7 billion, while load factor decreased by 3,1 percentage points to 73,9 percent. The number of flights increased by 9 percent to 24.246.
Technological innovation: Introduction of “shark skin” technology
A significant technical advance was the equipping of four Boeing 777-200ERs with the so-called "sharkskin" technology. This special surface coating, developed in collaboration with Lufthansa Technik and the industry, reduces drag and leads to fuel savings of approximately one percent per flight. Overall, Austrian Airlines expects to save several thousand tons of fuel in the coming years. This measure is primarily aimed at operational efficiency and technical modernization.
After extensive repairs, an Airbus A320neo, which was damaged by an unintentional landing gear incident on the ground last year, returned to flight operations at the end of March 2025. The repairs were carried out in close cooperation with Airbus and the technical specialists of Austrian Technik, underscoring the airline's technical expertise.
Brand management: Cooperation with cultural institutions
Austrian Airlines strengthened its brand identity through collaborations with renowned Austrian institutions. A Boeing 787-9 was named "Spanish Riding School," and the airline sponsored a twelve-year-old Lipizzaner stallion named Favory Wera. Furthermore, special liveries were implemented for the World Expo 2025 and the bicentenary of the birth of composer Johann Strauss. The latter features a stylized silhouette of the musician on the fuselage of a Boeing 777-200.
For the 2025 summer season, Austrian Airlines plans to add several new destinations, including Edinburgh, Sylt, the Lofoten Islands, and Burgas. This expansion of the route network is intended to open up new attractive options for travelers and strengthen the airline's positioning in the intra-European market.
Service offensive: Use of Austrian Travel Assistants
To improve service during peak travel season, Austrian Airlines is once again relying on its so-called Austrian Travel Assistants. These assist passengers at Vienna Airport with check-in, transit, and boarding. Their duties also include looking after unaccompanied children and assisting with baggage problems.
During the Easter week, Austrian Airlines achieved a punctuality rate of 87 percent and a flight completion rate of 99,8 percent. These figures are considered a positive signal for the upcoming summer season and demonstrate that the airline is capable of ensuring stable operations despite high capacity utilization.
Outlook: Confidence for the coming months
Despite the challenges of the first quarter, Austrian Airlines is looking ahead to the coming months with confidence. Managing Director Annette Mann emphasizes the increased customer satisfaction and punctuality and believes the airline is well prepared for the busy travel season. The desire to travel remains strong among the population, and Austrian Airlines aims to be among Europe's most punctual airlines again in 2025.
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