The previous General Director of Austrian Airlines, Alexis von Hoensbroech, is leaving the company with immediate effect. According to a press release, he will take over the executive chair at the Canadian Westjet. As early as the summer of 2021 there were rumors that the Lufthansa-born manager will leave or is looking for a new challenge.

Alexis von Hoensbroech apparently found what he was looking for in North America and has therefore already left Austrian Airlines. Bye with Ü to the AUA, which invented the term “Austria's home carrier” under his leadership. The agendas will be temporarily taken over by CCO Michael Trestl and COO Francesco Sciortino.

“I look back with great gratitude on the last three and a half years, during which I have been able to work with a lot of passion and a great team for the future of our Austrian Airlines. I am very proud that we found a way through the existential crisis we slipped into as a result of the pandemic. My special thanks go to the employees of Austrian Airlines, without whose commitment and solidarity we would never have come this far. For me personally, it is now time to break new ground and take on an entrepreneurial role outside the Lufthansa Group, ”says outgoing CEO / CFO Alexis von Hoensbroech.

“With Alexis von Hoensbroech, a highly valued business partner is leaving Vienna Airport. As CEO of Austria's home carrier, he was a long-term and reliable partner for Vienna Airport, whose commitment made a significant contribution to securing Austrian Airlines in the corona crisis. He made a very important contribution to the further development of Austria as a location for aviation, promoted the Vienna Airport hub and established it well in the Lufthansa group. We very much regret his departure, but we wish him all the best for the future and his new challenge and thank him very much for the cooperation that has always been based on partnership and appreciation, ”say the board members of Flughafen Wien AG, Julian Jäger and Günther Ofner.

The switch to the low-cost Westjet can certainly be seen as a little ironic, because Alexis von Hoensbroech, in his role as AUA General Director, has rarely missed an opportunity to rail against “the low-cost airlines”. Now he changes himself to a provider against whose "category" he previously rumbled.

For the first time a lady at the helm of the AUA

Austrian Airlines is expected to have a female General Director in March 2022 for the first time in the company's long history. Annette Mann will then - subject to the formal approval of the Supervisory Board - head the Lufthansa subsidiary. Mann is currently Head of Corporate Responsibility at Kranich.

“In Annette Mann, the Lufthansa Group Executive Board has nominated an experienced top manager for the position of CEO of Austrian Airlines. Thanks to her many years of experience and the successful management of many group-wide projects, Annette Mann has a broad knowledge and a strong network. In her current role as Head of Corporate Responsibility, in particular, Annette Mann is responsible for one of the most important future topics for our group and proves every day that she can master the challenges of our time, ”said Christina Foerster, chairwoman of the supervisory board.

Numerous changes within the Lufthansa Group

The departure of Alexis von Hoensbroech triggered a whole series of changes in management within the Lufthansa Group. The former AUA board member and current COO of Eurowings, Jens Ritter, will be the new CEO of Lufthansa Airlines. He succeeds the former Tyrolean boss Klaus Froese, who will fly as captain on the Boeing 787 in the future.

Dietmar Focke, currently Head of Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, will join the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo and will be responsible for Operations and Human Resources from March 1, 2022. He succeeds Harald Gloy, who is leaving the company at his own request.

Jörg Beißel, Head of Corporate Controlling at the Lufthansa Group, will take over the position of CFO of Lufthansa Airlines from April 1, 2022. He succeeds Patrick Staudacher who, at his own request, does not extend his contract with Lufthansa and leaves the company at the end of April. Frank Bauer, Member of the Management Board for Finance and Human Resources at Eurowings, will be responsible for Corporate Controlling at the Lufthansa Group from April 1, 2022.

Kai Duve will take over the areas of personnel and finance in the Eurowings management team on February 1, 2022. Kai Duve is currently head of the Frankfurt cabin crews division at Lufthansa Airlines. Kai Duve will also be succeeded on February 1, 2022 by Benedikt Schneider, currently responsible for the Executive Office of the Human Resources and Legal Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

Wilken Bormann, currently Head of Lufthansa Group Finance, will take over responsibility for finances and personnel * on March 1, 2022 on the Executive Board of the LSG Group. He succeeds Dr. Kristin Neumann, who is leaving the company at her own request.

“Filling these top management positions is another important step in our transformation. We are continuing our course at an undiminished pace and are consolidating our position among the world's leading airline groups. I am pleased and confirms our successful personnel and management development that we were able to fill all positions from within the Lufthansa Group, ”said CEO Carsten Spohr.

Partial vaccination compulsory for flight personnel

The long-haul crews of Austrian Airlines must be vaccinated against Covid-2022 from the beginning of 19. The board of directors issues an in-house vaccination obligation in this regard, reports the news magazine "Profil". The company confirms the reporting.

For flight attendants, however, there should be the possibility that they can switch to the short haul. This is not possible with pilots unless they have a suitable type rating. Austrian Airlines is taking this step due to the tightening of entry and quarantine regulations around the world. More and more countries are making full vaccination against Covid-19 a basic requirement for flight, ship and train crews as well as for truck and bus drivers.

In view of the fact that the Austrian government is planning to introduce a general vaccination requirement for the population from February 2022, the decision of Austrian Airlines is likely to be symbolic, as the law governs internal company decisions. Nevertheless, Austrian Airlines is sending out a signal, because 90 percent of its flight employees have so far been vaccinated.