Contrary to previous announcements, Lauda Europe will operate 12 Airbus A320 aircraft from Vienna-Schwechat for its sister company Ryanair DAC in this year's high season. Company boss David O'Brien originally assumed that the presence in Vienna would be significantly smaller due to a lack of demand and high airport charges.

David O'Brien confirmed in an interview with Aviation Direct that the current planning status after 21 and 29 Airbus A320s will be in the air in midsummer. 12 of them will fly from Vienna-Schwechat. Five A320s will be in service from Palma de Mallorca. The remaining machines will be stationed in Zagreb and Zadar.

Ryanair will have a total of 15 aircraft at Austria's capital city airport. In addition to the 12 Lauda Europe A320s, there are also three Boeing 737-800s operated by the Polish sister company Buzz. The sister company Malta Air will serve a few rounds from France, Italy and Malta, among others.

When asked about the introduction of their own livery at Buzz and Malta Air, David O'Brien told Aviation Direct that not all Boeing 737 Max 200s that the two Ryanair subsidiaries will receive will be painted in the new livery. Both Buzz and Malta Air will only have a few machines in their own livery. The vast majority are said to continue to wear Ryanair's colors. When asked about the reason for their own livery, the Malta Air and Lauda Europe managing director said that it is important that the group airlines get their own identities and that this would then be an advantage when acquiring charter orders.

In the future, Lauda Europe will not only provide internal wet-lease services for Ryanair DAC, but will also develop an additional pillar in the full charter area. It is therefore also clear that the Ryanair Group is increasingly dashing into business with tour operators, but not under the main brand. With the exception of Poland, full charters have not played a significant role so far. David O'Brien did not give details of possible clients.