The Austrian Airlines fleet is aging slowly but surely. The average age could be pushed down significantly by the incorporation of brand-new Airbus A320neos. From circles of the Austrian airline it can be heard that the first two "Neos" are to be flown in this year.

Many Austrian Airlines aircraft are getting on in years. For example, the average age of the A320ceo sub-fleet is 17 years. With the machine type Airbus A321-100 one is one of the world's last operators. Accordingly, the three medium-haul jets are no longer the youngest at 26,1 years. The three A321-200s at least bring it to 22,4 years. On long-haul routes, the average age is 22,3 years (Boeing 767-300ER) and 21,1 years (Boeing 777-200). The youngest members of the AUA fleet are the 17 Embraer 195s, which have an average age of 10,4 years.

It is well known that Austrian Airlines needs to take action on both long and medium-haul routes in order to remain competitive. There are rumors about brand new additions almost at regular intervals. Sometimes it affects the Airbus fleet, sometimes the Boeing long-haul aircraft. In the summer of 2021, the rumor that Dreamliners would be brought into the fleet this year was relatively persistent. This was never officially confirmed by the AUA anyway and in the meantime the subject has become quiet again.

“Do not want to anticipate corporate decisions”

Now some Austrian Airlines employees want to know for sure that around August 1, 2022 and September 1, 2022, an Airbus A320neo is to be flown into the fleet. The machines should come from an existing Lufthansa order and be leased to AUA within the group. Sounds quite understandable, because after all, the Embraer regional jets are also leased within the group of companies.

Officially, Austrian Airlines does not want to comment on the latest A320neo rumor. Two spokeswomen for the carrier responded to a corresponding request from Aviation.Direct with "no comment". In the wording they wrote: "We cannot and do not want to anticipate corporate decisions and ask for your understanding that we will be happy to inform you about them at the given time". From this it can at least be deduced that it was or is being discussed within the Lufthansa Group.

The speed with which two media officers from Austrian Airlines responded with the same text is remarkable. It only lasted 12 or 13 minutes. Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, such quick statements by AUA corporate communications have not been common. The media office usually replies within a few hours on the same day, sometimes it can take longer. Such flash answers have become rare. This is also due to the fact that the entire company is still on short-time work and the capacity is therefore reduced.