A milestone in the history of Austrian Airlines: The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has landed in Vienna and is about to make its maiden flight. This marks the beginning of a new era for the airline as it prepares to modernize its fleet.
Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, announced in April last year that it would add ten Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its fleet. The move was part of a broader fleet renewal strategy as older models such as the Boeing 767 and 777 are gradually being phased out. Delivery of the first aircraft will now take place on time in 2024, as planned by the airline.
The new Dreamliner's first flight is scheduled for the next few days, just three days after its arrival in Vienna. The route leads from the home airport of Austrian Airlines to Frankfurt Airport, the hub of Lufthansa. This iconic flight will mark the start of a series of flights designed to demonstrate the performance and versatility of the new wide-body aircraft.
According to aviation analysis company Cirium, Austrian Airlines will already offer 50 flights with a total of 14.700 seats in the first month after the Dreamliner's arrival. These flights include destinations such as Berlin Brandenburg Airport and Marrakesh Menara Airport. The data also shows that the airline plans to significantly expand its Dreamliner flights throughout the year, also targeting long-haul destinations such as the United States.
An interesting fact is that the first aircraft delivered to Austrian is not brand new. The Boeing 787 with the registration OE-LPL is already 4,53 years old and was previously operated by Bamboo Airways. Nevertheless, after a thorough overhaul and adaptation to Austrian Airlines' standards, it will now form an important part of its fleet.
Austrian Airlines' Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is equipped with 294 seats in a three-cabin configuration, including 26 in Business Class, 21 in Premium Economy and 247 in Economy. Despite the aircraft's somewhat advanced years, it offers state-of-the-art amenities such as in-flight entertainment screens (IFE) that provide passengers with a first-class flying experience.
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