Austrian Airlines to Expand Dubai Service

Austrian Airlines is to begin operating twice-daily direct connections to Dubai this Autumn. Austrian currently offers one daily direct flight to Dubai, which operates using a Boeing 737 with 16 fixed Business Class comfort seats.

From 29 September, the departure time will be changed and an Airbus A320 featuring the new Premium Service concept deployed on the night flight. In the Business Class section, the new aircraft will be fitted with 24 Business Sleeper Seats made by Recaro.

From 13 November, a new daytime flight to Dubai will enter service. This will operate until 15 March 2009 using a Boeing 737-800. From 16 March 2009, this flight will operate using a converted Airbus A320.

Chief Executive Officer Alfred Ötsch said, "These new flight times will give our passengers still more flexibility and let them benefit from better connecting flights – something especially important for our transfer passengers from Western and Eastern Europe and Dubai. In this way, we are increasing our daily seating capacity from 158 seats at present to up to 252 seats. For Business Class passengers, up to 48 Business Sleeper Seats will be available per day in each direction. This is particularly important if we are to meet all the requirements of business passengers."

According to the Premium Service concept, Business Class passengers will enjoy 116 cm of legroom, electrically adjustable back- and footrests and an integrated massage function from September 2008 onwards. A PC connection built into the chair, personal reading light and privacy screen round off the extra fittings that passengers have already learnt to value so highly. A wide choice of magazines and newspapers and a varied fly & buy in-flight sales range will also help to ensure an entertaining journey experience. A small Austrian coffee menu featuring typical traditional Viennese coffee house culture rounds off the Premium Service concept in Business Class.

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