Vienna-Hong Kong flights to commence in September

Austrian Airlines AG passenger aircraft sit on the tarmac at Vienna International Airport

Austrian Airlines will launch direct flights between Vienna and Hong Kong five times a week from September 5 onwards, a press release from the Austrian Trade Commission for Hong Kong, Macau and South China revealed, representing the latest addition in the airline’s expansion into East Asia.
Passengers can now be transported onto a new direct flight onboard a Boeing 777 that will travel between Hong Kong and Vienna five times a week.
“With 48 business class and 260 [economy] seats this will further increase the importance of Hong Kong as an Asia hub for Austrian companies in the region and will attract more Austrians to come to Asia’s world city, Hong Kong,” the statement read.
Hong Kong currently has more than 230 Austrian companies operating in the South China city, and is home to more than 750 Austrians. The Austrian Trade Commission commented that they expect a strong increase in tourism exchange between the destinations.
They also believe that, due to Vienna’s central location in Europe and Hong Kong’s strategic links to South East Asia, the route may become an important regional hub for the transfer of traffic.
“The flight between Vienna and Hong Kong is an important point-to-
point route but also for transfer traffic into the CEE [Central and Eastern Europe] region,” the statement said. “About two-thirds of passengers will transfer at the Vienna hub and continue their journeys, flying particularly to Western and Eastern European destinations.”
The announcement follows the airline’s decision six months ago to commence direct flights between Vienna and Shanghai, which are due to begin next month, in addition to their existing destination in the Chinese capital. Elsewhere in Asia,  Austrian Airlines already have flights to Bangkok, Tokyo, Astana, Malé and Colombo.
The airline is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and is a member of the Star Alliance.
The Times contacted the Austrian Trade Commission for Hong Kong, Macau and South China to ask if they will target Macau residents as customers for the new route, however the commission advised that the flight had only just been announced and they were unaware of any such intentions at present. DB