Aviation History
Austrian civil aviation began in 1923 with ÖLAG (Österreichische Luftverkehrs AG), which flew the country's first scheduled route between Vienna and Munich, but organized commercial aviation was interrupted for a decade after World War II while Austria was under Allied occupation and barred from operating an air carrier. Sovereignty over aviation returned with the 1955 State Treaty, and in 1957 two young carriers, Air Austria and Austrian Airways, merged to form modern Austrian Airlines, which began scheduled flights in 1958. The airline transitioned to an all-jet fleet in the 1960s-70s, launched long-haul service to New York in 1989, and joined the Star Alliance in 2000. Facing financial pressure, Austrian Airlines was acquired by Lufthansa Group in 2009 and has operated as part of that group since, with Vienna serving as a key hub linking Western Europe to Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
Österreichische Luftverkehrs AG (ÖLAG) was founded in 1923 and flew Austria's first scheduled route between Vienna and Munich.
The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 ended post-war restrictions and allowed Austria to re-establish an independent civil airline.
Air Austria and Austrian Airways merged in 1957 to form Austrian Airlines, the modern flag carrier.
Austrian Airlines began scheduled service in 1958 with a leased Vickers Viscount on the Vienna-Zurich-London route.
Austrian Airlines ordered its first jet, a Sud Aviation Caravelle, in 1963, beginning its transition to an all-jet fleet by the early 1970s.
Austrian Airlines launched long-haul service to New York-JFK in 1989 using the Airbus A310.
Austrian Airlines joined the Star Alliance in 2000, expanding its global network through partner airlines.
Lufthansa completed its acquisition of Austrian Airlines in 2009 following European Commission approval, ending the carrier's independence.
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General aviation-history sources (Wikipedia, airline corporate histories); Austrian Airlines' current fleet and route network reflect its status as a Lufthansa Group subsidiary and may change with group strategy.