Austrian Airlines, one of the leading players operating on the Romanian airline market, witnessed a 26.5% increase in passenger numbers in the first five months of this year for its flights to and from Romania, against the same period last year.
The company also saw a 20% increase in business during the January-May period on the domestic market.
"The increase was generated by a rise in overall ticket sales, as well as by an increase in the sales of business class tickets. We preserved our 7% market share and also expect to maintain our sales level, taking into consideration the fact that the market is currently growing," said Vystopil Heinrich, the company's regional manager for Romania and Moldova.
Austrian Airlines' occupancy rate for flights to and from Romania stood at around 70% in the first half of 2007 and reached a level of 80% on some routes. The company's most profitable routes on the domestic market are Bucharest-Vienna, Iasi-Vienna and Sibiu-Vienna. The Sibiu-Vienna and Iasi-Vienna routes were introduced last year and both registered high occupancy rates from the outset.
In the second half of the year, the company aims to preserve the occupancy rate registered in the first half of the year, through means of promotional offers, as well as by reintroducing in-flight meals for economy class passengers.
Austrian Airlines operates 56 flights a week to Vienna, from various cities in Romania. Out of all the international airline operators in Romania, Austrian Airlines has the broadest coverage; including five Romanian cities on its list of departures- Bucharest, Timisoara, Cluj (in collaboration with Tarom) and also Sibiu and Iasi.
Vienna's airport terminal is also a hub of activity for flights to the USA. However, in competition, Delta Air Lines have recently entered the market by launching direct flights from Bucharest to New York, but company officials insist this has not affected Austrian Airlines transatlantic flights to the USA.
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