Austrian’s Star Alliance Terminal is put into operation

• Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and Star Alliance partners all in one building
• Quick and easy from check-in to boarding
• Great quality of traveling for passengers
• Milestone in Austrian air transport

Toronto, ON, May 3, 2012 – The new Austrian Star Alliance Terminal at Vienna Airport was commissioned today. The new terminal started operations by welcoming Austrian flight OS 9542, which arrived punctually at 4:33 a.m from Hurghada with 62 passengers onboard. This was accompanied by the launching of flights operated by Austrian Airlines and its Star Alliance partners in the new Austrian Star Alliance Terminal Check-in three. “This is a milestone in Austrian air transport,” explained Austrian CEO Jaan Albrecht. “Its minimum transfer time of 25 minutes and its new and modern image have returned Vienna Airport to being a competitive hub in Europe. This strengthens the role played by Vienna International Airport in the Lufthansa Group and enhances its role of being an important international hub for Star Alliance.“

The new terminal, which is 1,614,587 square feet in size, offers passengers a new and better quality of travel. The new Star Alliance Terminal is staffed by 690 Austrian employees who ensure convenient and enjoyable travel. The terminal’s modern architecture offers a pleasing atmosphere with sunlight-washed spaces and generously-apportioned views throughout the terminal of aircraft standing on the apron outside. The terminal also has a large number of shops and restaurants.

Short times of transfer: important to transit passengers

The new terminal features short and comfortable transfer routes. The airport’s minimum time of transfer of 25 minutes is unique among the world’s hubs, and is of special value to the passengers transferring at Vienna Airport. Austrian Airlines has a 58 percent share of such transfer travelers. “For only one third of Austrian’s passengers, Vienna is the final destination. The rest of the passengers use Vienna as their transfer hub. These passengers are the ones that especially profit from the short transfer times found in Vienna, as they speed up their arrivals at the 130 destinations forming the network maintained by Austrian Airlines,” explains Austrian CEO Jaan Albrecht. The short times are the product of the 3-story approach, in which transit passengers make their ways between floors and not, as is the case in many other airports, among terminals.

Carriers of the Star Alliance in one building

The terminal is a Star Alliance hub and thus it has a special role to play. The new Austrian Star Alliance terminal is home to Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and their partners in the Star Alliance. These memberships enable all passengers traveling on the world-spanning network maintained by the Star Alliance to also make use of the short times of transfer found in Vienna.

Check-in area

The passengers’ trips begin in the check-in area located on the first floor. The area is comprised of four check-in islands, one ticket area, 69 check-in counters and 38 self check-in terminals. A separate check-in island has been set up for Miles&More customers bearing HON or Senator status and for business class travelers. Special-needs passengers, such as those in wheelchairs or unaccompanied minors, receive personal attention in a waiting and check-in area reserved especially for them. A dedicated ticket island has been created to meet the needs of travelers reserving or rebooking flights, or picking up tickets. The terminal’s large-sized windows provide unique views of the apron and of the aircraft on it.

In-gate area shopping, entertainment and business

After having checked in and passing through the central security control, passengers arrive at the pier, which has a large number of shops and restaurants, along with six new Austrian Lounges featuring modern furnishing and Austrian-style hospitality and comfort. In total the lounges take up more than 21,528 square feet of space. Passengers wishing to work while waiting for their flights can use one of the 80 laptop chairs offered. Each of these is outfitted with proprietary plugs and visibility screens. The entire terminal also provides W-LAN access on a free-of-charge basis. Family zones have been set up for families with children.

The gates’ design is straightforward. The central security control makes queues at gates a thing of the past.  Boarding passes are checked immediately prior to departure on the boarding bridges. In a new development, all of the gates have been outfitted with quick boarding devices. These enable passengers to simply place their boarding passes upon the device, and, once this has been accomplished, board the airplane.

Arrival and baggage claim

Upon landing at Vienna, passengers proceed to the central arrival hall, in which ten baggage conveyor belts assure quick and uncomplicated retrievals of baggage. As is customary, Miles&More customers with HON or Senator status, as well as STAR gold customers, can avail themselves of the Priority Baggage Service, which expedites the issuing of their baggage. The staff at Austrian Arrival Service provides assistance to those experiencing any baggage issues. Business class and status customers have a proprietary area for this as well.

Flash mob: everybody was waltzing in the arrival hall

Passengers arriving in the new arrival hall this morning experienced a surprise— the hall was home to a flash mob busy transforming the space into a dance hall in which visitors and travelers waltzed around in honor of the day.

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Austrian Airlines in USA and Canada

Austrian Airlines provides its customers with a route network of 130 destinations worldwide. Passengers can take flights from either New York JFK, Washington DC or Toronto to Vienna. In Vienna, Austrian Airlines offers time-saving connections and access to over 100 destinations across Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe, the route network is particularly dense: With 46 destinations Austrian Airlines is the market leader throughout the region.  Thanks to its favorable geographical location at the heart of Europe, the company’s hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and a member of the Star Alliance, the first global alliance of international airlines.  For more information or reservations, visit www.austrian.com.

Star Alliance

was founded in 1997 and is the first world-spanning association of carriers. The Star Alliance offers its passengers an unexcelled ease and reliability of travel around the world. These traits have earned the association a number of prizes. These include the Air Transport World’s Market Leadership Award, and Business Traveller magazine and the Skytrax market research institute’s Best Airline Alliance. The association’s members are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Blue1, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Avianca-TACA, Copa Airlines, EVA Air and Shenzhen Airlines have been named to be future members. The Star Alliance of carriers operates a total of 20,500 flights a day. They serve 1,298 destinations in 190 countries.

Owner, publisher, distributor: Austrian Airlines AG, Corporate Communications, public.relations@austrian.com. The details of disclosures are, in accordance with §§ 24 and 25 of the Media Act, to be found at www.austrian.com.

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