LAUDA Air is axing its Gatwick operation after more than 10 years as part of a consolidation programme with shareholder and strategic partner Austrian Airlines.
The carrier is withdrawing its scheduled Gatwick-Vienna service as part of a strategy to build on its UK services out of Manchester. It already operates 11 flights a week from the northwest airport to the Austrian capital using 50-seat CRJ aircraft.
But Lauda will have a codeshare agreement in place on Austrian’s existing 28 weekly flights from Heathrow to Vienna to maintain a presence in the south.
Lauda Air UK general manager Jon Bayntun said: “It made sound commercial sense to take this decision, although obviously it is very disappointing to lose the route from Gatwick as it has been established for many years.
“Our codeshare with Austrian from Heathrow gives us perfect connections onto the Lauda network, both long haul to destinations such as Australia and short haul to Eastern European cities such as Split and Riga.”
The move, effective at the start of the summer schedules on March 26, is part of an overall route revamp which also sees Lauda taking over some of Austrian’s international and predominantly leisure routes from Vienna.
Kathmandu and Istanbul are being added to the Lauda network with other destinations due to be included during the year.
Both Lauda and Austrian said the changes were aimed at developing their strategic partnership within the three-year-old Austrian Airlines Group, which includes regional carrier Tyrolean Airlines.
The group is due to join Star Alliance at the end of the month.