Austrian Airlines is making its first move into Bratislava Airport, just 60km (32 miles) across the border in Slovakia from its main Vienna hub. From May 2004, the airline will base a Boeing 737 at the airport to operate services from Bratislava to London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Brussels.
Austrian says the move is aimed at capturing the rise in traffic expected with Slovakia becoming a member of the European Union, which becomes official with the expansion of the union into eastern Europe in May 2004. Austrian denies that the initiative is intended to head off the potentially damaging effect that low-fare service at Bratislava could have on Vienna.
Slovakian low-cost carrier SkyEurope Airlines, which operates two 737-500s and four 30-seat turboprops from Bratislava, is rapidly expanding service at its home base to destinations across Europe. Austrian says it will offer "competitive" fares out of Bratislava, but has not announced which of its brands - it recently rebranded its mainline, regional and charter operations as Austrian, Austrian Arrows and Lauda Air - it will use for the new operation. Initially the flights from Bratislava will be once daily, with the option of using Austrian services to Vienna for the return journey.
Source: Airline Business
