Journey into an uncertain future: AUA is in a deep crisis, now more aircraft have been sold.
The airline is selling three of a total of twelve long-haul aircraft.
Austrian Airlines has sold three of its twelve long-haul aircraft. There are three Boeing 767s with an average age of 28.5 years, as the AUA announced on Friday. How much the sales flush into the airline's coffers is not known. With the buyer MonoCoque Diversified Interests (MDI) it was agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The AUA board assumes that the airline will come out of the crisis a quarter smaller.
AUA boss Alexis von Hoensbroech spoke of a “big step for our fleet conversion”. The first of the three planes with the registration OE-LAT is scheduled to leave Vienna in early March for Pinal Airpark in the US state of Arizona. The next transfer flight is planned for May with the OE-LAX.
It had been known since April 2020 that AUA is parting with the three oldest of the six Boeing 767s. The remaining three Boeing 767s are between 20 and 22 years old. The six larger Boeing 777 long-haul jets are also to be kept.
A total of 28 aircraft will have left the fleet by the beginning of 2022: In addition to the three Boeing 767-300ERs that have now been sold, 18 Dash Turboprops and seven Airbus A319 jets will be handed over. The AUA will then only be on the move with around 60 aircraft. Before the pandemic, it was over 80.
The AUA had to be rescued last year because of the corona crisis with 450 million euros in state money. Specifically, the Lufthansa subsidiary received a subsidy of EUR 150 million from tax money and EUR 300 million as a loan, 90 percent of which is secured by the Republic of Austria. The German parent company injected a further 150 million euros. If the Lufthansa subsidiary AUA should not be able to repay the loan, the – then insolvent – AUA and its non-leased aircraft will become the property of the state, as it was called when the contract was signed.