Austrian Airlines To MAN?

[Thomas_Cook_757-300]

Hi,
A couple of weeks ago on the TAS website it said under "Winter 2003/4 Programme" that Austrian Airlines where planning a serivce to Manchester from Vienna and now it has been removed.
Does anybody have any information?

Thanks

Thomas_Cook_757-300

[LGWAlan]

They used to operate VIE-MAN with initially a Rheintalflug ERJ145 which I believe was then switched to a VO CRJ with the occasional F70 or mainline M8x a/c. Furthermore - BA already operate MAN-VIA - again with an ER4 - BA7793 1540/1905 outbound and BA7794 1940/2120 inbound.

[Curious Pax]

I think that the rumour started about Austrian returning to MAN came about because they booked slots at the ICAO slot conference (using MD80s) for a regular nightstopping flight from VIE. However I believe that Austrian have denied that this will in fact happen, which is probably why TAS have removed it.

On the historical front, Lauda started the route with CRJs twice a day, which reduced to a single nightstopper a year or two back, and changed to Austrian flight codes as part of the absorbtion of Lauda into the Austrian group. Tyrolean CRJs appeared occasionally, and the last 12 months (ish) of the service were operated by Rheintalflug 145s.

Going further back, however, mainline Austrian operated a nightstopping DC9 (then an MD80) in the early 80s.

[Thomas_Cook_757-300]

Hi,
Thanks for the information. Its a shame that it was just a rumour.

Thanks

Thomas_Cook_757-300