Austrian Airlines to fly to Baghdad from 8 June 2011

26.04.2011/065e Austrian Airlines to fly to Baghdad from 8 June 2011 • Three flights a week from Vienna to Baghdad • Five daily flights from London Heathrow to Vienna with partner bmi • Austrian Airlines now flies to two destinations in Iraq • Serves a total of 12 destinations in Middle East Austrian Airlines is to reincorporate the Vienna-Baghdad-Vienna route into its scheduled flight programme from 8 June 2011 onwards. The carrier will operate a total of three flights a week to the Iraqi capital. The service will be provided using an aircraft from the Airbus A320 fleet. Austrian Airlines is returning to the Iraqi capital after 21 years. This will be Austrian’s second destination in Iraq, together with the city of Erbil. Austrian Airlines originally included the Vienna-Baghdad route in its flight schedule in 1982, but was forced to discontinue its service due to the Kuwait crisis in 1990. Austrian Airlines provides its customers with a route network of 130 destinations worldwide. It operates the leading hub for the Central and Eastern Europe region, with 46 destinations. Passengers can take one of the five daily flights from London Heathrow to Vienna. From there, Austrian offers flights to 10 long-haul destinations from Vienna. Seven of these are in Asia, and three are in North America. Austrian Airlines is a pioneer in the Middle East: In December 2006, it has been the first Western European airline to operate a service to northern Iraq, and has continually expanded its presence in the region. In summer 2011, Austrian Airlines will operate six flights a week to Erbil. In spring 2004, Austria also became the first country in Western Europe to conclude a new, liberal and bilateral transport agreement with the Iraqi authorities after the Iraq war. This was done on the initiative of Austrian Airlines. With the additional connection to Baghdad, Austrian Airlines offers flights to 12 destinations in the Middle East. Austrian in-flight hospitality A flight with Austrian Airlines starts exactly as it means to go on: smoothly and easily. The carrier offers its guests the very latest check-in options using the internet and mobile telephones. Passengers can print out their boarding passes themselves if they wish; alternatively, Austrian can send the document by SMS direct to a mobile phone. The service is available free of charge and on demand. Once on board the aircraft, Austrian flight attendants provide an especially friendly and warm service, pampering passengers with typically Austrian hospitality. We also pamper our passengers with culinary delicacies from our renowned long-term partner and Formula 1 caterer DO&CO. The Austrian Airlines Vienna-Baghdad-Vienna route will operate as follows: Vienna – Baghdad – Vienna schedule for summer 2011 (all times local): Vienna – Baghdad Flight days Departure Arrival OS 827 Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 10.00 a.m. 3.00 p.m. Baghdad – Vienna Departure Arrival OS 828 Wednesday, Friday, Sunday 4.00 p.m. 7.30 p.m. Customers can find further details of the flight availability of Austrian Airlines and the different ways to book flights at the Austrian website by going to www.austrian.com or by visiting their nearest travel agency. Austrian Airlines Austrian Airlines is Austria’s largest carrier and offers a global route network of round 130 destinations. 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 favourable 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 further information: Corporate Communications AUSTRIAN AIRLINES: Martin HEHEMANN / Patricia STRAMPFER / Michael BRAUN / Ursula BERGER; Tel: +43 (0) 51766 11231, martin.hehemann@austrian.com, patricia.strampfer@austrian.com, michael.braun@austrian.com, ursula.berger@austrian.com; Owner, Editor, Reproducer: Austrian Airlines AG, Corporate Communications public.relations@austrian.com. Please find further information concerning the disclosure according to §§ 24 and 25 Media Act on www.austrian.com