Having returned to service earlier this year after being axed back in 2016, Austrian Airlines’ non-stop flights between Vienna and Tokyo are making a triumphant comeback with the service set to go daily in 2019.
The currently five-times-weekly flights will be given a boost to six flights per week from the end of March next year, with a further increase to daily coming at the beginning of May. Daily flights are scheduled to operate throughout the summer season until at least October 2019.
That being said, these two additional weekly flights won’t be entirely the same as the current service, notably when it comes to the aircraft that will operate them. Austrian will fly its Boeing 767-300ER on the additional flights, rather than the larger 777-300ER that it currently flies on the route.
What this means is an overall drop in seat count on the flights operated by the 767, which has 26 seats in business class, 18 in premium economy and 167 in economy. The 777, by comparison, has 38 business class seats, 24 in premium economy and 244 in economy. Seat products across the two aircraft are generally similar.
The two aircraft also differ in how they lay out their cabins, particularly the premium sections, and in this instance the 767 is actually favourable. Its business class cabin is a straightforward staggered 1-2-1 configuration, giving all passengers direct access to the aisle. The 777’s, meanwhile, alternate each row between a 1-2-1 and a much less favourable 2-2-2 set up.
As for the premium economy cabin, the 767 is mostly configured 2-2-2, with just two rows of three centre seats at the back of the cabin. The 777’s layout is a much less spacious 2-4-2. A similar story can be found in the economy cabin, with nine-across in the 767 and 10-across in the 777.
“More than 37 million people live in Tokyo and its surroundings,” said Andreas Otto, Austrian’s CCO.
“Moreover, Japan is becoming an increasingly interesting destination for European tourists, for example due to the 2020 Summer Olympics. For this reason, the outlook is also good.”
Travellers flying this route will also have a daily option with Austrian’s Star Alliance partner, All Nippon Airways (ANA), which earlier this month announced plans to launch its own non-stop flights between Tokyo and Vienna in February.
