Austrian Airlines Eyes Boeing 737 MAX

Austrian Airlines is one of the many companies within the Lufthansa Group that are currently evaluating its long-term fleet structure.

Evaluations such as these are important in allowing the carrier to best position itself to meet customer expectations and demand in future decades.

Lufthansa Group has purchased hundreds of aircraft and has organised several more substantial lease agreements to provide aircraft for all the airlines that call the group home.

However, CH Aviation reports that Austrian Airlines is now reviewing its future narrowbody fleet, which could lead to a shift in strategy internally at the company.

Speaking with CH-Aviation, the airline’s Managing Director at the IATA Annual General Meeting stated that the airline could select the Boeing 737 MAX over the A320neo family.

If this direction is decided, Lufthansa Group will eventually place an order for the 737 MAX. Before that, thorough studies are underway to determine the best possible strategy. However, the airline states that if the Group goes through with the MAX for Austrian, then it will switch completely to the 737 for its narrowbody operations.

Interestingly, Lufthansa Group already ordered 737 MAX jets at the end of the 2023 calendar year. The end destination of these MAX jets was not disclosed at the time. Therefore, these aircraft could prove useful to Austrian Airlines or another potential company looking to renew its long-term fleet.

Austrian Airlines has a storied history. It began operations in the 1950s and has since accumulated a fleet of over 60 aircraft, with well over 100 having been retired through the years. The airline’s narrowbody fleet consists solely of A320 family jets, with primarily the A320 featured, as well as some ageing A321s.

The company has five Airbus A320neos listed, with one parked. This is the youngest fleet type. However, the 737 MAX appears to be calling its name as it evaluates all options.

Airlines Look Into The 2030s

Many airlines are aware of how in-demand the next-generation aircraft truly is and are, therefore, forced to get in early to secure delivery slots and availability.

Evaluations such as those taking place at Austrian Airlines are important to ensure that by the time the 2030s arrive, the carrier has enough aircraft to serve demand and isn’t short of jets to meet this demand.

More and more programmes are seeing their delivery slots disappear, and thus, the only option is through the leasing market. As more airlines jump into the leasing market, it becomes even more competitive and paired with supply chain difficulties.

In response, more and more airlines are looking to significantly slow down their growth expectations as they weather the ongoing operating climate, which presents its uncertainties.