NEWS: Austrian Airlines has axed considerable numbers of routes following the takeover by Lufthansa.

Vienna is the hub of all Austrian operations. Despite all the glowing reports of Vienna on the Austrian website, many travellers do report it feels like a bit of a mess, with a length walk from the non-schengen gates right at one end, to the International gates at the other. Signs are very poor. Lost luggage also seems to be a regular problem with Austria - it should be labeled very carefully if using Vienna.

Airline schedules change regularly

This information is intended as a guide, but for up to the minute timetables, please consult Austrian Airlines at www.Austrian.com.

Austrian has just one UK base. From London LHR Austrian fly to Vienna three times a day using an A321, at 0850 (arrives 1210), 1535 (arrives 1905 - oddly using an A319) and 1935 (arrives 2250). There are also two codeshares on British Midland leaving at 0600 (arrives 0920) and 1405 (arrives 1720).

Around Europe Austrian fly from Vienna to Dublin on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Paris 3 times a day (plus 4 Air France codeshares), Brussels 4 times a day, Amsterdam 4 times a day, and Copenhagen 4 times a day. Helsinki twice a day at 1040 and 1935 (no service on Saturday), Stockholm 3 times a day, and Istanbul once a day at 1310 (arrives 1630), although there are also three Turkish Airlines codeshares each day.

There are good German connections with Frankfurt 4 times a day in a A320 (plus 5 Lufthansa codeshares), Munich 3 times a day, Berlin twice a day (plus 3 Lufthansa codeshares), 2 a day to Dusseldorf. Venice is 4 times a day, Palma on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Prague 3 times a day, Moscow twice a day, Reykjavik on a Wednesday at 1010 in a 737 in the summer, Tel Aviv daily at 1035 (plus an ElAl Codeshare) and Casablanca on a Tuesday in a 767.

Canadair Regional Jet at Cologne

Lauda Air has European charter flights to all the Canary Islands, such as Tenerife, Palma, Fuerteventura, and Funchal. Plus Agadir, Lisbon, Malaga, Palma, and Antalya in Turkey.

To the US there are Austrian flights from Vienna to New York JFK at 1040 (arrives 1345) on an Boeing 777, and Saturday in the Summer at 1710, Montreal on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 1720 (arrives 2010) and Toronto Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1120, Friday and Saturday at 1720. Flights to Washington are now operated via Frankfurt with Lufthansa.

There are also occasional Lauda charter flights to the Carribean, including Montego Bay, Cuba, and Cancun, in the summer.

lauda 777 at Sydney

Worldwide Austrian fly to Bangkok every day at 2320 (arrives 1420) except on a Saturday when it leaves 3 hours earlier, Dubai daily at 1330 (arrives 2110), Delhi daily (except Monday) at 1320 (arrives 0010), Mumbai daily (except Tuesday and Wednesday) at 1045 (arrives 2220), Beijing (Peking) daily at 1340 (arrives 0515), Daily to Osaka at 1355, and Tokyo daily at 1330 (arrives 0735) (although the Osaka flights have got the chop, and you'll now be on a NH codeshare from Narita. Teheran daily (except Monday and Saturday) at 2010 in a A320. Baku daily (except Wednesday and Saturday)