Deep Chakraborty
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On May 1, 2004, Emirates inaugurated its first flight to Vienna, quickly establishing a daily service to Dubai within a month. Over the years, the airline has doubled its flight frequency and continuously broadened its service offerings. This month, Emirates celebrates its 20th anniversary of operations in Vienna, with ambitious future plans still on the horizon.
Since its debut flight, Emirates has become a staple in Austria’s aviation landscape. Under the leadership of Martin Gross, who retired in 2022, and now Elisabeth Zauner, the current Country Manager for Austria, Emirates quickly achieved success. The high demand for the Vienna-Dubai route led to its service with the Boeing 777-300ER, the largest passenger aircraft at that time, just four years after the route’s inception. Emirates now operates 14 weekly non-stop flights from Dubai to Vienna, offering seamless connectivity for holiday and business travelers to over 140 destinations worldwide. To date, the airline has transported more than 5 million passengers across over 20,500 flights between the two cities.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Emirates’ operations in Austria. For two decades, we have continuously expanded our offerings to provide a world-class experience and seamless global connectivity for Austrian travellers, together with our partners. We’ve seen many positive changes and interesting shifts in the travel and aviation industry since we launched our flights to Vienna, and look forward to continuing our journey with new and exciting innovations for years to come.” Said Elisabeth Zauner.
The 20th anniversary of Emirates in Vienna was celebrated with a distinct Austrian flair. A special anniversary flight was greeted at Vienna International Airport with a Viennese dance showcase by the school Svabek, long-time performers at the opening of the Vienna Opera Ball. Five professional dance couples performed a classical Viennese waltz to Johann Strauss’ “Rosen aus dem Süden,” adding a traditional touch to the celebration.
Emirates celebrated its 20th anniversary in Vienna by blending Austrian tradition into the festivities. The special anniversary flight was greeted at Vienna International Airport with a Viennese dance display by school Svabek, a group renowned for their performances at the Vienna Opera Ball. Five dance couples showcased a classic Viennese waltz to Johann Strauss’s “Rosen aus dem Süden.”
In addition, Emirates offered a unique appreciation to its Emirates Skywards members who flew in May, providing them the opportunity to win one of 20 Tier Upgrades. This promotion increased members’ status by one tier automatically, from Blue to Silver or from Silver to Gold.
“The landing in Vienna was an unforgettable moment for me, when I realised the scale of the event for the first time. The memory of the many cheering spectators remains with me to this day. It seemed as if every person at Vienna Airport was waiting for my arrival. I was and am grateful that as an Austrian and an A380 pilot I was able to be part of this event,” said Markus Ausserhofer, still full of enthusiasm.
Marking another milestone, the Emirates A380 first touched down in Vienna in 2014, coinciding with the airline’s tenth anniversary in Austria. Capt. Markus Ausserhofer, now Manager of Compliance Monitoring Flight Operations at Emirates, piloted this inaugural flight of the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
By 2016, the A380 was granted regular landing rights in Vienna, establishing new benchmarks for commercial aviation at the airport. Since then, Emirates has been operating its largest planes, the A380 and the Boeing 777-300ER, providing daily service for over 1,000 passengers to global destinations.
Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, is proud of the long-standing partnership: “Emirates has brought a breath of fresh air to Austria. With the regular use of the A380, the only one of its kind in Vienna, the airline has created a milestone in airport development and a highlight for passengers and aviation fans. Emirates’ commitment to first-class service meets our own high standards, and we greatly appreciate this quality. Congratulations – we look forward to many more years of good cooperation.”
Since 2004, Emirates SkyCargo has been actively transporting cargo to and from Vienna, using the cargo holds of these passenger flights. To date, approximately 120,000 tonnes of cargo have been delivered to Vienna and about 129,100 tonnes have been shipped from Vienna by Emirates SkyCargo. Austrian exports primarily include electronics, pharmaceuticals, and crystal goods, destined for the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Currently, Emirates SkyCargo transports 31 tonnes of cargo daily between Vienna and Dubai, and onwards to worldwide destinations.
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