Laudamotion announced that it will double its Airbus fleet from 9 to 18 aircraft in the summer of 2019, following Ryanair’s acquisition of a 75% stake in the company from Niki Lauda in August.
To support this expansion, Laudamotion has outlined several initiatives:
– There are confirmed delivery dates for an additional 9 Airbus A320 aircraft for summer 2019.
– The company will introduce a new aircraft design that highlights Laudamotion’s Austrian roots.
– New offices in Vienna will be established to create more high-quality, well-paying jobs.
– Pilots will receive pay increases and guaranteed basic pay.
– A stable winter roster will be implemented, providing a 5-day workweek with 3 days off, ensuring a bank holiday every weekend.
Laudamotion’s CEO, Andreas Gruber, expressed optimism about the future, bolstered by the strong financial backing of Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline. He credited the over 500 Laudamotion employees for achieving over 90% load factors during the first summer season. With the additional Airbus deliveries, Laudamotion aims to grow by at least 20% in 2019, targeting 5 million guests per year. The company looks forward to offering more low-fare options to Austrian and German customers.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, David O’Brien, also shared his satisfaction with the completion of the purchase. He praised Niki Lauda, Andreas Gruber, and the Laudamotion team for their efforts in challenging market conditions, which enabled the delivery of low fares across 53 routes during the summer. Ryanair is eager to realize Niki Lauda’s vision of making Laudamotion Austria’s leading low-fare airline, providing competition and choices to consumers who have long faced high prices. O’Brien also wished Niki Lauda a speedy recovery and looks forward to his return.