- Austrian Airlines introduces its first direct service to and from Ponta Delgada
- Until early September, flights will operate every Tuesday from Vienna on an Airbus A320neo
- At 3,770 km and just over five hours of flying time, Ponta Delgada is currently the longest route operated by Austrian Airlines’ continental fleet
Austrian Airlines is adding a true highlight to its summer schedule with the launch of weekly non-stop flights to and from Ponta Delgada (PDL) on São Miguel in the Azores. For the first time, the airline is offering direct connections to the Portuguese archipelago, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and particularly popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Thanks to its volcanic landscape, the Azores are often referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe”.
Even the approach to the islands, located in the middle of the North Atlantic around two hours west of mainland Europe, is an unforgettable experience. Once on the ground, visitors are welcomed by the unique charm of the archipelago, where dramatic Atlantic scenery, rapidly changing weather conditions and the warm hospitality of the Azorean people combine to create truly memorable holidays.
Flights operate once a week, every Tuesday from Vienna until early September, with a flight time of just over five hours. Covering approximately 3,770 km, Ponta Delgada is now the longest route served by Austrian Airlines’ continental fleet. The airline’s other longest A320-family routes are also Atlantic destinations, including Funchal (approximately 3,300 km), as well as Tenerife South, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, all located between 3,150 and 3,250 km from Vienna.
From an operational perspective, Ponta Delgada is a particularly demanding destination, representing one of the longest regularly scheduled Airbus A320neo flights within the Lufthansa Group. The route requires extensive planning for cockpit and cabin crews alike, including fuel management, routing and alternate airport planning, making it considerably more complex than typical medium-haul operations within the European network.
The inaugural Austrian Airlines flight OS497 to Ponta Delgada was commanded by Captain Christoph Mosser, a long-time admirer of the Azores who had hoped to operate this route after visiting the islands privately on two previous occasions. “Our team prepared extensively for the launch of this new destination. Our experience operating long-haul flights across the North Atlantic has been invaluable, and we also exchanged expertise with our colleagues at Eurowings and Edelweiss. I find the Azores absolutely fascinating and a truly unique holiday destination that is still relatively undiscovered. It is certainly not a typical summer destination – temperatures remain pleasantly moderate in summer and mild throughout winter. The weather changes quickly, but that is part of what makes the islands so diverse and captivating, just like their spectacular landscapes,” said Mosser.