Austrian Airlines cancels flights to Mumbai from 1 March 2009

The bad news continues to roll in for Indian aviation.

Austrian Airlines announced that it will cease operating its service from Vienna to Mumbai (Bombay) from 1 March 2009 onwards.

All international airlines choose Mumbai, the economic capital of India, while ignoring less competitive cities like Bangalore. As a result there is drastic overcapacity between European airports and Mumbai. The weakening Indian demand and the consequences of the crisis in European financial markets only add to the loss of profitable operations in the medium term.

The measure also means that one more of the airline’s total of six Boeing 767 aircraft will no longer be deployed on long-haul routes. The question of how to use the aircraft freed up by the decision remains open at present.

Austrian has already cancelled services from London City Airport, Luxembourg and Riga, and Chicago, this year.