Austrian Airlines

, the flag carrier of Austria, was founded in 1957 through the merger of two earlier domestic carriers, Air Austria and Austrian Airways. Based in Vienna, the airline began scheduled operations the following year, gradually building a route network across Europe and later expanding to long-haul intercontinental destinations. Over the decades Austrian developed a reputation as a quality carrier with a particularly strong network serving Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, using Vienna as a hub connecting these regions to the rest of the world.

In March 2000 Austrian Airlines became a member of the Star Alliance. Facing financial difficulties in the late 2000s, the airline was acquired by the German Lufthansa Group in 2009, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary while retaining its own brand and identity. Today Austrian Airlines continues to operate from its Vienna hub as part of the Lufthansa Group and the Star Alliance, serving as Austria's principal scheduled carrier with a mix of short-haul European routes and long-haul services.