About Lauda Europe
Lauda Air (ICAO: LDA) was an Austrian airline founded by former Formula One world champion Niki Lauda. While the original airline ceased operations in 2012, its legacy is important for understanding Austrian aviation history.
Lauda Air Luftfahrt GmbH, branded as Lauda Air, was established in April 1979 by Niki Lauda, a renowned Formula One racing driver. The airline commenced operations in 1985, initially offering air taxi and charter services before expanding to scheduled routes in 1988. Headquartered at Vienna Airport (Schwechat), its operational bases also included Graz, Innsbruck, and Linz. In December 2000, Lauda Air became a wholly owned subsidiary of Austrian Airlines, and its operations were eventually merged into Austrian Airlines on July 1, 2012. The Lauda Air brand was officially retired on March 31, 2013, and replaced by "Austrian myHoliday" for leisure travel offerings.
During its independent and later subsidiary years, Lauda Air operated a diverse fleet. It began with Fokker F27 aircraft and later incorporated various Boeing models, including Boeing 737-300s, Boeing 767-300ERs, Boeing 737-200s, -400s, -600s, -700s, -800s, and Boeing 777-200s. It also utilized Bombardier CRJ-100s and a small executive fleet comprising a Learjet 36, Cessna Citation II, Bombardier Lear 60, and Dassault Falcon 20 for private charters. Lauda Air’s route network extended internationally, with early long-haul flights to destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Bali. It also served routes to Dubai, Cuba, and Miami via Munich, alongside scheduled leisure and charter flights to various vacation spots across Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. From 2000 until its merger, Lauda Air was an affiliate of the Star Alliance. The airline was notably recognized for its "Amadeus Class" on intercontinental flights, featuring "Cocoon" sleeper seats, individual TV monitors, and "flying chefs" on some routes, providing a premium service experience with catering by DO&CO.
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Showing 119 airports in the Lauda Europe network.
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