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Laudamotion Changes Gear
AUSTRIAN LOW-COST carrier Laudamotion has embarked on the latest phase of its development after unveiling a new livery and plans to expand its fleet.
The airline confirmed it will acquire a further nine Airbus A320s – doubling its existing complement – in time for the summer 2019 flying programme. Its refreshed red and white branding, which incorporates Ryanair-style billboard titles, “reflects Laudamotion’s Austrian heritage”.
The changes coincided with Ryanair concluding the purchase of a 75% stake in its Vienna-based counterpart – the Irish budget carrier’s August performance figures were the first to include the Austrian offshoot, which transported 500,000 passengers with an average load factor of 92% during the period.
On August 29, Laudamotion CEO Andreas Gruber commented: “We now face the future with great confidence, backed by the enormous financial strength of Ryanair, our new majority shareholder and Europe’s largest airline.”
David O’Brien, Ryanair’s chief commercial officer, added: “We’re pleased to complete the purchase of a 75% shareholding in Laudamotion GmbH from [founder and chairman] Niki Lauda and his te…
