Starting today, Austrian Airlines is serving another destination in Asia. Austria's red-white-red flag carrier operates a Boeing 777 to Hong Kong up to five times a week.

"As a result, we are now offering flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, the three biggest cities in Greater China", explains Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto. "Following the successful expansion of our flight offering to North America, we are now focusing on Greater China. In spite of the latest reports about an economic downturn, growth forecasts still predict promising economic expansion for Greater China in the coming years. For this reason, especially for large cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, we foresee an interesting potential for Austrian Airlines in its role as the air traffic backbone for industry and tourism in Austria", he adds.

Also Norbert Kettner, director of Vienna Tourist Board, comments on the new flights: "Direct flights are one of the driving forces behind the growth of bednights - the new flight from Hong Kong by Austrian Airlines, our most important strategic partner, will help boost an already strong influx of guests from China to new levels."

Longhaul Aircraft Boeing 777 with Special Branding

For its inaugural flight to Hong Kong Austrian Airlines specially branded a Boeing 777 with the registration OE-LPD. With the lettering "Servus Hong Kong" Austrian Airlines welcomes the new destination in its route network. In order to pay respect, the lettering is also shown in traditional Chinese characters combined with Hong Kong's flag. The flag represents a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia-blossom, a flower that specifically originated in Hong Kong.

In Winter 23 Weekly Non-Stop Flights to Asia

In total, Austrian Airlines will offer up to 23 weekly non-stop flights to Asia in the upcoming winter flight schedule. The airline will operate daily flights to Bangkok, and up to four flights per week to Shanghai and Hong Kong with a Boeing 777. Austrian Airlines will operate a Boeing 767 up to five times each week for flights to Beijing, the capital city of the People's Republic of China. In addition, it will fly passengers to Colombo and Malé as tourist destinations in the winter flight schedule 2016/17 starting in October 2016. Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, will be served once a week, wheras two weekly flights with a Boeing 767 will be operated to the Maldives.

Austrian Airlines will offer flights to Hong Kong throughout the entire year. The duration of flights from Vienna to Hong Kong at a distance of more than 8,700 km is about 11 hours 25 minutes. Tickets from Vienna to Hong Kong are available starting at EUR 599 for round-trip flights, including taxes and fees. Tickets can be booked online at www.austrian.com, by phone at +43 (0) 5 1766 1000 or in a travel agency.

Flights Vienna-Hong Kong-Vienna as of September 5, 2016:

Vienna-Hong Kong: OS067, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays: 5:50 p.m.-11:25 a.m. (next day)

Hong Kong-Vienna: OS068, Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays: 12:55 p.m.-7:25 p.m.