MIAMI, Oct. 20, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From left to right: A water canon salute welcomes Austrian Airlines to MIA; and ceremonial ribbon cutting with executives including Austrian Airlines Americas General Manager Florian Mueller, Lufthansa Airlines Station Manager Ashutosh Kaul, Andreas Otto, Emilio T. González and Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau President William D. Talbert. Hi-res images available upon request.
Miami International Airport welcomed European carrier Austrian Airlines on October 16, marking the start of its first-ever scheduled service between Miami and the history-rich city of Vienna. The inaugural flight was greeted to MIA with a water canon salute, ribbon cutting ceremony and an aircraft tour led by Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto. The Austrian flag carrier is operating five times weekly using a fleet of Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Miami represents Austrian's fifth American destination and their only service to the southeastern U.S.
"Congratulations to the MIA team on connecting our community to yet another leading global destination," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
"Among many other things, Vienna is a world-renowned innovation hub, so I'm excited for the synergies that this new air link will generate as our community comes into its own as a center for technology."
Miami-Vienna flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with inbound flights scheduled to arrive in Miami at 3:30 p.m. and scheduled departures to Vienna at 5:10 p.m. Austrian Airlines' Boeing 777 aircraft offer a two-class configuration with 48 seats in business class and 260 seats in economy class for a maximum capacity of 308 passengers.
"MIA is thrilled to welcome Austrian Airlines to Miami and we're excited to offer our customers another appealing travel option to Europe," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. "The new Miami-Vienna service is in keeping with our strategic overseas growth plans and, equally important, it will support local jobs and the local economy here at home."
The new route directly connects Miami to one of Europe's premier destinations. Vienna is steeped in history, tracing its roots to the ancient Celts and Romans and later serving as home to musical masters from Beethoven to Mozart to Haydn. Modern-day Vienna still retains its historic roots, boasting a city center that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to 1.7 million residents, it serves as the political, business and cultural capital of Austria. The globally recognized center for innovation is also consistently ranked at the top of the Economist list of world's most livable cities.
For more information on Austrian Airlines and to book Miami-Vienna flights, visit http://us.austrian.com/.
Miami International Airport offers more flights to Latin America and the Caribbean than any other U.S. airport, is America's second-busiest airport for international passengers, boasts a lineup of 100 air carriers and is the top U.S. airport for international freight. MIA, along with its general aviation airports, is also the leading economic engine for Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, generating business revenue of $33.7 billion annually and welcoming 70 percent of all international visitors to Florida. MIA's vision is to grow from a recognized hemispheric hub to a global airport of choice that offers customers a world-class experience and an expanded route network with direct passenger and cargo access to all world regions. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, transportation and more, visit www.miami-airport.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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