Austrian Airlines has officially introduced its third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into scheduled passenger service, marking another milestone in the carrier’s long-term fleet renewal programme.
Third Dreamliner Joins Austrian Airlines Following International Refurbishment Programme
The aircraft, registered OE-LPG, operated its maiden commercial flight for Austrian Airlines on 1 June, departing Vienna International Airport for Montreal Trudeau International Airport (YUL) as flight OS55. The aircraft is expected to continue serving the Canadian route over the coming weeks.
Stefan-Kenan Scheib, Chief Operating Officer of Austrian Airlines, welcomed the latest addition to the fleet.
“We are delighted that the renewal of our long-haul fleet is continuing. Two more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will join the Austrian fleet later this year,”
he said.
OE-LPG joins sister aircraft OE-LPL and OE-LPM, which entered service as part of Austrian Airlines’ ongoing transition towards an all-Dreamliner long-haul fleet.
Before entering service with Austrian Airlines, OE-LPG underwent an extensive preparation process. The aircraft was transferred from Lufthansa to Taipei, where it received Austrian registration, certification and a range of cabin modifications. It was subsequently repainted into Austrian Airlines’ livery in Teruel, Spain, before arriving at Vienna Airport, where it was formally welcomed into the fleet.
The delivery forms part of Austrian Airlines’ broader strategy to modernise its long-haul operations. By the end of the 2028/2029 winter schedule, the airline plans to operate a fleet of 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners exclusively on long-haul routes.
As additional Dreamliners enter service, Austrian will gradually retire its existing fleet of six Boeing 777s and three Boeing 767s. The airline expects the Boeing 767 fleet to be fully phased out during 2025.
The Boeing 787-9 offers several operational and environmental advantages over previous-generation aircraft, including improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions and enhanced passenger comfort through features such as larger windows, improved cabin humidity and reduced cabin altitude.
Austrian Airlines Simplifies Fleet with Airbus A320neo and Boeing 787 Strategy
Fleet renewal is also underway across Austrian Airlines’ short- and medium-haul network. The carrier plans to replace its Embraer fleet with six new Airbus A320neo aircraft, each configured with 180 seats. The first of the new aircraft is expected to arrive during summer 2026, increasing Austrian’s Airbus fleet to 46 aircraft.
According to ch-Aviation, Austrian currently operates 17 Embraer aircraft, three of which have already been retired. The next aircraft is scheduled to leave the fleet in July 2026, with the full phase-out expected to be completed by the end of 2028. Once the programme is complete, Austrian Airlines will reduce its current five aircraft families—Embraer, Airbus, Boeing 767, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787—to just two core fleets: the Airbus A320 family for short- and medium-haul operations and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for long-haul services.
The move is expected to streamline operations, simplify maintenance and training requirements, and improve fleet efficiency across the airline’s network.
As Austria’s flag carrier and a member of the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance, Austrian Airlines continues to invest in newer aircraft as it positions itself for future growth while pursuing its long-term sustainability objectives.
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