Tyrolean Airways

In the moment Tyrolean Airways has 12 Bombardier Dash 8-300 (50 Sitze),10 Bombardier, Dash 8-400 (72 Sitze),13 Canadair Regional Jets (50 Sitze), 9 Fokker 70 Jets (75 Sitze),14 Fokker 100 Jets (100 Sitze)



Milestones in the Development of Tyrolean Airways


1978 Entrepreneurs Gernot Langes-Swarovski and Christian Schwemberger-Swarovski found "Aircraft Innsbruck".

1980 On April 1, Tyrolean Airways is born. Scheduled flights are carried out to Zurich and Vienna with a 48-seater Dash 7. In the first year of operation, 35000 passengers are carried on Tyrolean Airways' flights.

1985 A 37-seater Dash 8/100 is added to the fleet. The twin-engine turboprop aircraft is the first of its kind in Europe. Its exceptional economic features soon make it the most popular aircraft of its class.

1987 Tyrolean Airways expands its flight schedule to all provinces of Austria - a process that will continue until 1993.

1988 The privately owned airline goes public in March. By than, Gernot Langes Swarovski holds 92 % of the stock.

1994 Austrian Airlines discontinues its domestic and regional air services which are taken over by Tyrolean. Austrian Airlines now takes a 42.85 % share holding in Tyrolean Airways. The remaining shares are held by Gernot Langes-Swarovski AG (42,85 %) and by Leipnik-Lundenburger-Industrie-AG (14,30 %). Tyrolean Airways doubles its field of activities and increases its fleet from 16 to 31 airliners.

1995 The acquisition of the first Fokker 70 Jet marks the begin of jet operation on Tyrolean Airways' routes.

1996 Three Canadair Regional Jets are added to Tyrolean Airways' fleet to specifically serve long routes with low passenger volume.

1997 Tyrolean Airways receives the Regional Airline of the Year 1997-98 award, which is annually presented by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) for outstanding achievements.

1998 In March 1998, Austrian Airlines acquires 100 percent of the shares of Tyrolean Airways.

1999 Tyrolean Airways is awarded Regional Airline of the Year 1998 by Air Transport World (ATW), the leading monthly magazine covering the global airline industry. The ATW award is the highest prize presented by the aviation industry.

2000 On March 26, Tyrolean Airways together with Austrian Airlines and Lauda Air becomes a member of the Star Alliance Group, the world wide alliance also including Lufthansa, SAS and United Airlines, offering their scheduled flight network with more than 830 destinations on all five continents. Tyrolean Airways carries out more than 1450 flights per week to approximately 50 European destinations with a fleet of more than 30 jets and turbo prop aircraft of the type Fokker 70, Dash 8, and Canadair Regional Jet. Additionally Tyrolean Airways introduced four new Dash 8/400 into the fleet.

2001 In May 2001 Tyrolean Airways PLC has been transformed into Tyrolean Airways Ltd. as part of the implementation of the head office concept of the Austrian Airlines Group.

Since May, Tyrolean Airways have introduced a new business class on board their aircrafts. Tyrolean Airways offer their passengers who travel at standard rates an even more individual and attentive in-flight service with selected culinary delights in a separate compartment.

Mr. Fritz Feitl who functioned as General Manager since 1982, left the company.
On the 15th November 2001, Dr. Josef Burger, managing director and marketing director of many years' standing, moved from Tyrolean Airways to Austrian Airlines. Mr. Johann Messner, who has been with the company since 1984, is now managing director of Tyrolean Airways.

2002 In accordance with the policy of the company's reorganisation, Tyrolean Airways handed over responsibility in the areas of marketing and route management to Austrian Airlines on January 1st, 2002. On the 1st of October Rheintalflug is integrated into Tyrolean Airways.

2003 The “Capital”-magazine awarded Tyrolean Airways as the best regional European airline. Rebranding: as of Sept. 15th Tyrolean operate under the powerful productbrand identity of “Austrian arrows – operated by Tyrolean”, a name embodying the decisive and clear strengths of Tyrolean: single-mindedness, dynamism, a will to succeed and smoothness of process handling. The new wording captures the Tyrolean strengths – speed, efficiency and single-mindedness – and sums up the corporate philosophy perfectly.

2004 The first 3 Fokker 100-jets were integrated into the fleet in the summer and 3 further Fokker 100-jets will be going into operation by the end of the year.

2005 25th anniversary of Tyrolean Airways

2006 Mr. Johann Messner retires by June 30th. Mr. Manfred Helldoppler, who has been working for Tyrolean Airways since the beginning in 1980, becomes new Managing Director.

2007 Tyrolean Airways wins “ERA Airline of the Year 2007/8 – Silver Award”