Austrian Airlines nears retirement of its last Boeing 767s

Austrian Airlines is nearing the end of more than two decades of Boeing 767 operations. The carrier currently flies three of the widebody jets on long-haul routes to the west and east, down from six it acquired when it absorbed the struggling Lauda Air.

According to the airline, one of the remaining jets, registered OE-LAZ, is due to leave operational service on 28 September, leaving just two 767s in the fleet. Under current planning, a flight in early December could be the type's final departure, though Austrian Airlines has not confirmed a fixed date for the last service.

The 767s still flying are more than 25 years old. In spring 2021, Austrian Airlines sold three older 767s, then averaging 28.5 years old, to US asset firm Monocoque Diversified Interests. Those aircraft were flown to Pinal Airpark in Arizona, where they have reportedly been used partly as sources of spare parts.

A similar fate may await the remaining three jets. Austrian Airlines has declined to comment on any potential sale at this stage. The 767 entered the carrier's fleet through the 2002 takeover of Lauda Air, which was fully absorbed by 2013, bringing several of its aircraft into Austrian's operations.

The retirement closes a long chapter for the carrier's long-haul fleet. The 767 is being phased out after serving transatlantic and Asian routes for more than twenty years.