Austrian Airlines operated its maiden OS89 flight from Vienna to Dubai on the evening of 1 December, ending a ten-year absence from the Gulf region. Marketed as the “Dubai Deal”, the seasonal service will run five times a week through March 2026 with 180-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft, a cost-efficient alternative to long-haul wide-bodies.
Introductory round-trip fares start at €314, a deliberate play to stimulate winter leisure demand and small-and-medium enterprise travel during Austria’s off-peak season. The schedule is business-friendly: OS89 departs Vienna at 18:55 and lands in Dubai at 03:40, while the return OS90 leaves DXB at 06:05, touching down in Vienna at 09:25 for same-day European connections.
![Austrian Airlines Returns to the Gulf, Launches Five-Weekly Vienna–Dubai “Dubai Deal” Service]()
For corporate mobility programmes the new route shortens travel time for Austrian engineers supporting projects in the UAE’s renewable-energy sector and gives expatriates a direct link home. Travel buyers should note the product trade-offs: operating narrow-body jets means no seat-back entertainment, but Wi-Fi streaming packages and Austrian’s buy-on-board Melangerie keep ancillary fees predictable.
The launch is also a strategic hedge against regional competitors. Nearby hubs in Budapest, Prague and Warsaw have attracted Gulf carriers, and Austrian—part of the Lufthansa Group—needs winter utilisation for its growing A320neo fleet. The airline says the route will become permanent only if the four-month trial reaches load-factor and yield targets.
Mobility managers should update travel policies to capture the new direct option and monitor seat availability: early December flights are selling fast, but capacity is capped at five weekly rotations. Visa procedures remain unchanged; most Austrian nationals obtain a free 90-day visa-on-arrival in the UAE.
Introductory round-trip fares start at €314, a deliberate play to stimulate winter leisure demand and small-and-medium enterprise travel during Austria’s off-peak season. The schedule is business-friendly: OS89 departs Vienna at 18:55 and lands in Dubai at 03:40, while the return OS90 leaves DXB at 06:05, touching down in Vienna at 09:25 for same-day European connections.
For corporate mobility programmes the new route shortens travel time for Austrian engineers supporting projects in the UAE’s renewable-energy sector and gives expatriates a direct link home. Travel buyers should note the product trade-offs: operating narrow-body jets means no seat-back entertainment, but Wi-Fi streaming packages and Austrian’s buy-on-board Melangerie keep ancillary fees predictable.
The launch is also a strategic hedge against regional competitors. Nearby hubs in Budapest, Prague and Warsaw have attracted Gulf carriers, and Austrian—part of the Lufthansa Group—needs winter utilisation for its growing A320neo fleet. The airline says the route will become permanent only if the four-month trial reaches load-factor and yield targets.
Mobility managers should update travel policies to capture the new direct option and monitor seat availability: early December flights are selling fast, but capacity is capped at five weekly rotations. Visa procedures remain unchanged; most Austrian nationals obtain a free 90-day visa-on-arrival in the UAE.
