Austrian Airlines (AUA) confirmed on 16 January that its evening rotation OS859/OS860 between Vienna and Tel Aviv will remain grounded until at least 31 January. The carrier had initially expected to reinstate the late-night service on 19 January, but an updated security assessment by Lufthansa Group risk analysts recommended a longer pause because of the volatile situation in Israel and heightened regional tensions. Daytime departures will continue on a flight-by-flight basis, subject to the airline’s own 24-hour security reviews and clearance from Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority.(vol.at)
AUA has kept its Vienna–Tel Aviv link alive with a pared-down daylight schedule since early October 2025, when the Gaza conflict triggered widespread cancellations across European carriers. Vienna is a major connection point for Central- and Eastern-European business travellers heading to Israel’s start-up and defence sectors, so the lingering reduction in frequencies complicates itineraries and increases reliance on tight connections through Zurich or Istanbul.
Operationally, Austrian continues to avoid Iranian airspace altogether and is now evaluating alternative routings that would bypass large swathes of Iraqi airspace as well. The detours add up to 20 minutes block time and raise fuel burn by an estimated two tonnes per sector, costs that the airline has so far absorbed but may eventually pass on through a temporary surcharge if the conflict drags on.
![Austrian Airlines Extends Suspension of Evening Vienna–Tel Aviv Flights to 31 January]()
Corporate travel managers should alert assignees that automatic re-bookings onto earlier daylight departures may generate unintended overnight stays in Vienna or additional layovers in Germany and Switzerland. Mobility teams are advised to double-check onward Schengen visa validity when itineraries are split over two calendar days and to remind travellers that carry-on lithium-battery limits remain in force on all re-booked flights.
To streamline those last-minute visa checks, VisaHQ can help travel departments verify Schengen, Israeli or any required transit documentation in minutes and even submit applications on travellers’ behalf. Their Austria-specific portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/ offers up-to-date guidance and digital tools that prove invaluable when itineraries change on short notice.
For travellers who must reach Israel after business hours, rail-air combinations via Larnaca or Athens remain the most reliable—albeit lengthier—options. Companies with frequent traffic to Tel Aviv should monitor AUA’s flight-status page and subscribe to the carrier’s disruption SMS alerts to react quickly to rolling cancellations.
AUA has kept its Vienna–Tel Aviv link alive with a pared-down daylight schedule since early October 2025, when the Gaza conflict triggered widespread cancellations across European carriers. Vienna is a major connection point for Central- and Eastern-European business travellers heading to Israel’s start-up and defence sectors, so the lingering reduction in frequencies complicates itineraries and increases reliance on tight connections through Zurich or Istanbul.
Operationally, Austrian continues to avoid Iranian airspace altogether and is now evaluating alternative routings that would bypass large swathes of Iraqi airspace as well. The detours add up to 20 minutes block time and raise fuel burn by an estimated two tonnes per sector, costs that the airline has so far absorbed but may eventually pass on through a temporary surcharge if the conflict drags on.
Corporate travel managers should alert assignees that automatic re-bookings onto earlier daylight departures may generate unintended overnight stays in Vienna or additional layovers in Germany and Switzerland. Mobility teams are advised to double-check onward Schengen visa validity when itineraries are split over two calendar days and to remind travellers that carry-on lithium-battery limits remain in force on all re-booked flights.
To streamline those last-minute visa checks, VisaHQ can help travel departments verify Schengen, Israeli or any required transit documentation in minutes and even submit applications on travellers’ behalf. Their Austria-specific portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/ offers up-to-date guidance and digital tools that prove invaluable when itineraries change on short notice.
For travellers who must reach Israel after business hours, rail-air combinations via Larnaca or Athens remain the most reliable—albeit lengthier—options. Companies with frequent traffic to Tel Aviv should monitor AUA’s flight-status page and subscribe to the carrier’s disruption SMS alerts to react quickly to rolling cancellations.
