The history of Austrian Airlines begins in 1923, when the first Austrian airline, Oesterreichische Luftverkehrs AG (OLAG), was founded. The airline's first flight took place in 1925, when it flew from Vienna to Bratislava. In 1927, the airline merged with another local airline, and the newly formed Österreichische Luftverkehrsaktiengesellschaft (ÖLAG) began offering international flights to destinations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
In late 1945, after the end of World War II, the airline was taken over by the Austrian government and renamed Austrian Airlines. In 1957, Austrian Airlines became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and began to expand its route network significantly. In 1970, Austrian Airlines became the first airline in the world to offer direct flights from Vienna to North America.
In the 1980s, Austrian Airlines began to modernize its fleet, replacing its older aircraft with more fuel-efficient jets. By the mid-1990s, Austrian Airlines had become one of the largest airlines in Europe, with a fleet of 73 aircraft and flights to over 120 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia.
Austrian Airlines has achieved several important milestones over the years. In 1997, the airline became the first carrier to offer Wi-Fi onboard its flights. In 2002, Austrian Airlines was the first European airline to offer web check-in. In 2008, the airline became the first European carrier to offer an in-flight entertainment system in every seat. In 2011, the airline became the first European carrier to offer iPads for passenger use on board its flights. In 2013, Austrian Airlines became the first airline in Europe to offer a loyalty program for its frequent flyers.
Today, Austrian Airlines operates a fleet of over 100 aircraft, and serves over 130 destinations in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. The airline is headquartered in Vienna, and is a member of the Star Alliance, one of the world's largest airline alliances.
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