Austrian Airlines is planning to offer Economy Class passengers on short-haul flights a new, high-value and free service. Together with top Austrian chef Helmut ?-sterreicher (of Vienna’s Restaurant ?-sterreicher im MAK, www.oesterreicherimmak.at), a unique inflight culinary product has been developed that impresses with its high level of quality and seasonal diversity.

On all international flights (those between 65 and 150 minutes in flight time), depending on the time of departure, passengers will be served a freshly prepared breakfast or daytime meal in the newly developed ‘Austrian Snack Box’. Austrian is also offering a diverse selection of alcoholic, non-alcoholic and hot drinks. On all domestic and ‘ultra-short-haul’ flights (up to 65 minutes in flight time), passengers in Economy Class will be able to enjoy a ‘refreshment service’ consisting of sweet and savoury snacks from the basket. Coffee, tea and water will be served as refreshments.

Austrian Chief Executive Officer Alfred ?-tsch made the following statement on the quality offensive: ‘This innovative form of free catering makes us the only airline to offer free snacks created by a prizewinning chef in Economy Class on short-haul flights. With this move we are making an uncompromising statement, that we are the Austrian quality carrier. I am firmly convinced that our differentiation in the market will be through quality first and foremost, and that we can increase levels of customer loyalty as a result.’

Peter Baumgartner, Executive Vice President Customer Services & Product Development, went on to say: ‘We reached a conscious decision to focus strongly again on Austrian cuisine, and to serve typical meals, such as the classic Austrian salad with beef and a selection of p‰tés traditionally enjoyed at Heurige, the local taverns specialising in the season’s new wines. To ensure passengers who use our Economy Class services frequently are offered a rich and varied product, the snacks will be varied continuously.’

The Austrian Snack Box is sure to surprise guests not merely on the strength of its delicious contents, but also with its charming visual details and a little ‘extra’ within. Austrian is deliberately focusing on high quality with this new service concept in an effort to make flying with Austrian an even more ‘tasteful’ experience and to generate enthusiasm for the domestic carrier. An extra helping of Austrian hospitality, conveyed by the unmistakeable level of service provided by the carrier’s flight attendants, will serve to underline the individuality of Austrian.
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