Austrian Airlines was founded in 1957 and is headquartered at Vienna Schwechat Airport. It is Austria's national airline, with IATA code OS and ICAO code AUA, and has been a member of the Lufthansa Group since 2009. Vienna Airport is its core hub and one of the five Lufthansa Cargo hubs in Europe.
Austrian Airlines' cargo runs on passenger belly capacity and it operates no dedicated freighters; cargo sales and ground handling are fully integrated into the Lufthansa Cargo system. That means belly cargo booked on Austrian Airlines can, after transit at Vienna, use Lufthansa Cargo's European truck and belly network to reach points in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland and Eastern Europe quickly.
For Chinese shippers the core value is the belly capacity on the passenger service nonstop from Shanghai Pudong to Vienna. Vienna sits at the geographic centre of Europe and is a natural gateway for Chinese goods into the central and southern European markets. Compared with transiting a western European gateway, entering Europe through Vienna shortens the road distance to central European countries.
Austrian Airlines was formed in 1957 from the merger of Austrian Airways and Austrian Airservices and has been Austria's national carrier ever since. After joining the Lufthansa Group in 2009 its network was coordinated with Lufthansa, SWISS and Brussels Airlines to cover major European business and tourist cities. In the winter season it operates about 86 destinations, around 70 of them in Europe and 16 intercontinental.
Vienna Schwechat Airport is not only the airline's head office but one of the five Lufthansa Cargo hubs in Europe, alongside Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels and Rome. That status makes Vienna a key transit node in the European air cargo network, not just a passenger point, and Chinese cargo can connect seamlessly to the Lufthansa Cargo European truck network there.
From an export perspective, Europe is a major market for Chinese machinery and electrical products, auto parts, consumer electronics, medical devices and high-end home goods. Vienna's advantage is that southern Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the central European industrial belt, are all within a few hundred kilometers by road, so cargo can reach end customers quickly after landing. That makes Austrian Airlines a preferred channel for Chinese goods entering central Europe.
Austrian Airlines is known for service quality and its central European network, and business travellers and high-value cargo have long used the route. The Shanghai Pudong to Vienna flight departs in the afternoon to evening, so shippers can complete handover on a working day, arrive in Europe the next morning and connect to that working day's clearance and delivery. The timing particularly suits exporters who value transit.
Overall, Vienna's central European position and the Lufthansa Cargo system make Austrian Airlines an important air corridor for Chinese goods into central Europe. For Chinese exporters with customers or distribution centres there, the Vienna nonstop is a preferred option balancing transit and coverage.
Austrian Airlines has no publicly known cargo office of its own in China; its China belly cargo is handled through Lufthansa Cargo's sales and ground agents at Shanghai Pudong. Chinese shippers can book through Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, which deals with the Lufthansa Cargo Shanghai channel and secures belly tonnage on the Vienna nonstop.
We handle declaration, handover and manifest production in China and connect to the Lufthansa Cargo European distribution network at Vienna. Shippers do not have to deal separately with Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo, and we track the whole journey.
Shanghai Pudong is Austrian Airlines' only passenger gateway to China, with up to five flights a week, rising to six in peak season. Scheduled passenger service to Beijing has changed with the seasonal program in recent years and is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
South China shippers can feed to Shanghai Pudong by domestic truck or feeder flight, and East China shippers can deliver direct to the Pudong terminal. At booking we advise whether the Vienna belly or another European channel within the Lufthansa Cargo system fits the cargo.
For exporters with distribution centres in Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic at the same time, transiting Vienna avoids queueing at Frankfurt or Munich and shortens road time. We can plan the best post-Vienna distribution route around where the shipper's customers are.
Because Austrian Airlines cargo is integrated into Lufthansa Cargo, Chinese shippers in practice deal with the Lufthansa Cargo Shanghai sales desk. We have long worked with that desk and know its space allocation, documentation cut-off and document requirements, which helps secure steady belly allocations.
For first shipments to Europe we can review EU import declaration requirements and destination clearance rules and prepare the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin in advance. After arrival at Vienna we can coordinate the local clearing agent to file the import declaration and keep distribution on track, and our cargo team follows the shipment and reports flight movements.
The current Austrian Airlines fleet is short and medium haul Airbus A320 family and Embraer E195 aircraft plus long-haul Boeing 767, 777 and the new Boeing 787-9. The Shanghai nonstop is flown by the Boeing 777-200ER with substantial belly tonnage. The airline has been taking Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to replace older 767s, and the younger long-haul fleet improves hold conditions and fuel efficiency. Payload form and use by type are in the table below.
| Aircraft type | Cargo mode | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-200ER | Widebody passenger belly, LD containers | Vienna to Shanghai Pudong nonstop, also flying New York and other long-haul routes, the main China belly type |
| Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | Widebody belly capacity | Vienna long-haul routes, newly introduced, better hold conditions |
| Boeing 767-300ER | Widebody belly capacity | Vienna long-haul routes, gradually replaced by the 787 |
| Airbus A320 family / A321 | Narrowbody belly capacity | Belly cargo on short and medium haul routes from Vienna across Europe |
| Embraer E195 | Regional passenger belly capacity | Belly cargo on feeder routes from Vienna to Eastern and Southern Europe |
Actual deployment and schedules by type change with the season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Austrian Airlines cargo is integrated into Lufthansa Cargo, and belly space is allocated centrally by Lufthansa Cargo.
Austrian Airlines operates scheduled passenger flights nonstop from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Vienna, carrying belly cargo. The main schedule, with times local, is in the table below.
| City/airport | Leg | Reference schedule (local time) | Aircraft type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Shanghai Pudong to Vienna nonstop | Up to five flights a week, rising to six in peak season (June to August) | Boeing 777-200ER |
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | Vienna to Shanghai Pudong nonstop | Up to five flights a week, same-day return or next-day connection | Boeing 777-200ER |
Times are local, actual schedules vary by season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking; the nonstop from Shanghai Pudong to Vienna takes about 10 hours 45 minutes.
The Shanghai Pudong to Vienna nonstop has run steadily for more than ten years, with mature timings. Peak-season additions concentrate in the June to August summer and business travel period, while the winter season is relatively fixed. Shippers should secure belly tonnage at least two weeks ahead of peak-season dispatch to avoid a last-minute shortage.
The route is flown by the Boeing 777-200ER, whose belly takes several LD containers and suits bulk machinery and electrical products and high-value cargo. Compared with a narrowbody belly, a widebody offers advantages in piece size and tonnage and can take larger industrial parts. We can estimate the container count and space needed from the customer's pieces, weight and dimensions.
The central European gateway.Vienna is in the centre of Europe, and after arrival cargo can distribute quickly on the Lufthansa Cargo truck network to Munich and Frankfurt in Germany and to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and other central European countries.
Southern and Western Europe.Using the Lufthansa Group belly and truck network, cargo can extend to Milan and Rome in Italy, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, Zurich in Switzerland, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and other major western European cities.
Northern and Southeastern Europe.Vienna reaches Scandinavia, the Balkans, and southeastern European and Middle Eastern points such as Istanbul in Turkey and Tel Aviv in Israel.
Long-haul extension.Through the Vienna hub cargo can also connect to Lufthansa Group transatlantic and intercontinental belly capacity, though Europe itself remains the main direction for China exports.
Northern Europe.Vienna extends through the Lufthansa Group belly and truck network to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and other northern cities, serving Nordic industrial and consumer markets.
Southern Europe.The Milan and Venice industrial areas of northern Italy are a short drive from Vienna and an important distribution point for Chinese machinery and auto parts.
Austrian Airlines' first advantage for Chinese shippers is the widebody belly on the Shanghai Pudong to Vienna nonstop. Boeing 777 belly tonnage is ample and suits machinery and electrical products, auto parts, medical devices and high-end consumer goods for Europe. Compared with a western European gateway the Vienna nonstop removes one transit and shortens total transit.
Second, Vienna is one of the five Lufthansa Cargo hubs in Europe, with mature cargo handling and trucking. Chinese cargo can distribute to central European countries the same day, which particularly suits exporters with warehouses or customers in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. Lufthansa Group safety standards and terminal facilities also give high-value cargo reliable protection.
In addition, Austrian Airlines has long flown central European routes, and the Shanghai Pudong to Vienna nonstop has run for more than ten years with mature timings and ground handling and reasonably predictable peak-season space. For Chinese exporters covering both western and central Europe, entering Europe through Vienna is a main channel worth including.
Lufthansa Group cargo standards have a strong reputation, and the Vienna terminal follows clear procedures for documents, special cargo and connections. Chinese high-value machinery and precision instruments can use this mature system to reduce transport risk, and for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and perishables the Vienna terminal's cold chain facilities provide cover.
For Chinese shippers, adding the Vienna channel to a European capacity mix complements western European gateway carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa and KLM. When nonstop space between China and central Europe is tight, Vienna can supply extra widebody belly tonnage and protect delivery schedules. We recommend the best gateway and distribution route based on where the shipper's European customers are.
Vienna's reach into central Europe is hard for western gateways to replace. For shippers with warehouses or customers in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia or Poland, landing at Vienna means shorter road legs and denser truck schedules, and better total transit than transiting a western port. That advantage shows most clearly on time-sensitive cargo such as auto parts and industrial equipment.
Chinese shippers can book through Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited. First, the shipper provides commodity, pieces, weight and dimensions, declared value, whether batteries or dangerous goods are involved, and the European destination city, and we decide between the Vienna nonstop belly and other European channels in the Lufthansa system.
Second, we book belly tonnage from Shanghai Pudong to Vienna through the Lufthansa Cargo Shanghai channel and confirm the flight number and documentation cut-off. Third, the cargo is declared and handed over in China and loads on the Boeing 777 belly for the nonstop to Vienna. Fourth, after arrival at Vienna the Lufthansa Cargo truck network distributes to the destination city, and we track the AWB throughout.
For first shipments on this channel we can run a sample test and transit estimate and allow ample connection time at Vienna. Regular exporters can sign a monthly settlement agreement for consolidated billing. Shippers should declare cargo attributes accurately at booking, especially batteries, magnetic goods and liquids, so we can judge whether it meets Lufthansa Cargo acceptance conditions.
We recommend providing the full commercial invoice, packing list and declaration elements before dispatch so we can pre-check them before booking, cutting amendments and rejections. After arrival at Vienna we can help connect local trucking and final delivery so cargo reaches central European customer warehouses safely.
For regular exporters to Europe we can optimise the mix of Vienna and other European gateways around shipping rhythm and destination spread to balance transit and cost. Our cargo team tracks each shipment and reports flight movements and arrival information.
Austrian Airlines belly cargo, through the Lufthansa Cargo system, can carry temperature-controlled goods, pharmaceuticals and high-value cargo, and the Vienna terminal has matching cold chain and secure storage. Dangerous goods are accepted under the Lufthansa Cargo dangerous goods manual, with test reports and compliant packaging documents in advance.
For auto parts and industrial equipment to central Europe the Vienna truck distribution network has a locational advantage; for e-commerce and retail replenishment the Shanghai to Vienna widebody belly offers steady transit and tonnage. The specific scope for special cargo is confirmed by us at booking.
Austrian Airlines also carries live animals and high-value cargo, and the Vienna terminal has the facilities. Battery-powered consumer electronics need compliant packaging and advance declaration under Lufthansa Cargo dangerous goods rules. Large project equipment and exhibition goods can use widebody belly and container service with dedicated handling at Vienna.
Pharmaceuticals and temperature-controlled cargo are a specialty at the Vienna hub, which has long experience in pharmaceutical cold chain handling and suits temperature-controlled pharmaceutical intermediates and medical devices for Europe. At booking we help plan the temperature-controlled chain so the specified band is maintained from Shanghai handover through Vienna distribution.
For automotive customers, Vienna reaches the southern German Bavarian and Austrian Steyr automotive belts, so Chinese auto parts can reach European assembly plants quickly on the Shanghai to Vienna belly. The channel sees steady demand for new model launches and aftermarket parts supply. We know the documents and packaging requirements for auto parts to Europe and can advise accordingly.
Yes. Up to five flights a week nonstop from Shanghai Pudong to Vienna, rising to six in peak season, flown by the Boeing 777-200ER. Scheduled passenger service to Beijing changes with the seasonal program and is subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking.
Yes. Austrian Airlines operates no dedicated freighters, and its belly cargo sales and ground handling are integrated into the Lufthansa Cargo system, with Vienna one of the five Lufthansa Cargo hubs in Europe. Space booked through us is allocated centrally by Lufthansa Cargo.
After arrival at Vienna cargo can distribute on the Lufthansa Cargo truck network to Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other major European countries. Vienna's central position makes central European distribution particularly convenient.
Yes. Through the Lufthansa Cargo system the Vienna terminal has cold chain and secure storage, and dangerous goods are accepted under the Lufthansa Cargo manual with test reports and compliant packaging in advance. The specific scope is confirmed by us at booking.
Austrian Airlines has no publicly known cargo office of its own in China, so Chinese shippers should book through Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited. We deal with the Lufthansa Cargo Shanghai channel and handle declaration, handover and Vienna distribution, so the shipper has one window.
Vienna is in the centre of Europe, so cargo can go out the same day on the Lufthansa Cargo truck network to southern Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other central European countries, and usually reaches major western European cities within one to two days. Actual transit depends on destination city and truck schedules and is estimated by us at booking.
The information here is compiled by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited; schedules and times are local, actual schedules vary by season and are subject to carrier confirmation on the day of booking. Contact us: website https://goodhope86.com, email info@goodhope86.com. For live belly space and pricing on the Shanghai to Vienna nonstop, contact our cargo team at any time and we will advise on channel selection and cost estimates against the cargo attributes and European destination city. Austrian Airlines and the related airline names and marks belong to Austrian Airlines; prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited for freight reference only.