17. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES LOOKS FURTHER EAST

Will launch services to four business centers, Donetsk in east Ukraine, Iasi in Romania, Pecs in Hungary, and Ekaterinburg in Russia

By Roger Bray, Financial Times, London, UK, Dec 22 2005

LONDON- Austrian Airlines is to expand its already extensive network of routes between Vienna and eastern Europe.

With the switch to summer schedules in March it will start operating three round trips a week to Ekaterinburg in Russia, economic focal point of the Urals oil, gas and metallurgical production region.

It will also launch services to three other cities: Donetsk in east Ukraine, whose industries include coal mining and the manufacture of steel and chemicals; Iasi in Romania, a centre of food and drink, textiles and machinery production; and Pecs in Hungary, home to companies making wine, porcelain and leather goods. -30-