Austrian Airlines Launches Enhanced Business Class From U.S.

Austrian Airlines is unveiling a significantly enhanced business class this week on its transatlantic flights. "The chief focus of Austrian's upgraded business class is seating," says Paul Paflik, Austrian's General Manager for the Americas. The new seats are electronically controlled and recline flat. Seats also have individual laptop power and dimmable reading lights. "On our long distance flights we have six-course gourmet menus that are created by Austrian and international chefs and subsequently refined à la minute by a professional chef on board to ensure they are served with panache," explains Paflik, The new business class will be offered initially from Washington, with flights from New York coming on line in February and from Chicago at the end of May. Set to mark its 50th anniversary in 2008, Austrian Airlines operates the only non-stop flights from the U.S. and Canada to Vienna.