Malta’s Lauda Europe to launch in late 3Q20

Lauda Europe (Malta Int’l) has scheduled its launch for September 13, 2020, with its inaugural flight tentatively planned from Palma de Mallorca to Memmingen, analysis of parent Ryanair’s internet booking engine shows. Ryanair Holdings’ new Maltese subsidiary is due to replace Lauda (OE, Vienna), which is slated for closure. Lauda Europe will take over the operation of A320-200s from Lauda and will exclusively operate as a technical wet-lease operator under Ryanair’s “FR” code. As of August 26, 2020, Lauda Europe has yet to receive its Maltese Air Operator’s Certificate. As such, none of Lauda’s aircraft have been transferred to the Maltese register so far. The Austrian airline, the sole Airbus operator within Ryanair Holdings, currently has a fleet of thirty A320-200s and has no plans to increase it beyond this number in the near term. Ryanair declined to confirm that Lauda Europe would launch on September 13. In a statement to ch-aviation, the LCC only relayed its earlier press release saying that Lauda Europe would be operational by the start of the winter 2021/22 season.