Austrian Airlines Abruptly Terminates Wet Lease with Braathens Regional Airlines

Austrian Airlines has terminated its wet lease agreement with Swedish carrier Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) with immediate effect, citing a failure to meet operational standards. The sudden cancellation forces the Lufthansa Group subsidiary to scramble for replacement capacity on several key regional routes connected to its Vienna hub.

Contract Suspended "With Immediate Effect"

On Monday, December 15, 2025, Austrian Airlines confirmed the suspension of its partnership with BRA. A spokesperson for the Austrian flag carrier stated that the decision was made because Braathens "no longer fully meets the Lufthansa Group's wet lease standards."

Reports from industry insiders indicate the termination followed a failed operational audit, a critical compliance measure for any airline operating flights on behalf of the Lufthansa Group.

The move pulls the plug on a partnership that began in early 2024, which saw Braathens operating ATR 72-600 turboprops on thinner regional routes where Austrian’s own Embraer 195 jets were deemed too large or uneconomical.

Operational Impact and Affected Routes

The termination is effective immediately, leaving a gap in Austrian’s regional schedule. Braathens had been operating flights from Vienna (VIE) to destinations including:

• Klagenfurt (KLU)
• Košice (KSC)
• Leipzig/Halle (LEJ)
• Belgrade (BEG)
• Graz (GRZ)
• Warsaw (WAW)
• Zagreb (ZAG)

Passengers booked on these services should expect aircraft swaps, with Austrian likely upgauging flights to its own Embraer 195 or Airbus A320 aircraft where possible to cover the shortfall. In the short term, some schedule consolidations or cancellations may occur as the airline adjusts its rostering to absorb the lost capacity.

Turbulence at Braathens

The contract termination is a severe blow to Braathens Regional Airlines, which has been navigating a period of intense financial instability.

In October 2025, the Swedish carrier entered a court-administered financial reorganisation (similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection) to restructure its debt. This move came shortly after its sister company, Braathens International Airways (which operated Airbus aircraft), filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations.

BRA had pivoted its business model to focus almost exclusively on ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) contract flying for other airlines like SAS and Austrian rather than operating its own commercial routes. Losing the prestigious Austrian Airlines contract undermines this recovery strategy and raises further questions about the carrier's long-term viability.

What’s Next for Austrian?

Austrian Airlines must now decide on a long-term solution for its regional feeder network. The carrier originally outsourced these routes to BRA to reduce costs and utilise right-sized turboprops for short hauls.

Industry analysts suggest Austrian may deepen its reliance on Air Dolomiti, another Lufthansa Group subsidiary, or seek a new wet-lease partner with compliant turboprop aircraft. Meanwhile, Austrian’s operations team faces the complex task of fulfilling the schedule with its existing mainline fleet during the busy holiday travel season.

Advice for Travellers

If you are booked on an Austrian Airlines flight to or from Klagenfurt, Kosice, or Leipzig in the coming days, check your flight status immediately. While Austrian Airlines aims to operate all flights, the sudden change in aircraft operator may result in updated departure times or seat assignments.