Austrian Airlines is the national flag carrier of Austria, headquartered in Vienna. Founded in 1957, the airline has grown into a significant European carrier operating an extensive network of short-, medium-, and long-haul routes across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The airline became a member of the Lufthansa Group in 2009 after Lufthansa acquired a majority stake, integrating it into one of Europe's largest aviation conglomerates. Despite this ownership, Austrian Airlines maintains its own brand identity, IATA code, and operational independence. Austrian Airlines is known for its quality of service, particularly in business class on long-haul routes, and for its culinary offerings inspired by Austrian cuisine. The airline uses Vienna International Airport as its primary hub, leveraging Austria's central European location to connect passengers across continents.