Austrian Airlines suspends wet-lease cooperation with Braathens Regional Airways

Austrian Airlines has suspended its wet-lease cooperation with Braathens Regional Airways (BRA) with immediate effect, following the insolvency of its sister company, Braathens International Airways. BRA had been operating ATR 72 aircraft on behalf of Austrian Airlines on several regional routes.

According to Austrian Airlines, the carrier has been in close contact with Braathens Regional Airways since the insolvency became public in late September. However, ongoing evaluations showed that the wetlease partner is currently undergoing an operational transition, making it impossible to reliably assess key performance and compliance criteria. As a result, BRA no longer fully meets the wetlease standards of the Lufthansa Group, leading to the suspension of the partnership.

During the current winter schedule, three ATR aircraft operated by BRA were used on 12 destinations for Austrian Airlines. For all wet-lease flights planned since Monday, December 15, 2025, alternative solutions were arranged, ensuring that services could still be operated.

Austrian Airlines is now making short-term adjustments to its flight schedule for the coming days and weeks. Some routes may be temporarily suspended or see reduced frequencies, while others will be operated by Austrian Airlines’ own fleet or Lufthansa Group partners, including Edelweiss.

Passengers affected by the changes are being proactively contacted by Austrian Airlines. Options for medium- and long-term solutions, including the summer 2026 schedule, are currently under review.

Source: Austrian Wings – AUA löst Wetlease mit Braathens Regional auf.