Austrian Airlines has decided to terminate, with immediate effect, its cooperation with Swedish regional carrier Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA), bringing to an end the use of ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft that were introduced into the Austrian flag carrier’s network during the summer 2024 schedule. As reported by Aviation Source News, the decision follows a combination of safety and operational concerns as well as financial issues within the Braathens group.
The key trigger for the termination was a failed audit, alongside circumstances arising from the insolvency of Braathens International Airways, BRA’s sister company, which filed for bankruptcy in late September 2025. Although Braathens Regional Airlines is not itself subject to insolvency proceedings, the difficulties within the group have had a direct impact on operational stability and on the ability to oversee compliance reliably.
Austrian Airlines states that it closely monitored developments following the bankruptcy of the sister company and remained in continuous contact with BRA. However, extensive changes to the Swedish carrier’s operational processes made it increasingly difficult to reliably verify compliance with the safety and performance standards required by the Lufthansa Group. As a result, Braathens Regional Airlines no longer meets the strict wet-lease requirements, under which one airline provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to another, leading to the suspension of the cooperation until further notice.
During the current winter schedule, BRA operated three ATR 72-600 aircraft on behalf of Austrian Airlines to a total of 12 destinations, with some routes fully operated by the Swedish carrier and others only partially. Austrian Airlines says it reacted swiftly to avoid major disruptions and that all flights planned with BRA for 15 December 2025 were operated using alternative arrangements.
Today’s operational developments underline the urgency of the decision. According to available information, Braathens aircraft are today, 16 December, withdrawing from the Austrian Airlines network and returning to their bases in Stockholm Arlanda and Copenhagen. At the same time, Austrian Airlines is rapidly reorganising services on the routes previously operated by Braathens, planning to deploy predominantly Airbus A320 aircraft. This clearly indicates the need to secure capacity immediately using its own resources, without the possibility of a gradual transition.
It is particularly notable that on routes to Zagreb, which were already relatively weakly loaded even when operated with ATR 72-600 aircraft and are additionally exposed to direct competition from Croatia Airlines, the use of Airbus A320 aircraft is planned. Deploying a significantly larger aircraft type on a market with limited demand further confirms that this is an extraordinary and urgent measure, taken primarily to preserve operational continuity and network stability.
As Aviation Source News notes, the bankruptcy of Braathens International Airways stems from severe liquidity problems. Back in late August 2025, the board decided to gradually phase out Airbus jet operations and focus on the more profitable ATR 72 turboprop segment. However, attempts to secure bridge financing failed, despite more than SEK 300 million invested by the owners since the start of the pandemic. In this context, Austrian Airlines’ decision further highlights the Lufthansa Group’s increasingly strict approach to safety, operational reliability and the stability of its partnership arrangements.
