VIENNA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Austrian Airlines (AUA) has seen records in both passenger numbers and total earnings in 2017, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Its passenger numbers reached 12.9 million, an increase of 13 percent over a year ago, while its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) climbed to 101 million euros (125 million U.S. dollars), a 55-percent year-on-year increase.
Management for the Austrian flag carrier airline put much of its success down to increased demand for flights within Europe, which coincided with the folding of rival airlines Air Berlin and its Austrian subsidiary Niki.
After many years of jobs cuts the company also boosted its ranks last year, hiring 464 new staff.
CEO Kay Kratky acknowledged however that 2018 will be more challenging, with fuel costs as well as company investments such as in expanding its fleet to see its performance slightly below that of 2017.
