(ANSA) - UDINE, 3 APR - Austrian Airlines will continue the suspension of regularly scheduled flight operations by another two weeks, from April 19, 2020, to May 3, 2020. This decision was made today by the Management Board as the worldwide bans imposed as a consequence of the coronavirus are expected to continue or will even be extended. The airline company reported in a press release issued on its website.

"We will continue to carry out our repatriation and freight flights for medical supplies," said Austrian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Otto. In the past weeks, more than 6,000 stranded Austrians were brought home on behalf of the Austrian Federal Government, along with 180 tons of protective clothing transported to Vienna from China and Malaysia. Today a Boeing 777 aircraft departed for Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, under contract from the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, to bring home some stranded Austrians.

"When exactly regular flights will resume remains unknown and depends more on the global pandemic scenario than on us," CCO Andreas Otto underlined. "We continue to stand ready for a new and slow relaunch." Moreover, the launch of a flight to Boston, US, originally planned for June, will be delayed once again due to American travel restrictions. (ANSA).