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Austrian Airlines has welcomed the release of research from the Association of European Airlines (AEA) which showed that the carrier improved its punctuality levels in 2007.

Peter Malanik, chief operations officer with the airline, said that efficiency gains and business improvements introduced in recent years have allowed the company to make 'huge advances'.

He added: 'We are now the number one carrier in Europe in terms of arrival punctuality in the long-haul flight segment.

'Measured by punctuality of short- and medium-haul flights – something of particular importance to our transfer passengers – we are in an excellent third place in Europe.'

Overall, Austrian recorded punctuality figures of 84.1% for short- and medium-haul services and 82.1% on long-haul routes.

Collectively, the AEA's member airlines attained 77.7% punctuality in short- and medium-haul and a 65.9% on-time record in the long-haul segment.

Dr Malanik claimed that Austrian Airlines' performance is now a 'yardstick for the industry', as the carrier has managed to maintain high standards despite sometimes challenging weather conditions, limited air traffic control capacity and airport strikes.

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