Sochi 2014 today celebrates the latest milestone in its drive to link the city to Europe and beyond, as it welcomes the inaugural Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna to the region.

Austrian Airlines flight OS 615 lands at Sochi airport at 3.10pm local time. On board will be Grigory Minaev, Head of the Department of Transport for the Krasnodar region, Rudolf Mertl, Austrian Airlines Vice President, Wolfgang Grimus, Austrian Airlines Director of Eastern Europe, and Kurt Reimann, the Austrian Airlines General Manager for Russia.

Once on the ground, the airline representatives will hold seminars with over thirty Sochi-based tourism agencies to discuss services for travellers to the unique Black Sea location. The airline will operate three return flights per week from Vienna to Sochi, which will also link the venue for Russia's first ever Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to major world cities including Milan, Venice, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, London, Paris, New York, Chicago and Washington DC.

President and CEO of Sochi 2014 Dmitry Chernyshenko said:

"Sochi 2014 pledged at the outset of its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that the city and region would be turned into a world centre for Winter Sports. Today's flight demonstrates that the city and organisers are continuing to deliver on this promise, and we look forward to welcoming more and more visitors from across the world in the coming years".

Christine Svatos, Austrian Airlines Sochi General Manager said:

"We are delighted to be providing regular flights to Sochi and linking this unique location to the heart of Europe. Austrian Airlines is looking forward to being a part of Sochi's exciting future and today's flight marks an important first step in what we are sure will be a successful partnership".

back to news

print version