Lauda Europe

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Lauda Europe
Lauda Europe A320-200 in standard livery
IATA ICAO Call sign
LW LDA BEAUFORT[1]
FoundedJuly 2020 (2020-07)
Commenced operations
13 September 2020 (2020-09-13)[2]
AOC #MT-62[3]
Operating bases
Fleet size26
Parent companyRyanair Holdings
HeadquartersPietà, Malta
Key peopleDavid O’Brien (CEO)[4]
Websitewww.laudaeurope.com

Lauda Europe Limited is a Maltese low-cost airline operating on behalf of its parent company Ryanair. The airline performs wet-lease flights for Ryanair and charter services.[5]

History

Lauda Europe is the successor of Austrian carrier Lauda. In 2020, Ryanair Holdings closed its Austrian unit in favor of Lauda Europe, a newly established Maltese subsidiary, and transferred Lauda's fleet of 29 Airbus A320 aircraft to the new airline. Lauda staff were offered new positions at Lauda Europe.[6] The airline received its AOC and formally took flight in September 2020.[7][8]

In May 2021, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary stated that Lauda may move to an all-Boeing 737 fleet. However, in July 2022, O'Leary announced that Ryanair would extend the Lauda Europe Airbus A320 leases until 2028.[9] In 2024, O'Leary advised he would be looking to extend the leases further and eventually increase Lauda's fleet of Airbus narrow-bodies.[10]

Fleet

Lauda Europe Airbus A320-200

Current fleet

As of July 2026, Lauda Europe operates the following aircraft:[11]

Lauda Europe fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Orders Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-200 26 — 180
Total 26 —

Former fleet

As of August 2025, Lauda Europe operates 26 Airbus A320.[12]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 23 June 2025, Ryanair flight FR111 from Palma de Mallorca to Berlin (operated by Lauda Europe) was forced to make an emergency landing in Marseille due to smoke developing onboard the aircraft, leading to respiratory irritation for passengers.[13]

See also

References

  1. "ICAO Aircraft Company/Telephony/Three−Letter Designator and U.S. Special Telephony/Call Signs". FAA. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. "Lauda Europe (Malta) launches operations". Worldairlinenews.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. "List of AOC holders as at 1st June 2021". Transport Malta. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  4. "Ryanair | Executive Officers". investor.ryanair.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  5. "Lauda Europe official website". Lauda Europe. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  6. Hofmann, Kurt. "Laudamotion to evolve into Malta-Based Lauda Europe". Informa PLC. Routes Online. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. "Malta's Lauda Europe to launch in late 3Q20". ch-aviation.com.
  8. "Lauda Europe Launches Operations; More Cuts Possible, CEO Says". avaitionweek.com.
  9. Q&A Video at 7min7sec via "Ryanair Q3 Results FY23". 30 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. "Ryanair eyes more A320s for its Lauda Europe unit". ch-aviation.com.
  11. "Global Airline Guide 2026 - Lauda Europe". Airliner World. October 2026. p. 19.
  12. "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Lauda Europe". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 66.
  13. "Ryanair flight from Mallorca to Berlin diverts to Marseille after in-flight smoke incident". aviation24.be.