Change on Executive Board at Austrian Airlines

• Karsten Benz to become new Chief Commercial Officer
• Supervisory Board to decide change of management on 13 March

A change is planned on the Executive Board of Austrian Airlines. Karsten Benz (47), currently Europe head of the Sales & Services Division at Lufthansa Passage, is to succeed Andreas Bierwirth in the position of Chief Commercial Officer. The Supervisory Board Steering Committee will propose the change to the Supervisory Board at its next meeting.

"Karsten Benz is one of the most experienced top managers we have in the Lufthansa Group in the field of Sales and Network Management. With this recommendation, we are sending a clear signal that we will be continuing to work with everything we have on the long-term perspectives of Austrian Airlines," said Stefan H. Lauer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Austrian Airlines.

"With Karsten Benz, we want to strengthen the Executive Board team with a highly competent and acknowledged manager of international standing. Bierwirth made a significant contribution to the modernisation of Austrian Airlines during the difficult phase of privatisation. We would like to thank Mr. Bierwirth for his extraordinary commitment during his four years in the post." stated Mr. Lauer.

It is planned for Mr. Benz to take up his new position on 1 April 2012.

Karsten Benz is currently responsible for Sales in 45 markets in the Lufthansa Group, and for Ground Handling at 104 airports. As area manager for Europe, he currently has responsibility for 1,200 employees. Benz, who is a keen triathlon runner, was previously responsible for Network and Fleet Planning at Lufthansa. The native of Stuttgart began his career in 1990 in the accounting department of Lufthansa. Benz studied Economics at the Universities of Cologne and Bamberg in Germany, and at Columbia Business School in New York. He is married and has one child.