According to a report, the European airlines have been restructured due to the increasing competition and pressure on costs.

This has happened due to a move to a higher-capacity aircraft and absorption of many regional carriers into national carriers.

In Austria, the members of the European Regions Airline (ERA) Association are going to meet this month for the group's annual general assembly.

Also, former regional-airline Tyrolean Airways has been included into flag carrier Austrian Airlines.

As a result, the Innsbruck-based Welcome Aviation Group (which includes Tyrol Air Ambulance) is now the only airline representing the country, along with general-assembly host Salzburg Airport.

The Austrian Airlines has adopted a lower cost structure across its business and Tyrolean has become the first European regional airline, to achieve long-haul status (only by default rather than design).

Tyrolean regional/short-haul operations for Austrian now include non-stop services, linking Salzburg with Austrian capital Vienna. It also includes a further 95 connecting destinations and the Greek island Zakinthos. Tyrolean's administration has started moving from its original headquarters at Innsbruck to Vienna. Also only the Tyrolean engineering base has been left behind to maintain the turboprop fleet.

According to Manfred Helldoppler, Welcome Air/TAA joint managing director and a former managing director of Tyrolean Airways, ERA member Welcome Aviation Group comprises Dornier 328 operator Welcome Air, recently defunct regional operator Air Alps and Tyrol Air Ambulance (TAA).