Francesco Sciortino, Chief Operating Officer of Austrian Airlines since 1 April 2021, will take up a new challenge on the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines as Hub Manager Frankfurt and Accountable Manager with effect from 1 September 2025. Over the past four and a half years, Francesco Sciortino has made a significant contribution to the positive development of Austrian Airlines as COO and has raised operations to a new level with his team. The airline has been one of the seven most punctual airlines in Europe for three years in a row and is currently in third place. It has also won other major awards, including the Skytrax Best Airline Staff Europe Award, which was presented in 2023 and most recently in 2025, as well as recognition as one of the 20 best cabin crews in the world.
“I look back on my time at Austrian Airlines with great gratitude. I began my flying career there in 1997 as a co-pilot on the A320 and have been able to set an important course for the future as Chief Operating Officer over the last 4½ years. With the successful introduction of the brand new Airbus A320neo and the introduction of the Boeing 787-9, the modernization of the fleet was driven forward decisively. The recent decision to phase out the Embraer 195 now paves the way for a streamlined and efficient fleet structure. I am convinced that Austrian Airlines is ideally positioned for the future and I am now looking forward to my new role at Lufthansa Airlines”, says Francesco Sciortino.
Before joining Austrian Airlines, Sciortino was Managing Director and Accountable Manager at Germanwings and was previously Accountable Manager and Project Manager at SunExpress Germany, where he was responsible for the development of long-haul operations. Furthermore, he flies as captain on the Airbus A330/340 at Lufthansa. The promotion to the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines marks an exciting career step for the 52-year-old and also means a return to his German home, Frankfurt.
“We would like to thank Francesco Sciortino for his dedicated and inspiring leadership. His achievements have not only shaped Austrian Airlines, but have repeatedly set benchmarks throughout the Lufthansa Group. I am convinced that with his passion for operations and his high level of ambition he will positively shape the core brand of the Lufthansa Group. The entire Austrian Airlines team congratulates Francesco on his new challenge and wishes him every success for the tasks ahead,” says Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann.
Till Streichert, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Austrian Airlines and Chief Financial Officer of Lufthansa AG, emphasizes: “As a thoroughbred airliner and proven operations professional, Francesco Sciortino has made a decisive contribution to bringing the operational performance of Austrian Airlines to the highest level in recent years. I would like to thank him for this and look forward to continuing to work with him as a new member of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines.”
The replacement process has already begun.
