Laudamotion will double its Airbus fleet from nine to 18 aircraft next summer.
The decision follows the completion of Ryanair’s purchase of 75 per cent shareholding in Laudamotion from founder and former Formula 1 racing driver Niki Lauda earlier this month.
Laudamotion also announced a series of initiatives to support Laudamotion’s continued growth, including a new aircraft livery reflecting the company’s Austrian heritage.
Speaking in Vienna, Laudamotion chief executive, Andreas Gruber, said: “Laudamotion now faces the future with great confidence, backed by the enormous financial strength of Ryanair, our new majority shareholder.
“Laudamotion has already achieved load factors over 90 per cent in its first summer season, thanks to the efforts of over 500 Laudamotion colleagues.
“These nine additional 2019 Airbus deliveries ensure that Laudamotion will grow again by at least 20 per cent in 2019 to five million guests per annum.”
Laudamotion will establish new offices in Vienna, while a new personnel direction, Christian Euler Rolle, will begin work next month.
Ryanair chief commercial officer, David O’Brien, added: “We applaud the extraordinary work of Niki Lauda, Andreas Gruber and all the Laudamotion team in the face of very difficult market circumstances and unfair competitor activity to deliver this flying programme this summer, which has provided low fares for the first time ever on over 53 routes.”