28. December 2009 With a big party in the Tel Aviv harbor, Eli Messer, General Manager of Austrian Airlines in Israel, bid farewell to all his business partners and friends from Israel and Austria. Eli Messer joint Austrian Airlines in 1964, a few months after AUA started operation in Israel. In 1974 Eli Messer became General Manager and has filled this position with enthusiasm and professionalism until today. Starting with one weekly flight to Tel Aviv in 1964, Austrian Airlines has gradually increased the frequency to two daily connections between Vienna and Tel Aviv, making Austrian Airlines to one of the seven biggest carriers at Ben Gurion Airport.
From 1977 until 2006 Eli Messer also represented the Austrian National Tourist Office in Israel. From very modest beginnings, today over 60.000 Israeli Tourists arrive in Austria annually, accounting for over 230.000 overnight stays, of which approx. 60% in the summer season and the remaining 40% in winter. Tourism hotspots for Israeli travelers to Austria are Tirol, Salzburg and of course Vienna.
Eli Messer will retire from his position on the 31st of December 2009. His successor Daphna Ben-Moshe has been working for Austrian Airlines for many years and will continue the path of growth for Austrian Airlines in Israel.