In celebration of the Vienna Tourist Board’s annual theme, “King of Waltz. Queen of Music.,” Austrian Airlines has transformed one of its Boeing 777 aircraft into a stunning tribute to Johann Strauss. This specially designed “Strauss plane” takes off tonight, carrying Vienna’s rich musical heritage to the world. Its maiden journey as an airborne cultural ambassador will first touch down in Malé, the capital of the Maldives.

The aircraft’s striking artwork reflects Vienna’s global influence in music and underscores the strong collaboration between Austrian Airlines and the Vienna Tourist Board. The exterior features an artistic silhouette of Johann Strauss, his name, and symbolic musical elements like a violin. The design, inspired by classic copper engravings, exudes timeless elegance, while the inclusion of modern headphones bridges the gap between Vienna’s classical past and contemporary music culture.

Special tradition

“Every year, the Danube Waltz is played more than 200,000 times on board our aircraft before take-off and after landing. Johann Strauss’ masterpiece clearly represents a great piece of tradition and home for us. It is therefore a great pleasure for us to carry a flying tribute to Johann Strauss and his works out into the world with our special livery”, emphasizes Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann.

“In 2025, Vienna will be celebrating the 200th birthday of the Waltz King – with 65 productions on around 250 performance days in all 23 districts. Johann Strauss is a major attraction for culturally interested audiences from Austria and abroad. The ‘Strauss Aircraft’ builds a symbolic bridge here: Once again, the Waltz King crosses national borders and connects people all over the world. This strengthens Vienna’s connection to the world and provides impetus for the visitor economy, the business location and the Viennese people”, says Vienna City Councillor for Economic Affairs Peter Hanke, President of the Vienna Tourist Board.

“The newly designed Boeing 777 of our long-standing partner Austrian Airlines will not only take over an important feeder function for the Asian region for the time being, but also underlines once again the importance of Johann Strauss for the global perception of Vienna. As the ‘King of Waltz’, he is an indispensable icon of Vienna, the capital of world music. His melodies are deeply rooted in the city’s DNA and embody the unique Viennese attitude to life. In this anniversary year, we have deliberately chosen a contemporary approach to bring the superstar into the 21st century,” emphasizes Norbert Kettner, Director of the Vienna Tourist Board.

Strauss’ Legacy Echoes from the Cosmos to Vienna’s Streets

The Vienna Tourist Board, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), has unveiled its first major production tied to its annual theme, “King of Waltz. Queen of Music.” The mini-documentary Space Anthem (spaceanthem.wien.info) explores an intriguing musical mystery: why was Johann Strauss’ legendary Blue Danube Waltz, often associated with space and sci-fi culture, left off the Voyager Golden Record in 1977?

For those exploring Vienna in 2025, the city’s award-winning travel app ivie (ivie.wien.info) offers a captivating “Johann Strauss Walk.” This 30-minute guided experience leads visitors through eleven iconic locations where the Waltz King once performed, immersing them in the timeless elegance of his music.

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