Vienna, Feb 25 - Lufthansa is reducing the cargo business of Austrian Airlines, the newly acquired subsidiary said Wednesday - 24 hours after announcing cuts in its technical maintenance unit.

The troubled Austrian Airlines is currently implementing tough savings measures and cuts, after being taken over by Lufthansa last September in an effort to use synergies between the two carriers.

A quarter of jobs in cargo and maintenance would be slashed, reducing the number by 260, a spokesman said.

At the same time, Austrian Airlines said that Vienna would become the Lufthansa group's third cargo hub besides Frankfurt and Munich.

Under the plan, Austrian Airlines will stop servicing airplanes of other carriers.

Meanwhile, some 500 flight attendants and pilots of the Austrian carrier staged a short protest against the 150-million-euro ($204-million) austerity programme Wednesday at Vienna airport, Austrian press agency APA reported.

The protest followed on the heels of a strike by Lufthansa pilots which was suspended Monday to allow for talks with management. (dpa)