Clear ownership commitment for Linz

In view of the massive effects of the global travel and air traffic crisis caused by the corona pandemic on Linz Airport, its owners discussed possible scenarios with the airport management in a future talk. As a result of these discussions, the owners made a clear commitment to Linz Airport.

"Linz Airport is of key importance for Upper Austria as a business location before, during and after the Corona crisis," explains the State Economic Council and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Markus Achleitner. For the state of Upper Austria, which owns half of the airport in addition to the city of Linz, as a leading economic and industrial federal state with the highest export quota in the federal state comparison, Linz airport is of great importance as a logistics network, both in the passenger and freight sector.

In the freight sector in particular, Linz Airport has played out its strengths in the previous phase of the corona pandemic, was able to present a new regular freight connection and was able to reach the level of the previous year as early as August. However, due to the innumerable travel warnings and restrictions in air traffic, passenger traffic has collapsed, which means that Linz Airport had to record a sharp drop in sales. However, the Mayor of Linz, Klaus Luger, makes it clear: “The airport's self-financing power is also available in these difficult times. Through active cost management, the management can safely steer airport operations through the crisis without the need for subsidies from the owners ”. Linz Airport would have managed very well for more than the last 15 years and was therefore always able to close with a positive business result.

As soon as the corona-related situation allows, the scheduled and charter flight connections should also be restarted. There are constant discussions and ongoing negotiations with the airlines and tour operators, assures airport boss Norbert Draskovits. With four weekly flights to Dusseldorf, Austrian would already have its first flight offer in winter. Despite the current difficult situation, the city of Linz is behind the airport and its preservation, emphasizes Luger and states: “In the long term, however, we must insist that a joint, future-oriented nationwide solution is found for all regional airports. The Lufthansa / Star Alliance monopoly will certainly present us with difficulties here ”. The planned savings on the part of Lufthansa could also set a new course here.

The investment program planned so far, however, continues, as the owners state. A total of 7,6 million euros are to be invested, on the one hand for measures that were started in 2019 and 2020 and are to be completed next year, and on the other hand for projects planned for 2021. A large part of the investments will go into the further automation of freight logistics, through which the airport is to be further strengthened as a logistics hub. The modernization of the passenger terminal will also be completed, through which the comfort for the passengers is to be increased, among other things by shorter distances. Nevertheless, “savings are being made everywhere,” Draskovits told the media. Short-time working was also extended to March 2021, and operational processes were further optimized in order to save costs.

All of these measures and commitments on the part of the two airport owners are intended to ensure that Linz Airport fulfills three central tasks with a connection to international hubs, as an essential function as a logistics location and gateway for the Upper Austrian economic area and as an important partner of the Federal Armed Forces .

2 Comments

  • Scrap metal aviators, 8. October 2020 @ 09: 38

    Linz is practically a military airport with civil shared use, so the army should also be involved in infrastructure measures such as the renovation of the runway.
    It is good that the cargo flights could be expanded and in general aviation you are also well positioned with the largest genuine Austrian airlines.

  • Scrap metal aviators, 8. October 2020 @ 09: 50

    In addition, a Reigonal Airlines is missing, with 50 to 140 seats, where you can travel to destinations such as Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Milan, Belgrade, Zagreb, Budapest, Bucharest,
    Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Krakow, Copenhagen served several times a week.
    In addition, some holiday destinations in the summer, such as a small airline with seven to ten planes, the region would be able to handle I think.

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