Just a few days ago, the Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines resumed non-stop connections from Graz to Stuttgart and Düsseldorf. The connection to the KLM hub in Amsterdam will also follow on October 25, 2020. Lufthansa will soon be flying to Frankfurt twice a day again. But Graz Airport was also hit hard by the effects of the corona pandemic.

The resumption of operations from the Styrian airport is slow because important routes such as Munich, Zurich and Berlin have not yet been resumed. Nevertheless, Graz came through the crisis more stable than other regional airports, which is probably also due to the high level of business travel.

Aviation.Direct spoke to Gerhard Widmann, who has been managing director of Grazer Flughafen for many years and who will retire at the end of the year, about the latest developments in travel, rapid tests and how his team experienced the sudden lockdown.

Aviation.Direct: What steps must governments and the EU take to enable the aviation and tourism industries to survive and make a comeback?
Gerhard Widman: First I would like to start by saying that we are very grateful for the instrument of short-time work! The airport staff are experts in many areas who cannot easily be replaced. Maintaining them in order to be able to guarantee high quality for our guests, partners and customers also in the future is therefore a high priority and has become possible thanks to short-time working. Of course, it would be desirable if there were EU-wide rules on travel warnings. That would not only help the entire travel and tourism industry, but above all also the people who currently have to or want to travel for professional or private reasons.   

Aviation.Direct: Some airlines and the IATA argue that quick tests should be carried out before departure. This could be done, for example, during the security check. What do you think of performing quick tests before every departure and how could they be implemented for you?
Gerhard Widman: Whether and how such tests are carried out is primarily a matter for the authorities. Of course, we support all steps that lead to greater security and greater confidence among our passengers.

Aviation.Direct: Please describe a little how you and your employees experienced the sudden quasi-standstill in aviation and what feelings and thoughts did you have? How was the mood with you when the air traffic gradually started up again?
Gerhard Widman: We are a generation that has so far led a very good life in Europe without wars and disasters. By and large, we can do what we want in many areas and so far we have experienced large parts of the world openly and travelable. Corona was and is of course a special turning point. Our main task was and is to get the airport through this time as well as possible. As already mentioned, short-time working is a great help, but of course we have all planned costs - whether investments, maintenance, but also everything else - carefully checked for their necessity. Saving is the top priority, but not at the expense of security or people. On June 22nd, when the first regular flight landed again after the Covid break, we were very grateful. And that is still what we are today with every additional destination, with every flight increase.