The airline Austrian Airlines receives 600 million euros, approximately 6.3 billion kronor, from the Austrian state. But with the money comes a number of environmental requirements.
Austrian Airlines is one of the airlines that has threatened to collapse in the corona crisis. After lengthy negotiations, the Austrian government is ready to save the airline. The owner, the German airline giant Lufthansa, and the Austrian government are each putting in 150 million euros, while banks are ready to provide the remaining 300 million euros. However, the loans are guaranteed to 90 percent by the state.
But the support does not come without countermeasures. For the first time in Austria's political history, the Greens are in government. In order for the party to agree to save an airline, the Austrian environmentalists have made a number of counter-demands in negotiations with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's conservative ÖVP.
The final agreement includes that Austrian Airlines will halve its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. To reach the climate goal, the airline will invest in new and more fuel-efficient aircraft and start using more alternative aviation fuels.
In addition, the Greens have passed a completely new game plan for all airlines operating at Austrian airports.
Among other things, it will be illegal to sell unprofitable tickets, where the price is lower than taxes and fees. This means in practice a minimum price of 40 euros for a flight ticket.
All flights where there is a train alternative of less than three hours will also be prohibited.
In addition, a planned ticket tax of 12 euros has been brought forward, while flights of less than 350 kilometers will be subject to a tax of 30 euros.
”It will no longer be possible to offer tickets that are cheaper than the actual cost,” says Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler of the Greens.
The agreement also includes more money for public transport, mainly trains that will replace short domestic flights.
The new environmental regulations mean, among other things, the end of the Salzburg airport. The Vienna-Salzburg train route takes 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Reactions to the agreement to save the struggling airline follow the different party lines.
”Expanded train connections can replace these shortest routes quickly, comfortably and in a climate-friendly way,” says a satisfied Heinrich Schellhorn, spokesperson for the Greens in the state of Salzburg.
On the other hand, Wilfried Haslauer, ÖVP, and Salzburg's head of government, is dissatisfied.
”"It's painful for Salzburg. We are not happy," he tells Kronen Zeitung.
Source: di.se
