Mikl-Leitner warns:

“Austrian strike also affects Schwechat Airport”

The airport in Schwechat is coming under pressure due to the faltering salary negotiations.(Bild: Huber Patrick)

AUA's salary negotiations are currently not making any headway. Employee strikes and flight cancellations are the result. The "Krone" newspaper has now asked Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) what consequences this will have for the airport in Schwechat.

"Krone": Governor,are the disputes at Austrian Airlines putting the airport site in Schwechat at risk?
Mikl-Leitner: Salary negotiations are part of business life. But hopefully it is obvious that nobody is happy when thousands of people are deprived of their dream vacation. I think both sides are aware of that. And I'm not going to point the finger at one side and say it's their fault. I just hope that passengers don't have to suffer any longer as a result of this situation. Austria has always benefited from a constructive social partnership, from the willingness of both sides to approach each other and find a common, fair solution. I therefore advise both sides to be reasonable - to be level-headed and capable of compromise. In the interests of the company and the jobs, and above all in the interests of the customers.

As one of the largest employers in the eastern region, the airport is important for the business location, says Mikl-Leitner(Bild: APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER)

What does the dispute mean for the airport as a whole?
Of course, AUA has played a major role in the success of Schwechat Airport. And therefore also in the success of Lower Austria as a business location. But as I said, salary negotiations are part of business life. At least that is the case in civilized countries.

How important is the airport for the economic strength of Lower Austria?
To put this into perspective: We are rightly proud of the fact that we have created framework conditions in recent years that ensure that Lower Austrians have the highest household incomes and the highest purchasing power in the whole of Austria. And it must be said that Vienna Airport, with more than 4,300 employees and a total turnover of almost one billion euros, is of course one of the most important companies in the entire eastern region. With 30 million passengers, it is our gateway to the world, so to speak. Also from an economic point of view.