In the past year, government travel by air (inevitably) made savings. 

Last year the republic had to go into debt on a large scale due to the pandemic. The state costs related to the flying of the individual members of the government were more “peanuts” in comparison. The ministries' flight costs totaled around 1,55 million euros. This emerges from the answers to parliamentary questions by the FPÖ.

The Ministry of Defense was the frontrunner in terms of flights, followed by the Federal Chancellery ORF. The Freedom Party criticizes this "brisk" travel activity, even though the expenditures were significantly higher in previous years. According to the FPÖ, the Ministry of Defense lost a total of 316.000 euros last year. The Chancellery spent around 256.000 euros, the Ministry of Agriculture around 214.000 euros. 

Brunner criticized for flights to Vorarlberg

It is noteworthy for FPÖ environmental spokesman Walter Rauch, who submitted the inquiries to the departments, that the climate protection ministry caused flight costs of around 145.000 euros despite CoV restrictions. "This double standard is unbearable and must be turned off," said the Freedom Officer.

It could not be that, for example, flights within Austria and to Munich, Zagreb and Berlin are booked, although video conferences can be held in the digital age. In particular, ÖVP State Secretary Magnus Brunner should apparently feel addressed here. This is because he traveled by plane to his home in Vorarlberg several times a year.