The first Aviation Expert Forum of Aviation Industry Austria (AIA), the umbrella organization of the Austrian aviation industry, took place yesterday, June 12, 2025, at Linz Airport and provided a platform for intensive discussions and diverse expert opinions.
Over 80 invited guests from the fields of politics, business, aviation, and tourism gathered to discuss the role of regional airports as mobility hubs and their significance for location development and international competitiveness. The event focused on the challenges and opportunities of air transport development in a changing market environment and networking with international markets. Experts highlighted the immense added value and the numerous jobs secured by the aviation industry in Austria and emphasized the need for close cooperation between business, tourism, and politics to ensure further growth and international relevance.
An illustrious podium: Concentrated expertise at Linz Airport
The Aviation Industry Austria Expert Forum brought together an impressive array of experts and decision-makers who shared their perspectives on the future of Austrian aviation. The panel featured renowned personalities representing various facets of the industry:
- Norbert Draskovits, Managing Director of Linz Airport, who acted as host and focused on the role of regional airports.
- Julian Hunter, Member of the Board of Management of Flughafen Wien AG and President of Aviation Industry Austria, who in his opening speech explained the importance of aviation for Austria as a whole.
- Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, Managing Director of the Austrian Tourist Board, who highlighted the connection between air transport and tourism.
- Thomas Bründl, Managing Director of Starlim-Sterner, a representative of the export-oriented industry that relies on good international connections.
- Johannes Adensamer, General Secretariat of the Federal Division of Transport and Traffic of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), who highlighted the economic policy dimension.
- Ralph Beisel, Managing Director of the Association of German Airports, who brought an important perspective from neighboring Germany.
- Jakob Reichsöllner-Frischling, company spokesperson for FACC, a leading company in the aerospace supply industry.
- Peter Malanik, Managing Director of Aviation Industry Austria, who summarized the concerns of the umbrella organization.
- Martin Gauss, former CEO of Air Baltic, who shared experiences from a prosperous regional airline.
This diverse panel reflected the complexity and far-reaching interrelationships of the aviation industry. The discussions revolved not only around technical and operational aspects, but also around economic policy frameworks, the role of regional development, and the need for international networking.
The role of regional airports: mobility, location and competitiveness
The event focused on Austria's regional airports. These locations are far more than just takeoff and landing sites for aircraft; they function as crucial mobility hubs that connect local economies with national and international markets. Especially in a country like Austria, whose economy is strongly export-oriented, such "gateways to the world" are invaluable.
Norbert Draskovits, Managing Director of Linz Airport, emphasized the dual function of regional airports in his keynote speech: "Regional airports are not only an indispensable component of international air traffic, but also play an important role as an economic factor." He emphasized that they are significant regional employers and, through their investments, contribute to value creation in their respective regions. These airports are therefore not only logistics hubs, but also job generators and infrastructure providers that significantly influence the development of entire regions. For companies that operate globally and rely on good international accessibility, regional airports represent a critical location factor. Good connections to international flight networks can significantly increase the competitiveness of companies, particularly in high-tech sectors or the manufacturing industry.
The challenges facing airlines and airports in a changing market environment were also discussed. These include shifts in demand, new technologies, and the need to adapt to global economic trends. Connectivity with international markets was identified as key to success, as it promotes not only passenger traffic but also the exchange of goods and services.
Value creation and jobs: Aviation as the engine of the Austrian economy
In his opening speech, Julian Jäger, President of Aviation Industry Austria, provided impressive figures on the economic importance of the Austrian aviation industry. He emphasized that Austrian aviation generates added value of over €25,1 billion and supports over 241.000 jobs. These figures include not only direct employment at airports and airlines, but also a wide range of jobs in the tourism sector, as well as in technology and service companies closely linked to aviation. Such indirect and induced effects demonstrate the far-reaching importance of aviation as a cross-sector industry for the entire economy.
Jäger also emphasized that the country's respective economic and tourism regions benefit from this added value and the jobs created. However, to remain internationally competitive, close cooperation between business, tourism, and politics is essential. He called for "growth impulses" and mentioned concrete measures such as "joint economic and tourism strategies, research and production incentives, and deregulation." This points to the need to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and promote investment in aviation technology and infrastructure to strengthen Austria's position in global air transport.
Peter Malanik, Managing Director of Aviation Industry Austria, supplemented these remarks from the industry's perspective. He emphasized that regional industrial locations, which are often heavily export-oriented, particularly need "a gateway to the world" to market their products and services internationally. Regarding tourism, he emphasized that air tourists "spend significantly more money" than travelers using other means of transport. This finding is of great importance for the tourism industry, as it underscores the need for good air connections for high-priced tourist segments.
Aviation Industry Austria: umbrella organization and industry representatives
Aviation Industry Austria (AIA) is the central umbrella organization and the largest interest group for the Austrian aviation industry. As such, it brings together the diverse interests of a broad range of stakeholders within the aviation industry. This includes not only the airports themselves and the airlines, but also the important aviation supply industry, technology and service providers, and business aviation.
The association currently represents approximately 100 member companies, directly or indirectly. This broad membership base gives the AIA a strong voice when it comes to articulate the aviation industry's concerns to policymakers and the public. The AIA's responsibilities include promoting dialogue among industry participants, lobbying to improve the framework conditions, conducting studies and expert discussions such as the forum in Linz, and representing Austrian aviation interests at the national and international levels. The association's work is crucial for securing and further expanding the long-term value creation, innovative strength, and competitiveness of Austrian aviation.
Outlook: The 23rd Aviation Symposium at Vienna Airport
The expert forum in Linz also served as the prelude to another key event for the Austrian aviation industry. The forum highlighted the upcoming 23rd Aviation Symposium, which will take place at Vienna Airport on September 18, 2025. This symposium is considered the most important platform for decision-makers in the Austrian aviation industry.
The annual aviation symposium typically attracts a wide range of executives from airlines, airport operators, politics, academia, and related industries. It offers the opportunity to discuss current challenges and future developments in air transport, build networks, and set the course for the industry's strategic direction. Topics covered at such symposia range from infrastructure development and digitalization to the economic framework. The symposium at Vienna Airport will thus continue and deepen the discussions initiated in Linz on an even broader level. For the Austrian aviation industry, such events are of great importance for strengthening the cohesion of the industry and developing a shared vision for the future.
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