After months of standstill and the loss of direct access to international air traffic, the strategically important route from Linz to Frankfurt is returning.
From March 29, 2026, the Danish airline DAT (Danish Air Transport) will take over operations, thus filling the gap left by Austrian Airlines' withdrawal last autumn. The state of Upper Austria is securing this project with a substantial financial guarantee of up to €36 million over four years. At the same time, far-reaching changes are underway in the airport's ownership structure, as the state intends to acquire a majority stake from the city of Linz.
Strategic realignment following the withdrawal of AUA
October 25, 2025, marked a low point for Linz-Hörsching Airport when the last Austrian Airlines flight took off for Frankfurt. The Lufthansa Group cited a lack of profitability as the reason for discontinuing the service; some flights carried as few as 21 passengers. For Upper Austria's economy, this meant the loss of direct access to one of the world's most important air traffic hubs.
To secure this infrastructure, which is critical for the region's export sector, the state government under Governor Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) initiated a Europe-wide tendering process. This model of public co-financing required a competition law review and approval by the European Union. Given the pressure on regional airports across Europe, the now-finalized solution is considered exemplary for safeguarding regional connections.
Details on the flight schedule and interline agreement
The Danish airline DAT will operate the route with an aircraft that has over 70 seats. A key aspect of the agreement is the so-called night stop: the aircraft will remain stationed in Linz overnight, enabling early departure times that are particularly important for business travelers.
The flight schedule includes three daily rotations from Monday to Thursday. Departures from Linz are scheduled for 6:10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. Return flights from Frankfurt land in Upper Austria at 8:30 a.m., 12:50 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. Regular flights are also scheduled for Fridays and weekends.
A key factor in the success of the new connection is baggage handling. Thanks to an interline agreement between DAT and around 20 partner airlines – including industry giants like Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and SAS – baggage can be checked through directly from Linz to the final destination. This significantly increases convenience during layovers at Frankfurt Airport and is intended to restore passenger confidence.
Financial safety net and political conflict
The state of Upper Austria is providing a maximum of €36 million over the next four years. This amount serves as a guarantee to cover any potential losses incurred by the airline. For the current year, 2026, up to €7,5 million has been budgeted due to the launch at the end of March, with a maximum of €9 million allocated for each subsequent year. Governor Stelzer emphasized that a detailed accounting will be conducted by auditors at the end of each fiscal year to determine the actual need for the subsidies.
This financial commitment, however, is causing political tension between the current 50 percent owners, the state of Upper Austria and the city of Linz. Since the city of Linz, under Mayor Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ), refuses to contribute to the subsidies, the state is now demanding that it acquire the majority stake. Stelzer argues that whoever bears the financial risk must also assume strategic leadership. The city of Linz is currently reviewing this offer but is also facing a private bid: A consortium led by entrepreneur Manfred Zorn from Hofkirchen already offered one million euros for the city's shares and a capital increase of three million euros in December.
Criticism from the opposition
The opposition parties in the state parliament are voicing strong criticism. The Greens describe the project as an expensive shuttle service for managers, while necessary savings are being made in social services. The NEOS party accuses state politicians of ignoring structural problems at the airport for years and speaks of a management crisis that is now merely being masked with taxpayers' money.
Despite the criticism, the state government points to the positive development of passenger numbers, which rose to over 260.000 in 2025, representing a significant increase compared to the previous year. The Frankfurt connection is intended to solidify this upward trend and guarantee planning security for the next four years.