Austrian Airlines currently has around 420 million euros available. According to company boss Alexis von Hoensbroech you are “not under the business plan that was the basis for state aid”.

The AUA General Director emphasized to the courier that they “built in financial buffers for a possible second wave from the start” and that liquidity would be good. However, the carrier he heads has to practice “tough cost discipline”. However, von Hoensbroech does not want to give an outlook on the possible developments in 2021. However, he hopes that the vaccinations and rapid tests will "turn the tide of the pandemic." If demand recovers to 60 to 70 percent of the pre-crisis level in summer, then we will come over the mountain ”.

The summer flight schedule for 2021 is not yet final. We are currently in the planning phase. Usually you do this in autumn, but due to the unpredictable pandemic developments, Austrian Airlines tries to stay as flexible as possible through late planning. The occupancy rate is currently catastrophic, as many flights have fewer than 20 passengers. It is true that there are rare “slip-ups” upwards, but the demand and thus also the landing factor are poor underground. Very few connections have more than 20 travelers on board, and many even fewer. Austrian Airlines says it has reduced capacity to around ten to 15 percent of the January 2020 level.

“People want to travel again, we are getting a lot of bookings for the summer holidays. That makes us optimistic, "said von Hoensbroech to the courier, who hopes that the risk groups will be vaccinated by Easter and" anyone who wants to can be vaccinated by the summer. Then the restrictions can be lifted and people can travel again ”. However, he rules out a “compulsory vaccination” for passengers and employees. Nevertheless, the AUA boss suspects that many countries will require proof of a vaccination and will impose on the airlines that the vaccination card is checked before boarding.

State Secretary Magnus Brunner, who is responsible for aviation in the Austrian federal government, believes that vaccination is a “game changer”. He is confident that this will work “as we imagine it”, the politician told the courier. Brunner currently does not expect the AUA to need additional state aid, but emphasizes: "According to the current epidemiological status".