Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) describes the bonus payments that Austrian Airlines paid out to management at the end of July 2020 for services from the 2019 financial year, which ended with a small profit of 19 million euros, as “insensitive”.

The government member told various media and the Austria Press Agency that the company's behavior “lacks any sensitivity”. The approach chosen by the AUA is incomprehensible to him. “We have put together a very good package to secure jobs and give the location a perspective. I expect that the AUA board will live up to its responsibility, find a solution and, moreover, that the outstanding reimbursements of the ticket prices will be dealt with immediately by AUA ”, said Blümel.

But the minister also receives considerable criticism of his statements from the opposition. The SPÖ, the FPÖ and the union are calling for a ban on the payment of bonuses. National Council member Peter Wurm (FPÖ) said: “While the board members of a state-supported airline stuff their pockets with bonus payments despite high losses, domestic consumers have to wait months for their flight ticket reimbursement. This is a new scandal for which the black-green government is solely responsible. However, the green consumer protection minister, Anschober, has not yet spoken out in a single sentence or has campaigned for the interests of consumers. Due to the lack of consumer protection policy from the ministry, small consumers seem to lose out in this country, but not everyone can be an AUA board member, Minister! This matter has long become a test of patience for the people. In view of the already difficult situation including short-time work, less income or even job loss and rising living costs, many are dependent on this outstanding money. Anschober's “doing nothing” is an absolute disregard for his professional responsibility in this republic. I therefore urge the consumer protection minister to finally do his job and stand up for Austrian consumer interests ”.

The chairman of the on-board works council of Austrian Airlines, Rainer Stratberger, assumes that the payments of the bonuses to the management are legally correct, but also told the Ö1-Morgenjournal: “The external impact of AUA is fatal. I'm almost ashamed of the company. It is incomprehensible that your own management team can withdraw the bonuses while our customers have to wait for the money. I am very sorry about that".

The former transport minister and now FPÖ chairman Norbert Hofer is even of the opinion that the Austrian federal government was literally ripped off by Lufthansa: “If the German airline receives 450 million euros in state aid and cuts over 1.000 jobs, then it is Payment of a total of almost three million euros in special payments for the AUA executives, a mockery of the Austrian taxpayers and employees. Unfortunately, the turquoise-green federal government allowed the German Lufthansa to riot with every trick in the book. Chancellor Kurz and Finance Minister Blümel are fully responsible for the negotiation disaster. Here a deal was made with German negotiation professionals, which will cost the Austrians dearly and will unfortunately mean the end of the AUA in the medium term. "

Neos economics spokesman Sepp Schellhorn also criticizes: “If, in one of the biggest crises, a company that can only survive with hundreds of millions of government aid and also has to send its workforce on short-time work is allowed to pay out fat bonuses, then Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and his finance minister have the right to pay Gernot Blümel worked badly at the negotiating table. I hope the secrecy does not mean that there are more glitches and loopholes in the agreement that the government is trying to cover up. The taxpayers and parliament have a right to be informed about the details in a transparent manner. Otherwise, based on an old election slogan, one would have to say: Your state aid is flying here ”.