From December 15, 2024, travelers can look forward to a significant innovation in the "AIRail" offer: the connection between Innsbruck and Vienna-Schwechat Airport will now officially be part of this successful intermodal concept. This expansion marks an important step in the ten-year partnership between ÖBB and Austrian Airlines and underlines the trend towards intermodal travel, which is becoming increasingly important.
The "AIRail" service was launched in December 2014 and has since then provided a seamless connection between various cities and Vienna Airport. Travelers can use both the train and the flight with just one ticket, which significantly increases travel comfort and simplifies travel planning. The service initially started from Linz, was expanded to include Salzburg in 2017 and Graz in 2020. Since the end of 2023, all direct Railjet connections to Vienna Airport have also been part of the "AIRail" service.
The cooperation between ÖBB and Austrian Airlines has proven to be extremely successful over the years. This intermodal solution not only connects cities within Austria, but also enables travelers to fly from over 125 international destinations operated by Austrian Airlines. With the extension to Innsbruck, the "AIRail" network is being further expanded and offers passengers from Tyrol an additional comfortable travel option.
Intermodal travel is on trend
"Intermodal travel is on trend," explains Sabine Stock, CEO of ÖBB-Personenverkehr AG. This trend has become particularly evident in recent years, as more and more travelers appreciate the comfort and efficiency of intermodal solutions. The option of combining travel to Vienna Airport with a train not only saves time, but also reduces the stress that can be associated with traveling to the airport. According to Stock, this trend is reflected in the continuous increase in passengers who prefer this type of travel.
The integration of Innsbruck into the "AIRail" network represents a significant step forward for intermodal connectivity. From December 15, 2024, the Tyrolean capital will be connected to Vienna Airport with up to 13 daily connections every hour. This gives travelers from Innsbruck a flexible and convenient connection to their international flight.
The "AIRail" offer offers travelers not only a practical but also a convenient solution. Tickets can be purchased conveniently via the Austrian Airlines website or a travel agency, and the same ticket is valid for both the train and flight journey. This integration saves time when booking and avoids the stress of separate bookings and transfers.
Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl highlights the importance of this expansion: "We are delighted that we can once again expand the established and popular 'AIRail' service from December 15th and thus further deepen our multimodal transport partnership with ÖBB." The expansion to Innsbruck is not only a logical continuation of the successful model, but also a significant step in the further optimization of the connection of the federal states to the central hub in Vienna.
The expansion of the "AIRail" offer shows the increasing relevance of intermodal transport solutions in today's mobility landscape. By combining train and flight, travelers can not only save time and stress, but also significantly improve the flexibility and comfort of their travel experience. The long-term vision is to further expand the offer and integrate even more cities into the network in order to meet the needs of modern travelers.