The power struggle between the Carinthian investment management and Lilihill over non-operational properties at Klagenfurt Airport is not yet off the table. At best, an interim solution, because a new exchange of blows takes place between Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) and State Councilor Martin Gruber (ÖVP).

The background is that Lilihill wants to lease around 10 hectares of space to a sister company of Klagenfurt Airport. The state-owned KBV went to court against the contract. ultimately became reached an agreementthat the original agreement will not be implemented. But the topic is far from off the table.

While the Carinthian governor Peter Kaiser evaluates the project positively and wants to wave through a lease including building rights for 99 years to a Lilihill company without a tender, Martin Gruber sees it completely differently. He is of the opinion that there are other interested parties and that no direct award should be made.

This has shifted the conflict previously fought between Lilihill and the KBV into the state government. The agreement, which was reached at the end of August 2022, provides, among other things, that the private majority shareholder of Klagenfurt Airport withdraws the controversial lease agreement, but in return is granted a 99-year building right. However, the signature of KBV board member Martin Payer is missing. Governor Kaiser signed for the state government and Franz Orasch for Lilihill.

Payer and Gruber question the statement by the head of the state government that no tender is necessary. Both are of the opinion that due to the fact that there are said to be other interested parties, a higher rent and thus more income could be achieved through a tender. In a media release, Martin Gruber explains, among other things, that the KBV had received several expressions of interest. An interested party is said to be considering legal action against the direct award.

Furthermore, one writes, among other things, that the contract drafts from Lilihill, which one does not want to have received so far, will be examined. It is therefore not completely impossible that the exchange of blows between the KBV and Lilihill will go into the next round, although this time it will also be held openly within the coalition.