The performance of the Austrian Airlines pension fund has been subterranean for several years, so that the carrier has to inject more money every year. Now part of the state aid is to be used to pay the pensions of former top managers and pilots, reports the daily Kurier.

The group of recipients of these pension payments is now extremely small, but Austrian Airlines does not just get out of the old contracts. Already in summer the fact that the former top managers and pilots do not want to voluntarily waive their high pension payments was caught in the crossfire of public criticism. In this context, the Neos party put a request to Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) and Mobility Minister Leonore Gewessler in the National Council: The opposition party wanted to know whether in the course of the negotiations for state aid for Austrian Airlines it had been determined that this would not apply to the “luxury Retirees ”may be used. The two members of the government declared that they were not responsible and therefore did not answer the Neos' request. in the Summer demanded the Neos already that the state aid may not be used for pensioners.

National Council member Gerald Loacker told that Courierthat the answers are absolutely inadequate and that his party wants to find out again "how a considerable part of the Austrian tax money is prevented from being used to plug the balance sheet holes of AUA pensioners".

As mentioned at the beginning, the performance of the Austrian Airlines pension fund, from which only a very small group of people benefit, has been subterranean for several years. The company has to contribute millions every year because the fund can no longer raise the pensions on its own. Former top managers and some ex-pilots with old contracts are the recipients of these cash benefits. From a legal point of view, it is such a tough nut to crack for Austrian Airlines that the carrier would only get out of its obligations if the retirees voluntarily waive their obligations. Who would like to have money taken away that is contractually entitled? Accordingly, the “luxury retirees”, as they are called by the opposition, refuse to give their consent.

The consequence of this, however, is that Austrian Airlines will have to pay money into the pension fund again in 2020 in order to be able to transfer the guaranteed pension payments. According to Kurier, part of the state aid (450 million euros) will now be used for this. This is tax money. The beneficiaries of the AUA pension fund receive their “company pension” in the amount of “several thousand euros per month” in addition to their regular ASVG pension. In contrast, the AUA does not currently pay any company pension fund contributions for active staff. In addition, the approval of substantial salary cuts to save the company was forced from him. The old retirees, on the other hand, have not made any contribution and should now continue to receive their lavish pensions with part of the state aid. As if nothing had ever happened.