The Austrian aviation industry is undergoing a structural change in the ground services sector at the beginning of 2026. ISS Austria, a long-standing market leader in integrated facility services, has transferred its entire aviation business to its former director, David Hiersche, through a management buyout. Effective January 1, 2026, the company will operate under the name Peryton Aviation Services GmbH.
This move marks the end of an almost thirty-year era in which ISS played a key role in shaping ground handling and cleaning at Austrian airports. The transfer of ownership encompasses the entire spectrum of services, from aircraft and maintenance cleaning to specialized passenger services, document checks, and security services. For the approximately 400 affected employees and the numerous partner airlines, this change primarily means personnel and operational continuity, as the management team will remain the same, while ISS Austria will focus more on technical building management and industrial hotel services in the future.
Operational excellence and safety standards in air transport
The business environment at airports differs fundamentally from traditional cleaning services in office buildings. Time pressure, complex security checks, and the need for 24/7 availability define the daily routine of ground handling. Erich Steinreiber, CEO of ISS Austria, explains the decision to sell by citing the specific dynamics of this sector. The high demands on processes and reliability require specialized management that can fully concentrate on the particularities of flight operations. The management buyout ensures that the expertise gained over the past decades is preserved.
David Hiersche, who has been with the group since 2009 and has led the division as managing director for 13 years, is taking over a well-established team at Peryton Aviation Services GmbH. The strategic independence from the larger corporation is intended to enable the new company to respond more agilely to the needs of airlines and airport operators. Especially now, as air traffic has returned to a stable level after the challenges of recent years, reliability in aircraft cleaning and security checks is a crucial competitive factor for Austria as an aviation hub.
Continuity for employees and clients
A critical factor in ownership changes within the service sector is the stability of customer relationships. The long-standing clients of the former ISS Ground Services include well-known international airlines and national operators. The takeover by the current head of the company ensures that the familiar contact person remains, which should strengthen the trust of the contractual partners. Hiersche emphasized during the announcement that the strategic direction is designed for the long term and that a clear future perspective has been created for the 400 employees.
The aviation industry is regulated by strict legal frameworks, particularly regarding the vetting of personnel in sensitive areas. Acquiring an existing team with valid security clearances and specific training provides the new owner with a significant head start compared to newcomers to the market. This positions Peryton Aviation Services GmbH as an experienced specialist provider capable of covering the entire ground-based value chain.
Focus on technical expertise and core business
In parallel with its withdrawal from the aviation sector, ISS Austria is accelerating the strengthening of its technical disciplines. A clear signal in this direction was the recent acquisition of Franye Gebäudetechnik. With the integration of approximately 150 specialists from this sector, ISS is significantly expanding its portfolio in technical building management. This strategy aims to offer customers integrated solutions that go beyond mere cleaning and encompass complex maintenance of industrial plants, healthcare facilities, and modern office complexes.
Following its restructuring, ISS Austria continues to employ around 7.000 people and looks back on a 70-year company history. The focus is now more strongly on areas such as corporate catering, security for industrial facilities, and hygiene management in hospitals. By selling its specialized aviation division, the company is streamlining its portfolio by eliminating a segment that, due to its volatile nature and extreme dependence on international flight schedules, often held a special position within the group.
Economic prospects of the aviation market
The outsourcing of ground handling services comes at a time when efficiency improvements are a top priority in aviation. Experts anticipate that specialized service providers like Peryton Aviation Services will play a more significant role in the future, as airlines increasingly outsource non-core services to specialists. Document control and passenger security requirements have tightened in recent years, which benefits specialized providers with the necessary equipment and trained personnel.
Vienna-Schwechat Airport and the regional airports in Austria benefit from stable service provider structures. Smooth ground operations are essential for flight schedule punctuality. With the restructuring under David Hiersche, Peryton Aviation Services is expected to seek to gain further market share in the Alps-Adriatic region beyond its existing contracts. Its many years of experience in aircraft cleaning, combined with modern management approaches, provide a solid foundation for this.
In summary, the management buyout of ISS Ground Services represents a classic win-win situation. ISS Austria sharpens its profile as a technical service provider for buildings and industry, while the aviation business is spun off into independence under proven leadership. This step secures jobs, guarantees process stability for the airlines, and demonstrates the maturity of the Austrian facility management market, where specialization is increasingly seen as the key to success.