The minimum prices announced by Austria's Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) in June 2020 are not off the table. The topic has been extremely quiet for some time, but a spokesman for the member of the government explains that the legal basis is currently being finalized.

Review: Austria's Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler announced that flight operations would resume after the first corona lockdown future minimum prices for flight tickets are to apply. At that time, the member of the government called a sum of around 40 euros one way. While Austrian Airlines welcomed the project, there was heavy criticism from low-cost airlines, but also by the then Secretary of State for Aviation, Magnus Brunner (ÖVP).

Gewessler wanted to introduce the minimum prices with effect from September 2020, but this has not happened so far. The coalition partner ÖVP repeatedly said that there were concerns about European law. With the exception of Austrian Airlines, which expressly welcomes the project, other airlines took the view that a national go it alone cannot be reconciled with applicable European law. For example, have Wizz Air and Ryanair positioned against floor fares early on. The latter low-cost airline takes the view that the project would protect Austrian Airlines and not the climate.

Apart from a few rumours, which included, among other things, that a special tax would have to be paid directly at an airport counter, Gewessler's lighthouse project "minimum prices for plane tickets" was very quiet. One could almost have had the impression that the topic had quietly and secretly petered out.

A spokesman for the Federal Minister told Aviation.Direct on request: "The BMK is currently finalizing the draft against the mentioned cheap tickets. In the future, the ticket price should be at least the same as the airport fees and charges per passenger in order to contribute to cost truth in air travel and curb artificially generated demand. This is a completely new measure in Europe, for which the factual and legal basis must be worked out particularly carefully".

However, the media officer did not give any further details or a possible timetable for the implementation of the controversial minimum prices. First of all, it should be a draft for the legal basis. This is then first dealt with in the cabinet and can then later find its way into the National Council.

Germany earns money with the Lufthansa rescue, Austria does not

The ÖVP-Green government is currently being criticized by the opposition for a completely different reason. In the course of the corona pandemic, Austrian Airlines received a subsidy of 150 million euros and loans. The state leadership is accused of spending tax money in contrast to Germany. The loan has already been approved by the AUA partially returned.

The Federal Republic was able to earn money with the billions in support from the parent company. This week, among other things, it was announced that the federal government had earned around 760 million euros. The sum results from interest on loans, but also from the proceeds from the sale of Lufthansa shares. You got on temporarily as a partner and have now sold all the shares and made money with it.

Austria did not secure any shares in the course of the rescue of Austrian Airlines, but instead granted a non-repayable grant of 150 million euros in addition to state-backed loans. In contrast to Germany, according to opposition politicians, a bad deal was made.