The Austrian pilots' association, the Austrian Cockpit Association, is calling for further support measures for aviation. At the same time, it is believed that short-time work would secure thousands of jobs.

Due to the inflationary travel warnings and complicated entry and quarantine regulations, the industry was hit particularly hard by the corona pandemic. In addition, various governments, such as those in Germany, are currently stigmatizing travel. The bottom line is that hoteliers, tour operators, airports and airlines have to fight for survival.

The ACA is of the opinion that the multi-billion dollar rescue packages and short-time work have saved many jobs. Austrian Airlines received around 600 million euros, which, however, apart from a subsidy, must be repaid. The carrier still has to prove whether the loss-making Lufthansa subsidiary will succeed by 2026. Almost the entire AUA workforce is also on short-time work.

It is currently assumed that it will take a few more years for aviation to return to the level of 2019. While low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air are optimistic that it will be quick, Lufthansa, for example, is more cautious. The fact is, however, that nobody knows what the future will bring, because aviation has never had such a situation in peacetime.

ACA advocates the extension of short-time work

"Since the outbreak of the pandemic, 18.000 pilot jobs in the EU have either already been lost or are at serious risk," explains ACA Vice President Andreas Strobl, who is himself a professional pilot. In total, around 470.000 people are on short-time work in Austria. In principle, the pilots' association welcomes the fact that the Corona short-time work will be extended up to and including June 2021, but assumes that this will not be sufficient in the field of aviation.

It is therefore demanded that short-time working for industries that were hit particularly hard by the pandemic should be "extended as long as possible". With this, the ACA is also reacting to a statement by Labor Minister Martin Kocher (independent), who announced shortly after taking office that short-time working should be gradually reduced from July 2021. He does not believe in keeping the employees permanently in this measure.

According to the ACA, a possible abolition of short-time work could lead to "thousands of jobs in and around aviation being at stake". The pilots therefore appeal to the government that those who may be affected “must be protected from unemployment under all circumstances”. Strobl said: "The far-reaching consequences of a collapse in Austrian aviation would be fatal for the entire country and the entire business location".