At the end of the month - after exactly two years and two weeks - short-time work for the workforce at Vienna Airport will expire.

This means that the coming year will continue despite positive economic developments a challenge in this regard. Because according to its own statements, the airport received around 69 million euros in support from short-time work last year alone - in addition to a further 20 million euros in other subsidies. "It will be a challenging time, especially at the beginning," said VIE board member Günther Ofner at the press conference. Nevertheless, the airport is expecting strong summer months despite the Ukraine crisis. This should cushion the loads. For employees, the motto is: get out of short-time work and back to normal operations. At least where it is possible, there should still be the option of working from home.

By and large, the suspension of the dividend for last year has also been decided. The Board of Management will make a corresponding proposal, Ofner continued. It is very likely that this measure will also help to ensure that the additional costs can be borne. In any case, the end of short-time work will not be a major factor in the long term, because the airport will not adjust its earnings forecast despite ongoing uncertainties and the war of aggression against Ukraine. So far, no major waves of cancellations have been registered in this context. For the 2022 financial year, Vienna Airport aims to pay out a dividend again.

The health checks without exception at Vienna Airport would also be phased out. However, no agreement has yet been reached on this. The VIE board also has a clear line here: “We hope for an appropriate solution and call for random checks. It is no longer necessary for health reasons to check every passenger without exception," said VIE board member Julian Jäger at the press conference. Austria is one of the few countries in Europe that still does it this way. In any case, it makes little sense to only check a passenger's health upon arrival. In addition, in view of the enormous increase in energy costs for fuel, electricity and gas, the VIE board is also calling for the planned CO2 tax to be suspended for this year.