Lauda Air closes home base at Vienna Airport

Lauda Air (Laudamotion) has announced to close its home base at Vienna Airport this week. This will lead to the loss of 300 jobs. The reason for the closure are failed collective labour agreement negotiations between Lauda Air and the union ‘Vida’. The new CLA would mean a salary reduction for the employees. The union didn’t agree with this, so Lauda Air has now decided to close the base.

No government support

Another reason for closing the base at Vienna Airport is that Lauda Air does not receive State aid from the Austrian Government. Austrian Airlines has previously received State aid of EUR 800 million. Ryanair is the parent company of Lauda Air and CEO Michael O’Leary announced earlier this month that he was considering closing the base at Vienna Airport. This has now become a reality. The routes of Lauda Air will be taken over by Ryanair.

Eindhoven Airport

With the closure of the base at Vienna Airport, Lauda Air will no longer be seen at Eindhoven Airport. Lauda Air maintained a route between Vienna Airport and Eindhoven Airport. This was executed with an Airbus A320. Lauda Air still has hubs at Dusseldorf Airport, Palma de Mallorca, Stuttgart Airport and Zadar Airport.

(c) Photo: Lauda Air