On Thursday evening, the Vida union and Austrian Airlines (AUA) reached an agreement on a wage increase for the airline’s on-board staff. The deal will see salaries gradually increase by 20 percent by 2026, with co-pilots receiving an additional eleven percent increase.
The agreement also includes a peace obligation, ensuring that there will be no operational disruptions due to strikes during the term of the collective agreement until 2026. This provides travelers with assurance that they can book flights with Austrian Airlines without hesitation in the coming years.
The negotiations, which began in mid-January and lasted 20 rounds, were particularly difficult this year. Work stoppages and flight cancellations over the Easter weekend resulted from the difficulty. The union had initially called for wage increases to match those at parent company Lufthansa, but the final agreement fell below that request due to concerns about costs. Additionally, concerns about Lufthansa Group using other subsidiaries at Vienna Airport if costs increased at AUA played a role in negotiations.
Despite these challenges, Günther Ofner, head of Vienna Airport, welcomed the outcome of the negotiations. He stated that it would provide relief to both employees and customers alike. The agreement represents a positive step towards stability and harmony within the aviation industry as both sides recognized the importance of reaching a compromise.
