Struggling carrier Austrian Airlines (AUA) is considering halting flights between Vienna and three provincial capitals, it has been claimed.

The company – taken over by German Lufthansa last year – have warned political leaders the loss-making services between Vienna and Linz, Graz and Klagenfurt respectively will have to be stopped unless they are publicly subsidised, Der Standard newspaper reported on Wednesday.

AUA officials – who are currently examining cost-cutting options – have said losses on the domestic routes will increase in future.

According to Der Standard, the carrier has appealed to Upper Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) Governor Josef Pühringer for financial support to continue offering flights between provincial capital Linz and Vienna.

But Pühringer has previously ruled out any subsidies. He said: "Financial support by the state of Upper Austria [for AUA] is out of the question."

"The world will not fall if AUA stops flying (between Linz and Vienna). People would use Munich Airport in such a case," he told Der Standard.

Carinthian Alliance for the Future of Austria (BZÖ) Governor Gerhard Dörfler said no provincial money would be given to AUA to help keep the Klagenfurt – Vienna route running. "I’m not at all considering throwing money at struggling AUA," he said.

Dörfler said Vienna International Airport (VIA) would suffer most if AUA axes its Klagenfurt – Vienna route as passengers would travel using airports in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Munich, Germany.

Asked whether Styria considered subsidising AUA to ensure the company does not stop offering connections between Graz and Vienna, the province’s ÖVP Financial Issues Councillor Christian Buchmann said in an interview with Der Standard today: "AUA was decorated with tax-payers’ money when it was sold. It is a mystery to me why we should pay again."

Source: Transportweekly