"flight chaos? Not with us" – Muricas News

Günther Ofner explains why issues are going higher in Vienna, which airports one ought to now keep away from if doable and what he'll take note of at ÖBAG.

KURIER: What’s happening at European airports?

Gunther Ofner: It's right to talk of the European airports and never of us. There are drawback areas, significant issue areas in England, Holland, Germany. And there are others who've accomplished their homework. We belong there, and Munich or Zurich, the place there are few issues. We have already got the busiest weekends of the yr behind us. All the pieces truly labored completely.

The nice want to journey after the pandemic, summer time holidays: you could possibly see all of it coming. That’s an enormous administration mistake.

It's important to go away the church within the village, as a result of there have at all times been short-term cancellations. And the issues that arose at Austrian, for instance, have been once more attributable to Corona. Sadly, when crews fall unwell, it's normally at brief discover.

Why can Vienna Airport do it higher?

The Austrian short-time work mannequin is exemplary. It has enabled us to retain 80 % of the workforce regardless of shutdowns and lockdowns. These workers at the moment are accessible once more. We additionally management the subsidiaries ourselves, whereas at different airports that's outsourced to 3rd events. They laid off their folks in the course of the pandemic.

I noticed at the moment: As much as 4 p.m. there have been twelve delays or canceled flights.

That is completely regular. One would now should query what the respective trigger was.

When will that stage off once more in Europe?

I dare not make any predictions. I’m afraid there might be issues all through the summer time the place there are understaffing. It’s a structural drawback. We should be taught from this that individuals assume in a extra European method. We have to standardize laws and make processes simpler. One must have the braveness to slim down safety checks a little bit at European stage, that would scale back throughput instances at airports.

What's your tip for somebody who desires to fly?

To be trustworthy, I'd keep away from the hotspots, i.e. Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London-Heathrow. And I'd search for routes that keep away from these issues. Then you'll be able to journey with out main turbulence.

The occupancy fee at Vienna Airport is presently 80 %. What’s subsequent for the third slope?

We now have an approval confirmed by the Supreme Court docket. It's unassailable. There'll now be a major delay as a result of the pandemic will take a couple of years to rebuild air visitors. However it's important to notice that not even one in 5 dwelling folks on the earth has ever been on an airplane. Which means in case you sit up for 2030/40/50, there might be a world tripling or quadrupling of air passengers.

How do you see the significance of Vienna Airport?

We're an important a part of a contemporary infrastructure. The potential for reaching the world from Vienna is indispensable for the additional growth of the enterprise location.

Courier / Gilbert Novy

You may have additionally been the pinnacle of the supervisory board at ÖBAG since July 1st. What's your mission?

ÖBAG manages investments which might be rightly thought to be the republic’s household silverware. The principle activity is to extend the worth of those holdings and to safe round 150,000 jobs.

ÖBAG had a turbulent previous with Thomas Schmid. CEO Edith Hlavati, alternatively, may be very calm. A approach to restore the picture once more?

I feel the brand new starting is now full. However it's important to say that the issues that existed got here from points that predated the ÖBAG period and occurred outdoors of ÖBAG. In ÖBAG itself, the worth of the investments has elevated by 10 billion euros previously 18 months. Regardless of every little thing, the work went effectively.

Courier / Gilbert Novy

There are additionally vitality firms in ÖBAG. There's presently a whole lot of speak about vitality self-sufficiency, together with worth caps. What's your standpoint on this?

It's important to distinguish between the entrepreneurial choices of a inventory company and the political framework. The latter is determined by politics. However then it's important to give the entrepreneurs the chance to make the correct enterprise resolution within the pursuits of the shareholders and prospects. That is after all a area of rigidity. It's best to have targets clearly in thoughts in an effort to then choose from the various devices that make sense. Aid is fascinating, however how this may be achieved must be mentioned.