Union Warns: Austro Control Lacks Air Traffic Controllers

The approximately 350 air traffic controllers at Austro Control handle up to 4,000 flight movements daily and work at the limit of their capacity despite increased performance, explains Daniel Liebhart, chairman of the aviation sector of the vida union.

Union demands relief for air traffic controllers and a training initiative

According to vida, Austro Control is experiencing a traffic increase of around ten percent. Although there are currently about 80 trainees in a roughly three-year training program, only about 20 people graduate per year; there are also dropouts, retirements, and poaching - for example, by the better-paying air traffic control in Germany. Air traffic control is financed through fees, which according to vida are limited to three to five euros per ticket. Next week, collective bargaining negotiations for air traffic controllers will begin, which will also address working conditions.

Transport Minister Hanke announces more training places for air traffic controllers

A few weeks ago, Ryanair sharply criticized Austro Control for delays and demanded more personnel in air traffic control. Liebhart rejected the criticism in an interview with the "Kurier": "Just because an aircraft flies over Austria doesn't mean that the reason for the delay is to be found in Austria." According to Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ), the number of controllers is to be increased by a tenth, as he also told the "Kurier." Austro Control itself does not see a personnel problem but still promises more training places. Safety is not at risk in any case, it was said on Wednesday to the ORF "ZiB".

The union classifies the bottleneck as a Europe-wide problem and urges an EU framework that enables personnel development and investments with a planning horizon of ten to 15 years. Austria should initiate practical solutions at the European level, says Liebhart.

(APA/Red)

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