After tough negotiations, the Vida union and the company reached an agreement on Thursday evening for a wage increase for the AUA’s on-board staff. The agreement will see the salaries of around 2,500 flight attendants and 1,000 pilots gradually increase by 20 percent by 2026, with co-pilots receiving an additional eleven percent increase. Daniel Liebhart, Chairman of the Aviation Department in Vida, stated that this negotiated solution represents a significant increase in salaries above the inflation rate for the on-board staff.
The agreement also includes a peace obligation, meaning there will be no operational disruptions due to strikes during the term of the collective agreement until 2026. This provides travelers with the assurance that they can book flights with Austrian Airlines without hesitation in the coming years. The on-board staff has agreed not to go on strike until 2026, and there is a possibility of further salary increases in April 2026, depending on the outcome of the 2025 fiscal year.
The negotiations, which began in mid-January and lasted 20 rounds, were particularly difficult this year, leading to work stoppages and flight cancellations over the Easter weekend. 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. The apparent threat of Lufthansa Group using other subsidiaries at Vienna Airport if costs increased at AUA also played a role in the negotiations.
Günther Ofner, head of Vienna Airport, welcomed the outcome of the negotiations, stating that it will provide relief to both employees and customers. The agreement represents a positive step towards stability and harmony within the aviation industry, with both sides recognizing the importance of reaching a compromise.