Austrian Airlines (AUA) has decided to jack up ticket prices – only two months after the most recent increase. The struggling carrier, which suffered a loss of 65 million Euros in each of the past two years, said yesterday (Weds) its kerosene surcharge would increase as of next Tuesday (28 February). The airline explained that […]
Political scientist Anton Pelinka has reacted critically to the government’s plan to reduce the parliament. Werner Faymann’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) of Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Spindelegger announced earlier this month that the number of federal parliament delegates would shrink by 18 to 165 after next year’s […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour and Social Affairs Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer has said the fines for breaches of education regulations might rise. Hundstorfer said before the meeting of government ministers yesterday (Tues) that he could imagine to support an increase of the maximum penalty from 220 Euros to twice this amount. The labour minister once more […]
Traffic researchers and motorists’ associations are at odds over how to react to rising fuel prices. Investigations by car club Arbö show that the average price for one litre of diesel fuel reached a four-year record last Monday at 1.397 Euros. The price for petrol shot up too, according to the association. Arbö and ÖAMTC, […]
A Green Party member’s decision to confront the government with an ultimatum did not remain without reactions. Peter Pilz said at the weekend it was time to increase the pressure on the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP) for stricter anti-corruption regulations and an effective party funding regulative. The parliament member (MP) told […]
The Viennese city coalition plans to crack down on early retirement. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl announced yesterday (Tues) that he wanted to increase the average pension age of the capital’s public servants from the current 56 to 60 years. Häupl did not disclose when the four-year increase should be achieved. His announcement came […]
The government is confronted with mounting criticism after presenting plans to lower the number of parliamentary delegates (MPs). The government coalition, formed by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said earlier this month the number of MPs should shrink by 13 to 165 after the coming election. Viennese SPÖ Mayor Michael […]
FlyNiki founder Niki Lauda has harshly criticised a competitor for calling on a court to investigate a decision affecting aviation regulations. It emerged yesterday (Mon) that Austrian Airlines (AUA) filed a lawsuit at the Federal Constitutional Court (VfGH) regarding its number of flights between Vienna International Airport (VIA or VIE) and Ben Gurion International Airport […]
The Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH) has accused Science Minister Karlheinz Töchterle of refusing to face the facts. ÖH officials said yesterday (Mon) the member of the People’s Party’s (ÖVP) team of ministers “must accept reality” and ensure public subsidies of the 21 state-funded universities of Austria. ÖH leaders made the science minister aware of a […]
The education ministry has said it could imagine upping charges for truancy. People’s Party (ÖVP) Integration Secretary Sebastian Kurz announced yesterday (Mon) the families of pupils who were caught skipping lessons should face higher penalties. Kurz told radio Ö1 that the maximum charge of 220 Euros was too low in his opinion. He claimed that […]