AUA boss bemoans ‘bad luck’

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Business

An Austrian Airlines (AUA) manager has claimed the struggling company “had lots of bad luck” in the past few months as he warns it will fail to meet previously set goals this year. AUA co-chief Andreas Bierwirth said today (Fri) the loss-making carrier “will not make our initial target” of making a profit this year. […]

Greece holidays increasingly popular despite strikes

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Business

Austria’s biggest travel agency has revealed that bookings of trips to Greece are up despite the turmoil in the country. Hundreds of thousands downed tools and took to the streets in Athens and elsewhere in the Eurozone member to voice their disagreement with the government’s fiscal decisions. Greece has received hundreds of millions of Euros […]

Leitner calls for CEO pay cut

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Business

A leading Social Democrat (SPÖ) has suggested business bosses should not earn more than the president. Josef Leitner, who heads the SPÖ’s branch in the province of Upper Austria, said today (Thurs) CEOs of companies in which the state holds stakes could have their wages cut owing to the volatile economic climate. The left-winger argued […]

Basel III fears over positive bankruptcy trend

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Business

The Austrian economy seems to reassert itself, new figures presented by a creditors’ protection organisation show. The Creditors’ Protection Association of 1870 (KSV) said today (Weds) that 1,672 companies declared bankruptcy in the first half of this year. This is a three per cent decrease compared to the first six months of 2010, according to […]

Nespresso ‘to lay off hundreds’

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Business

Hundreds of jobs at Nestle Austria are at risk, according to a report. The Kurier revealed today (Fri) that the globally operating foodstuff giant decided to shut the Austrian representation of its Nespresso subsidiary. The firm confirmed the closure of the facility in Vienna which has orchestrated its operations in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), […]

Austria almost at top of EU rich list

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Business

Austria has been found to be among the European Union (EU) nations with the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Eurostat, the European Commission’s (EC) research and statistic agency, said today (Thurs) that Austria’s per capita GDP was 25 per cent higher than the EU average last year. The institution found the same rate […]

Large rent-a-car price gaps disclosed

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Business

Holidaymakers intending to rent a car have been urged to book online and in advance. The Upper Austrian department of the Federal Labour Chamber (AK) said today (Thurs) people could save up to 15 per cent if they reserved the vehicles on the internet and paid by credit card before starting their holidays. The AK […]

A380 to be named Vienna

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Business

A new jumbo jet operated by one of the biggest airlines in the world will be named after the Austrian capital, it has been revealed. Lufthansa confirmed today (Fri) that one of its Airbus A380 planes will be baptised “Wien,” which is German for Vienna. The German aviation giant – which ordered 15 of the […]

Train travel less popular, study shows

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Business

Austrians took the train less often last year, new figures reveal. The Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) announced today (Fri) that residents of the Alpine country covered 1,270 kilometres (km) by train in 2010, down from 1,297 km in the year before. This figure puts Austrians into a leading position in Europe. Only people living in […]

Sacher snatches rival

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Business

One of Vienna’s best known hotels has a new owner. Elisabeth Gürtler said today (Fri) she planned to turn the Hotel Bristol “into a new pearl of the city.” The millionaire businesswoman’s Sacher Hotels GmbH acquired the tradition-rich resort for an undisclosed sum. Business magazine Format recently claimed the five-star hotel’s takeover price ranges around […]