Spending cuts will not affect purchase power, survey shows

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Business

Austrians’ spending power will increase year on year in 2011 despite higher taxes and less welfare spending, a new study suggests.RegioData announced today (Tues) that it expected Austrians’ purchasing power to rise by 2.6 per cent next year compared to this year’s rate. The research agency said this increase meant people will have 450 Euros […]

Eurozone troubles pose bigger risk than EE, says Treichl

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Finance

Erste Bank boss Andreas Treichl has revealed he is more concerned about developments in the Eurozone than about developments in Eastern Europe (EE).The banker said today (Fri): “The biggest risk for us, the financial service providers, is the insecurity about the debt rates in the Eurozone and how they can be covered in the coming […]

Ticket tax to shrink Air Berlin fleet

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Business

FlyNiki partner Air Berlin has revealed plans to diminish its capacities.The company – Germany’s second-biggest airline after Lufthansa – said today (Thurs) it planned to reduce its fleet by seven planes in the near future as a reaction to upcoming taxes on tickets imposed by the German government.The coalition of the Christian Democratic Union of […]

Austria blocks monthly Greece aid

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Politics

Austria has not yet given the green light to transfer its December rate to fellow European Union (EU) member Greece, it has emerged.People’s Party (ÖVP) leader and Finance Minister Josef Pröll announced today (Tues): “Statistics give no reason to hand over the money from an Austrian point of view.”Pröll argued that figures have shown that […]

Czech docs eye up work in Austria

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Business

Hundreds of Czech doctors may seek work in neighbouring Austria over a heated row about low salaries.The Czech doctors union announced in an open letter to the government published today (Tues) that 4,000 doctors – one of out four of physicians working at hospitals in the country – would quit if politician decision-makers failed to […]

EVN completes capital increase

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Business

Energy producer EVN AG has finalised its capital increase.The Lower Austrian company, which is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange (WBAG), said today (Mon) it expected proceeds from the move to be around 180 million Euros.The Lower Austrian government is the main stakeholder in the Maria Enzersdorf-based firm with a 51 per cent interest.German energy […]

Turkish ambassador to keep post

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Politics

The Turkish ambassador in Vienna will not be removed from office – despite stressing he would relocate the United Nations (UN) from Vienna were he leader of the international organisation.Turkish newspapers reported today (Fri) that the country’s government had no plans to dismiss Ambassador Kadri Ecvet Tezcan. The 61-year-old took over as Turkish ambassador in […]

Air Berlin occupancy rate down as ticket tax dispute continues

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Business

The occupancy rate of FlyNiki’s most important cooperation partner has edged down.Air Berlin, which holds a 49.9 per cent with an option for the total takeover of FlyNiki, said today (Mon) it had 28.79 million passengers between January and October of this year, up by 3.4 per cent year on year.The company, Germany’s second-biggest airline […]

Lufthansa upset by Austrian ticket tax

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Business

Lufthansa boss Wolfgang Mayrhuber has appealed to the Austrian government to remain a reliable partner – and pull out from setting up a tax on flight tickets.The Austrian businessman, who will retire as head of the German airline by the end of this year after having been in charge since 2003, said today (Fri) that […]

Greek challenge hits TA’s Serb bid

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Business

Telekom Austria’s (TA) efforts to acquire a majority of Serbia’s state-owned telecommunications company have suffered a significant throwback.The country’s federal Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society Jasna Matic confirmed reports that the government has been in talks with Greek firm OTE over the purchase of a 20 per cent share in Telekom Srbija.TA was being […]