Export economy is back on track

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Business

The Austrian import and export industry is nearing pre-crisis levels, figures presented today (Fri) confirm. Federal statistics organisation Statistik Austria announced that firms based in the country exported products worth 109.37 billion Euros in 2010, up by 16.7 per cent compared to 2009. The value of exports dropped by nearly 19 per cent from 2008 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Verbund’s Romanian wind park in operation next year

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Business

Verbund AG has said it is investing “several hundreds of millions of Euros” in a new wind park in Romania. The Austrian energy sector giant – which started the construction in Casimcea in March – explained the site should generate electricity from next year. Up to 170,000 households will be provided with power when the […]

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 […]