Austrian Airlines and Vida Union Reach Agreement on Wage Increase for On-Board Staff

After a long and challenging negotiation process, Austrian Airlines (AUA) has reached an agreement with the Vida union on a wage increase for its on-board staff. According to a statement from Vida, salaries for around 2,500 flight attendants and 1,000 pilots will gradually increase by 20% by 2026. Co-pilots’ salaries will also see an additional 11% increase.

The agreement is subject to a positive vote by union members, which is expected to be a formality. The negotiations were challenging, lasting over 20 rounds since mid-January, resulting in work stoppages and flight cancellations that led to significant financial losses for the company. However, the union had initially demanded wage increases in line with Lufthansa, the parent company. The management deemed the requested increase too high. AUA boss Annette Mann mentioned potential consequences if costs at AUA increased significantly due to higher wages.

Günther Ofner, head of Vienna Airport, welcomed the outcome of the negotiations and provided relief for both employees and customers. The agreement ensures stability of operations and prevents future strikes while allowing AUA to focus on continued growth and customer service. Depending on fiscal year 2025 outcomes, salaries could increase by an additional two percentage points in April 2026. Additionally, workload reduction and insurance improvements for medical-related flight license loss are also part of the deal. This negotiated solution represents a significant increase in salaries above inflation rate for AUA’s on-board staff.

In summary, after months of tough negotiations between Austrian Airlines (AUA) and Vida union, they have reached an agreement on a wage increase for its on-board staff consisting of flight attendants and pilots’ salaries increasing by 20% each year until 2026 while co-pilots’ salaries will see an additional 11%. The agreement is subject to approval from union members but is expected to be a formality as it provides planning security for AUA as salary increases will be staggered over three years.

The outcome of this negotiation process brings relief to both employees and customers as it ensures stability in operations while preventing future strikes that would disrupt travel plans. It also allows AUA to focus on continued growth while prioritizing customer service through providing better compensation packages for its employees who contribute greatly to the airline’s success.