Traffic
Due to preventive cost-cutting measures, Lufthansa will only serve the Graz – Munich connection once a day in the summer – instead of three times as before. As a result, the economic location of Graz loses important connections to Bavaria.
Lufthansa proactively canceled more than 34,000 flights in Munich and Frankfurt over the summer. Graz is also affected. “There are several reasons. One is that there are sometimes staff shortages at major airports – both with the airlines such as Lufthansa and at the airports themselves, with the handling and security companies,” said the Managing Director of Graz Airport, Wolfgang Grimus. In addition, fewer take-offs and landings are possible in summer thanks to a new air traffic control system in Munich.
Criticism from the Federation of Industrialists
As a result, Graz misses out on many passengers. For Graz as a business location, the reduction in flight connections to Munich is a step backwards. Criticism also comes from the Styrian Federation of Industrialists. As an export country, Styria needs a secure connection to Bavaria. “Three out of four products that we manufacture are exported. Munich is a very central hub for Styrian industry. In the long run, this cannot be replaced by other connections to Germany,” says Nina Zechner, Deputy Managing Director of the Styrian Federation of Industry.
In the long term, Graz is hoping for three flights to Munich again and refers to the hubs of Vienna, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. In the short term, SWISS will increase Graz flights to Zurich. In addition, Berlin will be served five times a week from the end of March.
