AUA Confirms No Decision on Flight Offering in Innsbruck Beyond Winter 2026/27

AUA's Rejection of the Newspaper Report

AUA contradicted this representation on Tuesday in statements to the Austria Presse Agentur (APA). The company is "in engem und gutem Austausch mit dem Flughafen Innsbruck." No decisions have yet been made regarding the flight offering after the winter flight schedule, "Die Planungen dahiehin würden aber bereits laufen".

Specifically, AUA announced that during the winter flight schedule 2026/27 the same flight program will be offered from the Tyrolean capital as in the previous winter. The offering therefore remains unchanged for the time being, though open questions about the period beyond remained unanswered.

The tabloid's representation "entspreche nicht den Tatsachen," the airline further stated, without addressing in substance the scenario described by the Kronen Zeitung of a virtual Tyrolean airline. The Kronen Zeitung had cited/referred to a confidential source.

What the Kronen Zeitung Had Reported

AUA emphasized at the same time that it is in talks with Innsbruck Airport. However, the airline did not confirm that existing connections would be continued beyond the winter flight schedule 2026/27. The ongoing planning only allows the conclusion that no final decision has yet been made about the further future of the location.

The background is the economically strained situation of several European regional airports. Industry observers interpret AUA's rejection at the same time as an attempt to counter speculation about the Innsbruck location with clear facts. The airline refers to the existing winter flight schedule and announces further information as soon as the planning is completed.

Impact on the Innsbruck Location

The Kronen Zeitung had also brought up the name "Avanti Air" in the report. According to the paper, this is a German airline that, together with a Tyrolean investor, is to serve as the carrier company for the virtual airline. The AUA deliberately left open what actually corresponds to the truth in this representation — it limited itself to rejecting the report in its entirety.

Market participants in Tyrol are observing the situation with great interest. The connection from the Tyrolean capital is important both for tourism and for domestic businesses, as well as for connecting the region to international hubs. The dispute between AUA and the Kronen Zeitung illustrates how sensitively the topic is currently being handled and how differently the information is being communicated.

What Happens Next

According to information from company circles, an official statement from Innsbruck Airport regarding the alleged withdrawal scenario is to be expected in the coming days. In its APA communication, AUA expressly pointed out being "in engem und gutem Austausch" with the airport. Further details are to follow as soon as the ongoing planning yields more concrete results.

Until then, everything remains as before for passengers departing from the Tyrolean capital: the flight program for winter 2026/27 corresponds to that of the previous winter. According to AUA, what happens after the end of this winter flight schedule remains open.