Linz Airport to Reconnect with Frankfurt Following Service Disruption
Linz, Austria – – After a period without a direct connection to a major international hub, Linz Airport is set to resume flights to Frankfurt, Germany. The Danish airline DAT will operate the route, restoring a vital link for the Upper Austria region.
The Austrian Airlines (AUA), a subsidiary of Lufthansa, discontinued its Linz-Frankfurt route on , citing insufficient demand and significant financial losses. This decision, announced in August 2025, triggered a political debate regarding Austria’s air connectivity.
Upper Austrian Governor Thomas Stelzer announced the agreement with DAT, stating that three roundtrip flights will be available from Monday to Thursday, with additional connections planned for Fridays and weekends. The agreement is valid for four years.
Flight Schedule and Interline Agreements
According to Stelzer, flights are scheduled to depart Linz for Frankfurt at 6:10 AM, 10:30 AM, and 5:30 PM, with return flights at 8:30 AM, 12:50 PM, and 9:30 PM. The aircraft, capable of carrying 70 passengers, will remain overnight in Linz.
DAT has established interline agreements with approximately 20 airlines, including Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar, and SAS, allowing for seamless baggage transfer to final destinations. “Passengers can check their luggage in Linz and have it transferred to their final destination,” Stelzer explained.
Financial Commitment and Ownership Discussions
The province of Upper Austria will provide a maximum of €36 million over the four-year period to support the flight connection, with a maximum of €9 million allocated annually. €7.5 million has been budgeted for 2026, with any losses to be accounted for at the end of each year.
The city of Linz, a 50% owner of the airport alongside the province of Upper Austria, will not be financially participating in this arrangement. Stelzer announced that the province has offered to acquire the city’s majority stake in the airport. “If we are investing so much money, we want to be the majority owner,” he stated. Discussions regarding this offer are in the initial stages.
Linz Mayor Dietmar Prammer confirmed receiving the offer, stating that the city will first assess the feasibility of a sale and then carefully evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages for the city, the airport, and the regional economy. Prammer emphasized the importance of securing the long-term viability of the transportation infrastructure.
The city is also considering a separate offer from a consortium led by Upper Austrian entrepreneur Manfred Zorn, which includes a bid of €1 million for the shares and a proposed capital increase of €3 million.
Expert Commentary and Regional Impact
Oberösterreichischer Luftfahrtexperte Kurt Hofmann described DAT as a reliable airline and noted that the company negotiated favorable terms. “This means that the Austrian economy can count on this connection being maintained for the next four years. We also need to regain the trust of passengers,” Hofmann said, suggesting that some travelers may have found alternative travel arrangements during the period without a direct Linz-Frankfurt connection.
Hofmann also noted that this model of public funding for flight connections is relatively uncommon for regional airports but anticipates that such agreements will become more frequent as a means of sustaining these facilities.
The resumption of the Frankfurt route has been welcomed by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Austrian Industries, who emphasized the importance of a direct connection to a global hub for the export-oriented economy of the region.
Political Reactions
The Green Party of Upper Austria criticized the agreement, calling it a “waste of €36 million in taxpayer money” to support a “Danish shuttle” primarily serving business travelers. The Neos party criticized the government’s approach as “throwing money at structural problems.” The MFG party called for transparency regarding the economic planning and assumptions underlying the financial commitment. The FPÖ party suggested selling the city’s shares to a private investor with relevant expertise.
Numerous airlines submitted applications for the Frankfurt route, with DAT ultimately selected following a bidding process that closed on . The new service is expected to launch at the end of March.
