Struggling Austrian Airlines swaps planes for trains

Austria's flagship airline is replacing one of its flights with a more frequent train service, in order to meet the environmental criteria of its recent government bailout. The company will no longer fly between capital city Vienna and Salzburg, operating a rail service instead. As part of its recent E600m government aid package, the airline is required to cut its domestic emissions by 50% by 2050 and to end flights where there is a direct train connection to the airport that takes "considerably less than three hours." From July 20, there will be up to 31 direct train services a day between the Vienna International Airport and Salzburg's central station, up from three rail connections per day, the airline said. "Vienna Airport can be reached by train from Salzburg in well under three hours and without changing trains," said airline CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech. "This is why our AIRail offer is a good and more environmentally friendly alternative to flying." "AIRail" is a terrestrial service in partnership with the country's national rail operator ÖOB.<br/>