The Austrian regional broadcaster MeinBezirk has announced that Austrian Airlines (AUA) has begun investigating serious abuses of discounted employee tickets. According to internal communications, numerous “serious violations” have been detected through PEP and staff travel tickets.
In a prominent case, it is alleged that an employee systematically sold these tickets to third parties, charging up to €2,000 per ticket. The company announced that the employee in question was immediately dismissed. It is estimated that this malpractice alone could have caused more than 1,000 incidents in 2025. Several other employees are also under investigation.
In its internal communication, AUA warned employees that the misuse of tickets not only violates company rules but could also lead to fraud, dismissal, legal sanctions, and compensation claims. Those who violated the rules were advised to provide statements in a “proactive and discreet” manner.
The company confirmed that there have been isolated cases of staff ticket abuse in the past but refrained from providing details, noting that it was an internal matter.
The recent developments recall the scandal that emerged in 2013, when six employees illegally resold discounted tickets. At that time, around 50 tickets were involved, three employees were dismissed, and two were suspended.
