Austrian Airlines and national rail operator ÖBB today switched on their newest AIRail link, integrating Klagenfurt Central Station with Vienna International Airport in just under four hours. Seven direct trains per day—departing every two hours from 04:58—now appear in both rail and airline reservation systems, allowing passengers to book a single ticket that covers train, lounge access, and a guaranteed onward flight to any of Austrian’s 125 destinations.
The launch coincides with the timetable change brought by the long-awaited Koralm Railway, a €5.9 billion high-speed line that slashes journey times across Austria’s south-east corridor. Annette Mann, CEO of Austrian Airlines, called the Klagenfurt route “a climate-friendly gateway for Carinthian business travellers and holiday-makers who previously relied on short-haul feeder flights or a 330-kilometre drive.” The airline will nevertheless keep two daily wet-lease flights on the sector during the winter schedule, giving corporates flexibility.
International travellers planning to combine the new AIRail link with long-haul flights might also need to consider visa or transit requirements. VisaHQ’s Austria portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) offers a quick way to check entry rules for more than 200 destinations, generate digital applications and even arrange courier pick-up, helping passengers avoid last-minute surprises while their itinerary spans both rail and air.
![AIRail launches Klagenfurt–Vienna service, giving southern Austria a rail-to-air bridge from 14 December]()
ÖBB board member Sabine Stock said intermodal bookings on existing AIRail routes (Linz, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck) have grown at double-digit rates since 2022 and already account for five percent of Austrian Airlines’ Vienna hub feed. The partners expect Klagenfurt to push that share higher, helped by perks such as ÖBB lounge access for Business-Class and status passengers, Miles & More accrual, and automatic rebooking if a train is delayed.
For global-mobility managers, AIRail’s expansion means more sustainable itineraries that remain fully covered by corporate travel insurance and EU261 passenger-rights protection. Policy teams should update booking tools to display the rail-flight combo and alert relocating staff that baggage drop and security formalities still occur at Vienna Airport. As with other AIRail sectors, travellers must check in online no later than 15 minutes before train departure.
The move supports Austria’s wider modal-shift strategy: the Transport Ministry aims to cut domestic aviation emissions 30 percent by 2030, chiefly by replacing sub-500-kilometre hops with rail. If uptake is strong, industry insiders expect AIRail to extend to Villach once the Carinthian stretch of the Tauern line is upgraded in 2027.
The launch coincides with the timetable change brought by the long-awaited Koralm Railway, a €5.9 billion high-speed line that slashes journey times across Austria’s south-east corridor. Annette Mann, CEO of Austrian Airlines, called the Klagenfurt route “a climate-friendly gateway for Carinthian business travellers and holiday-makers who previously relied on short-haul feeder flights or a 330-kilometre drive.” The airline will nevertheless keep two daily wet-lease flights on the sector during the winter schedule, giving corporates flexibility.
International travellers planning to combine the new AIRail link with long-haul flights might also need to consider visa or transit requirements. VisaHQ’s Austria portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) offers a quick way to check entry rules for more than 200 destinations, generate digital applications and even arrange courier pick-up, helping passengers avoid last-minute surprises while their itinerary spans both rail and air.
ÖBB board member Sabine Stock said intermodal bookings on existing AIRail routes (Linz, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck) have grown at double-digit rates since 2022 and already account for five percent of Austrian Airlines’ Vienna hub feed. The partners expect Klagenfurt to push that share higher, helped by perks such as ÖBB lounge access for Business-Class and status passengers, Miles & More accrual, and automatic rebooking if a train is delayed.
For global-mobility managers, AIRail’s expansion means more sustainable itineraries that remain fully covered by corporate travel insurance and EU261 passenger-rights protection. Policy teams should update booking tools to display the rail-flight combo and alert relocating staff that baggage drop and security formalities still occur at Vienna Airport. As with other AIRail sectors, travellers must check in online no later than 15 minutes before train departure.
The move supports Austria’s wider modal-shift strategy: the Transport Ministry aims to cut domestic aviation emissions 30 percent by 2030, chiefly by replacing sub-500-kilometre hops with rail. If uptake is strong, industry insiders expect AIRail to extend to Villach once the Carinthian stretch of the Tauern line is upgraded in 2027.
