Vienna Airport ground handling provider transition

Joint Sky Service GmbH (JSS) is set to assume the second ground handling license at Vienna International Airport on October 25, following the loss of the license by Airline Assistance Switzerland AG (AAS) in late July. Initially, JSS stated that ramp service employees would transition to the company with all existing rights and years of service preserved, while AAS would remain at the airport as an exclusive passenger handling subcontractor.

However, by early October, the transition faced complications. Despite previous intentions to maintain service continuity, AAS management and the works council reported that no legally binding written confirmation of a business transfer was in place. Consequently, AAS began staff dismissals, leaving hundreds of employees facing significant job uncertainty regarding their employment status and conditions ahead of the scheduled handover.

As of early October 2026, AAS has begun issuing termination notices to comply with legal deadlines, with some employees reportedly receiving notices via mail or courier, including one instance where a worker was notified while on sick leave. To address the situation, the GPA union is currently negotiating a social plan intended to protect jobs and prevent workers from receiving inferior conditions under the new provider.