Austrian Airlines staff dismissed over major discounted ticket fraud

Austrian Airlines (AUA) is investigating serious cases of abuse involving discounted employee tickets, Austrian regional outlet MeinBezirk reported. According to an internal circular seen by the publication, there have been several “serious violations” related to so-called PEP and staff travel tickets.

In one particularly severe case, an employee was found to have systematically misused these tickets and sold them on to third parties. The airline responded with an immediate dismissal.

MeinBezirk reports that the employee is suspected of reselling PEP tickets on a large scale, allegedly charging up to €2,000 per ticket. The case may involve more than 1,000 instances in 2025 alone. Other employees are also under investigation.

In its internal communication, Austrian Airlines warned staff that misuse not only violates company regulations but could also constitute fraud, potentially leading to dismissal, legal consequences, and claims for damages. Employees who may have breached the rules were urged to come forward “proactively and confidentially.”

Austrian Airlines confirmed to MeinBezirk that there have been “individual cases” of misuse of staff tickets in the past, but declined to give further details, calling it an internal matter.

The latest revelations echo a similar scandal from 2013, when six AUA employees were implicated in the illegal resale of discounted tickets, mainly on routes to Southeastern Europe. At the time, around 50 tickets were involved, with three employees losing their jobs and two being suspended.