The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have just signed a cooperation agreement with Star Alliance for an innovative intermodal partnership.which will simplify passenger mobility in Austria.
It enables the 25 Star Alliance member airlines to integrate a pre- or post-train service in Austria. As well asthe possibility for passengers to check in from start to finish at several major Austrian stations outside Vienna. A similar partnership has existed for over a year with Deutsche Bahn.
The partnership betweenÖBB and Star Alliance wants to focus primarily on improving connectivity to Austrian destinations and passenger mobility. The Austrian railway company will be working with the 25 members of Star Alliance to enablethe sale and integration of rail routes from the Austrian Airlines hub in Vienna.
Tickets purchased from Star Alliance airlines can include rail travel without the need for another document.
ÖBB lounges and check-in desks for Star Alliance travellers
In return, passengers will be able to check in for their entire air + rail journey online or at ÖBB Travel Centres.. These are located in the central stations of Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Salzburg. Connections are guaranteed, with re-routing in the event of delays. Business class passengers on Star will travel in first class and have access to the ÖBB lounges.
Other stations and routes will be added in the near future thanks to the joint services offered by Austrian Airlines and the Swiss Federal Railways. In 2024, 3.1 million passengers travelled by train from the rest of Austria to Vienna airport. And back again.
This integration of rail and air travel is highly praised by the Austrian Minister for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, Peter Hanke : " Cooperation between the various service providers is crucial if we are to meet today's mobility challenges. The partnership between ÖBB, Austrian Airlines and Star Alliance symbolises my role as Minister in building bridges between the different mobility offers. ".
The ÖBB/Star Alliance partnership offers passengers the following benefits:
- a combined train and plane ticket including a free seat reservation within a single reservation system.
- Simplified, more convenient registration online or in person at an ÖBB Travel Centre.
- Points can be collected on the various airline frequent flyer programmes, and Miles & More miles can be used to obtain a free train ticket.
