On October 24, 2026, the AUA flight connection between Graz and Vienna will end. For travelers from Styria who use Vienna Airport for international flights, there will be a new alternative starting on that exact day: A private shuttle will in the future travel directly from Graz Airport to Vienna Airport and back again.

Behind the offer is the Styrian entrepreneur Erwin Wailland with his company EW Shuttle Service. However, he explicitly does not want to see it as an official replacement service for the discontinued AUA connection.

There are already several options between Graz and Vienna by train, bus, or car. Wailland sees the decisive difference in his offer not just in the route, but in the two stopping points.

“Boarding at Graz Airport and disembarking directly at Vienna Airport – exactly where for many the flight journey via Graz has begun,” the entrepreneur explains to MeinBezirk.

This shuttle is primarily aimed at people who have previously flown from Graz to Vienna and transferred there to an international flight.

The date is deliberately chosen: On October 24, AUA will discontinue its connection between Graz and Vienna. On the same day, the shuttle service is set to start.

Wailland clearly distinguishes his offer from the airline.

“We explicitly do not see this as an official replacement service for the AUA, but as an additional direct mobility alternative after the discontinuation of the flight connection,” he says.

The shuttle is intended to operate in both directions. This means the service is also aimed at passengers who land at Vienna Airport and then need to continue to Styria.

The target audience is primarily seen by the operator in Styria.

The service is specifically designed for travelers „who are flying internationally from Vienna or want to return to Graz after landing,“ explains Wailland.

For Vienna, this means: A new direct connection to Graz is being established at the airport, which is specifically tailored to air travelers.

In terms of booking, the provider partially follows the process of an air journey.

The entire booking and payment process is to be done online. Passengers will receive a QR code as a ticket.

Unlike renting a complete bus, individual seats are sold. „You book individual seats,“ explains Wailland.

The report does not mention a uniform fixed price. Instead, the fare is to be based on occupancy and booking situation.

Thus, the provider adopts a principle also known from air travel: The price can change depending on demand.

According to the entrepreneur, the travel experience is intended to be more exclusive than a classic long-distance bus connection, but still remain below the costs of renting a bus individually.

At the start, there will not yet be a continuous schedule.

In the first phase, according to the operator, bundled departures at times convenient for travelers are planned. How frequently the shuttle buses actually run will subsequently also depend on demand.

If usage is sufficient, Wailland wants to further expand the offer.

It became known at the beginning of August that AUA would discontinue the flight connection between Graz and Vienna. The route will now end on October 24, 2026.

The new shuttle does not change this and will not be operated by AUA. It is a private sector offer from a Styrian company.

For passengers with a connecting flight from Vienna, however, this provides another option to arrive directly at Vienna Airport without an additional transfer.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article .