On the table the operational model of aircraft and personnel rental already tested in Germany

It has been talked about for weeks now. The politics and the economic sector of Tyrol are intensifying efforts to create a regional "virtual" airline based at Innsbruck Airport. The project, which is awaiting a final decision by the end of the year, aims to restore and secure in the long term the international air links deemed essential for the economic and tourist attractiveness of the region.

The initiative is taking shape in response to the growing disaffection of major carriers for regional airports and the cancellation of key routes, such as the connection to the international hub of Frankfurt suspended by Lufthansa, which will not resume it even with the next Winter timetable. The plan, confirmed by the State Councillor for Economic Affairs of the State of Tyrol -Mario Gerber-, focuses primarily on restoring routes to Frankfurt and Vienna, two crucial hubs for international and intercontinental flights. A third destination is also reportedly being considered.

The "virtual" nature of the airline is the central point of the project: the operating model does not foresee the purchase of its own fleet, but the leasing of aircraft and personnel (wet lease or ACMI, Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance - see below Editor's note) from existing carriers. In this way, the Tyrolean entity would concentrate exclusively on marketing and ticket sales, managing risks in a more contained manner. The reference is to the model already operating in Paderborn, Germany, with the company Skyhub Pad.

The urgency of this solution is underlined by the decline in passenger traffic recorded at Innsbruck Airport in recent years: between 2019 and 2024, the airport lost 224,000 passengers on scheduled flights and 56,000 on charter flights, a sign of seasonality and the volatility of services offered by the major airlines. Although the South Tyrolean regional carrier Skyalps has expressed interest in the Innsbruck–Frankfurt route, the Tyrolean authorities are pursuing a more structural plan that would involve tourism associations and local companies as potential shareholders. Despite Lufthansa's withdrawal, Austrian Airlines (part of the Lufthansa Group) still holds the largest market share at Innsbruck, with over 36% of weekly seats, followed by Eurowings, easyJet and other seasonal operators. Meanwhile, for the 2025/2026 winter season, Innsbruck Airport has announced a strengthened program with a total of 24 European cities in 13 countries, which includes the introduction of the new route to Düsseldorf operated by Eurowings and the enhancement of connections with the United Kingdom. Talks to define the corporate and operational structure of the new airline are still at a preliminary stage.

ACMI is a type of aircraft lease contract (leasing) in aviation, commonly known as a "wet lease". In this type of agreement, one airline (the lessor) provides another airline (the lessee) not only with the aircraft but also with all the operational elements necessary to operate it. Thus:

- Aircraft: the aircraft itself.

- Crew: the pilots and cabin crew.

- Maintenance: all maintenance, both line and heavy maintenance.

- Insurance: the aircraft insurance (although the lessee is nonetheless responsible for insurance against third parties, passengers and cargo). The lessee (the company renting, in this case the potential virtual carrier of Innsbruck) typically handles only the variable costs such as fuel, landing and navigation charges, and marketing and ticket sales. This model is the one the State of Tyrol is evaluating for its "virtual" airline, as it allows offering scheduled flights without the enormous costs and burdens deriving from ownership and direct management of the fleet and personnel.