At Klagenfurt Airport, the flight operations unit of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) presented the results of a demanding operational season in the alpine region on October 23, 2026.
As one of three key Austrian locations alongside Wiener Neustadt and Salzburg, the Klagenfurt unit covers a broad spectrum of tasks, ranging from security policing and search and rescue operations to disaster relief. This year, the unit has seen a significant increase in deployments to combat forest fires, with the number rising by approximately 400 percent compared to the previous year. The air support unit, which operates around the clock, handles an average of three missions per day. Its integration into the operational infrastructure of Klagenfurt Airport provides the necessary air traffic control and logistical support for weather-independent 24/7 operation.
Infrastructural framework and strategic importance of the location
The decision to locate the Carinthian air rescue unit at Klagenfurt Airport is based on the existing aviation infrastructure at the airport. Ground operations, the control tower, air traffic control services, and instrument approach procedures such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) allow for orderly takeoffs and landings even under marginal visibility and weather conditions. The head of the Klagenfurt air rescue unit, Josef Samonig, pointed out that the teams’ emergency response time is approximately five minutes.
Two police helicopters, Eurocopter EC135 and Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3 models, are permanently stationed in Klagenfurt. In the event of large-scale disasters, such as extreme avalanches, storm damage, or extensive forest fires like the one in the Lesach Valley, the fleet is augmented by helicopters from other Austrian states. In addition to operations within Austria, the helicopters’ operational radius extends beyond the European Union to neighboring countries when assistance is requested, as demonstrated by the Austrian Air Police’s cross-border disaster relief operation in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, in 2022.
Personnel specialization and requirements profile in alpine terrain
The operational team of the Klagenfurt air rescue unit comprises seven pilots and 14 flight and FLIR operators. These crew members possess dual qualifications: they are trained as both air rescuers and officially certified police mountain guides. This specialization is necessary to safely conduct rescue, recovery, and search operations in the high alpine terrain of Carinthia under challenging wind and visibility conditions.
Personnel density in the Austrian police aviation sector is limited. Of the approximately 32.500 law enforcement officers nationwide, only about 42 serve as active helicopter pilots. The qualification path begins with regular police training, followed by three to four years of specialized training after a multi-stage selection process. Currently, five trainee pilots are completing their alpine advanced training at the Klagenfurt base, which primarily involves training flights for landings in steep terrain.
Cooperation with rescue organizations and its importance for the federal state
In complex operational situations, the air police work closely with the Carinthian State Police Directorate, volunteer fire departments, mountain rescue, water rescue, and the Red Cross. The interfaces between ground forces and aircraft require continuous training to precisely handle interviews, searches for missing persons using thermal imaging cameras (FLIR), and the external transport of fire-fighting water tanks.
Officials from politics and airport management emphasize the importance of the location for the regional security infrastructure. Deputy Governor Martin Gruber and airport managing director Maximilian Wildt highlighted that maintaining the flight operations center underscores Klagenfurt Airport’s function as critical infrastructure. The location thus fulfills public service obligations that extend beyond regular scheduled and charter flights.
Commercial network connection and area development at Klagenfurt Airport
Alongside its security-related functions, Klagenfurt Airport serves to connect Carinthia’s economic and tourism regions to the international route network. Austrian Airlines connects the airport to its hub in Vienna up to eleven times a week, providing onward connections to European and intercontinental destinations. This route network is complemented by other airlines: Eurowings will operate flights to Cologne year-round with up to three weekly frequencies in the 2026/2027 winter schedule, while Ryanair offers connections to London and Palma de Mallorca.
In the niche and holiday flight segment, SkyAlps operates connections to Rome and, during the winter schedule, twice-weekly flights to Hamburg. The tour operator Springer Reisen runs seasonal charter flights to Greek destinations such as Paros, Naxos, and Skiathos. In addition to flight operations, the airport operating company focuses on developing land. Approximately 420.000 square meters of development area are available around the runway, which are allocated through European tenders for commercial development.