Airport boss rejects criticism: “Our door is always open”
First the runway closure and then Corona – for around two years it remained largely quiet at Salzburg Airport and thus also in the sky over Freilassing. In the past winter months, however, operations picked up speed again and quite a few people in Freilassing quickly felt reminded of the old days.
The protection association Rupertiwinkel complained that the dialogue was completely asleep and chairwoman Bettina Oestreich even said the accusation that arrivals and departures are routed via Freilassing whenever possible. In an interview with the local newspaper, Airport Managing Director Bettina Ganghofer dismisses one intention and emphasizes: The door to dialogue is always open at the airport, but this cannot be a one-way street.
Ms. Ganghofer, almost exactly two years ago to the day, some local politicians on the Bavarian side took up their official duties. How is your relationship?
Bettina Ganghöfer: It was important to us to have a good relationship right from the start. That’s why we had talks with the new mayors of Freilassing, Ainring and Saaldorf-Surheim right at the start, and we’ve met a number of times in the meantime. We are also in lively exchange with district administrator Bernhard Kern – we already know each other from his time as mayor. So far I’ve got the impression that everyone is interested in an open dialogue and exchange of views. It is very much about building togetherness and not against each other. Going against each other is very easy, but working together is what is valuable and what positively shapes the future – and I’m very impressed by that.