Adverts placed for the two top positions at Vienna International Airport could lead to changes that will have an effect on the structure at Malta International Airport, according to industry sources.
The adverts placed in Austrian newspaper Weiner Zeitung on March 27 invites applications for the posts of chief operating officer, currently occupied by former Malta International Airport CEO Julian Jaeger, and chief financial officer Gunther Ofner.
Both men were appointed as part of a two-man management team in 2011, and the sources said it was surprising that an advert for their positions had appeared after they had served just a single term.
Vienna Airport has held a majority 40 per cent shareholding in MIA through Malta Mediterranean Link since 2002. The rest of the shares are owned by Vienna International Airport alone (10.1 per cent), the Maltese government (20 per cent) and individual shareholders (29.9 per cent).
It would have been expected that their [Jaeger and Ofner] contracts would have been renewed automatically for a second term. Who would advertise a job that was not available?
“It would have been expected that their [Jaeger and Ofner] contracts would have been renewed automatically for a second term. Who would advertise a job that was not available?” the industry sources said.
However, when contacted a spokesman for Vienna Airport said the significant stake held by public shareholders obliged the company to announce vacancies upon the expiration of contracts.
Only after due consideration of possible alternative candidates could an extended contract be signed for the next five years, he added.
Yet according to the sources, the placement of the adverts signifies undercurrents in what has been described as a “political environment”.
The sources also said that the long-standing CFO at Malta International Airport, Austin Calleja, would step down shortly and he was likely to be replaced by a non-executive Austrian director at MIA, Karl Dandler.
According to the sources, such an appointment could hamper the work of the recently appointed MIA head Alan Borg, who is the airport’s first Maltese CEO since it was privatised.
Mr Borg assumed the position after the sudden departure of his predecessor, Markus Klaushofer, who had held the post since 2012.
However, a spokesman for Vienna airport has denied that any changes to the Maltese team are being considered.
He said the Malta side of operations was doing well and the Vienna airport management did not see the need for changes at this point in time.