City Airport Train

What City Airport Train does

City Airport Train (CAT), legally City Air Terminal Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H., is an Austrian private railway joint venture founded in February 2002 between Flughafen Wien AG (50.1%) and ÖBB – Austrian Federal Railways (49.9%). The company operates a single dedicated airport-transfer service between Vienna International Airport and Wien Mitte/Landstraße station in central Vienna, running 16-minute nonstop journeys every 30 minutes, 365 days per year, from approximately 05:37 to 23:37. Service is delivered using ÖBB double-decker coaches (26-33/80-33 series) configured to 68 seats with 39 first-class leather seats, free WiFi, USB ports, and E-Papers, with a maximum operating speed of 140 km/h on standard 1,435 mm gauge track.

The core commercial offering consists of one-way tickets at €14.90 and roundtrip tickets at €24.90, supplemented by discount tiers (€7.00 per journey) for holders of KlimaTicket, ÖBB Vorteilscard, Wiener Linien annual passes, and student IDs; subscription products including a CAT Annual Pass at €790.00 and Vienna Airport employee Authorization Cards (€350 six-month / €640 annual); and a unique CAT City Check-in service enabling passengers to drop luggage at Wien Mitte up to 24 hours before flight for 19 partner airlines (Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, and others). The CAT Travel Guarantee reimburses up to €5,000 in flight, hotel, and taxi costs if a delay of more than 30 minutes causes a missed flight. Free amenities include 30 lockers at Wien Mitte, complimentary WiFi, and free travel for children under 15.

CAT serves air travelers, business commuters, tourists, families, students, and Vienna Airport employees, distributing tickets through its multilingual website, physical counters at both stations, third-party travel platforms (GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor), and bundled tourism products with Wiener Linien, Vienna City Card, ViennaPASS, Big Bus Tours, and CATch the City packages. Revenue is generated from ticket sales (one-time), annual/authorization passes (subscription), and bundled tourism commissions (affiliate). A planned main line closure from September 7, 2026 through October 31, 2027 will temporarily replace train service with premium bus operations by Blaguss Reisen GmbH (Setra coaches every 12 minutes), during which CAT City Check-in will be unavailable. The company is certified to EN ISO 9001:2015 and holds an EU-compliant Safety Management System certification from TÜV AUSTRIA.

Name

City Airport Train

Legal name

City Air Terminal Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H.

Website

https://cityairporttrain.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

City Airport Train is an Austrian railway joint venture between Flughafen Wien AG and ÖBB operating a 16-minute nonstop transfer between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, selling tickets, annual passes, and bundled tourism products to travelers and airport employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Rail Transfer / Passenger Rail Transit

NAICS

Commuter Rail Systems (485112), Rail Transportation (4821)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Passenger Rail Operators (Intercity/High-Speed/Regional) (TLAFAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Airport Ground Transport Terminals (Rail/Bus/Coach) (THAIALAG)

Keywords

• Airport rail transfer
• Passenger rail services
• City check-in services
• Luggage storage services
• Tourism transit products

Headquarters

HQ city

Osterreicher

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Train Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from selling one-way and return train tickets between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte. Single tickets at €14.90, return tickets at €24.90. Additional revenue from discounted tickets with partner cards (KlimaTicket, ÖBB Vorteilscard, Wiener Linien annual pass, student IDs) at €7.00 per journey.
2. Annual and Authorization Passes: Long-term tickets for frequent travelers: CAT Annual Pass at €790.00, 6-month Authorization Card at €350.00, and Annual Authorization Card at €640.00 for Vienna Airport employees.
3. Bundled Tourism Products: Commission-based revenue from selling combined tickets with Wiener Linien public transport (24h, 7-day tickets), Vienna City Card (24h, 48h, 72h, 7-day options), ViennaPASS (1-6 day all-inclusive sightseeing), Big Bus Hop-on-Hop-off tours, and CATch the City packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

City Airport Train (CAT) operates a nonstop airport rail transfer service between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte/Landstraße station in Vienna city center, completing the journey in 16 minutes with trains running every 30 minutes, 365 days per year. The core offering includes single tickets (€14.90) and return tickets (€24.90), supplemented by the unique CAT City Check-in service (Europe's only city-center luggage check-in), the CAT Travel Guarantee (up to €5,000 reimbursement for missed flights), the CAT Annual Pass (€790), and resold bundled tourism products such as Vienna City Card and ViennaPASS.

Product overview

City Airport Train (CAT) operates a single core product: a nonstop airport transfer service running between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte station in 16 minutes, every 30 minutes daily. The primary ticket products are Single Tickets (€14.90) and Return Tickets (€24.90), with Annual Pass and Authorisation Card options for frequent travelers. The service portfolio is augmented by the CAT City Check-in (luggage drop service at Wien Mitte for selected airlines), the CAT Travel Guarantee (reimbursement if flights are missed due to CAT delays), and the CAT Bonus Club loyalty program. Additionally, CAT acts as a reseller for Vienna tourism products including Wiener Linien public transport tickets, Vienna City Card, ViennaPASS, Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off tours, and CATch the City packages. The ivie app from Vienna Tourist Board is promoted as a companion app for tourists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAT Airport Transfer Service The core nonstop rail transfer service connecting Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte city center in 16 minutes, operating every 30 minutes daily (365 days a year) using ÖBB double-decker trains with 68 seats and free WiFi. Targeted at passengers flying in or out of Vienna Airport (VIE).
• CAT Single Ticket One-way ticket for travel between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte on the CAT service, priced at €14.90 per journey (€7.00 with valid KlimaTicket, ÖBB Vorteilscard, Wiener Linien annual ticket, student ID, or airport employee ID). Online tickets valid for 6 months from purchase.
• CAT Return Ticket Roundtrip ticket for travel between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, priced at €24.90 (€12.45 per journey), discounted to €12.00 with valid partner cards. Return tickets valid for 6 months after issue date. Promotional offers periodically include free FastTrack access at Vienna Airport.
• CAT Annual Pass 12-month subscription pass for unlimited travel between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, priced at €790.00 including 10% VAT. Personalized and non-transferable. Targeted at frequent travelers and airport-area commuters.
• CAT Authorisation Card Exclusive long-term transit subscription for Vienna Airport employees. 6-month card priced at €350.00; Annual card priced at €640.00 (both including 10% VAT). Personalized, non-transferable. Activation takes up to 10 business days.
• CAT City Check-in Unique luggage check-in service that lets passengers flying with one of 19 partner airlines (Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, Condor, Croatia Airlines, Aegean Airlines, airBaltic, LOT, SAS, Luxair, Norwegian, TAP Portugal) drop their checked bags at Wien Mitte up to 24 hours before departure (up to 75 minutes before flight) and continue sightseeing hands-free, with self bag drop facility. Bags are transferred to Vienna Airport for the flight.
• CAT Travel Guarantee Service guarantee that reimburses the cost of a new flight ticket, and covers hotel and taxi costs if an overnight stay becomes necessary, up to a maximum of €5,000, if a passenger misses their flight due to a CAT delay of more than 30 minutes. Included with CAT tickets.
• CAT Bonus Club Free loyalty program where members collect CAT rides and redeem accumulated journeys for attractive rewards, providing faster ticketing and benefits for frequent riders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16-minute nonstop travel time vs alternatives
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wiener LiniencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCombined ticket offerings that bundle CAT tickets with Wiener Linien public transport tickets (24h, 7-day options). Wiener's Linien operates Vienna's subway, tram, S-Bahn, and bus network through Wien Mitte/Landstraße hub.
• Airline Partners (City Check-in)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner19 airlines participate in CAT City Check-in service: Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, Condor, Croatia Airlines, Aegean Airlines, AirBaltic, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, Luxair, Norwegian Airlines, TAP Portugal. Allows passengers to check luggage at Wien Mitte.
• Blaguss Reisen GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBus replacement service provider during main line closure (September 2026 - October 2027). Provides Setra premium coaches operating every 12 minutes (7 a.m.-7 p.m.) between Wien Mitte and airport.
• GetYourGuideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party travel platform where CAT tickets are sold and customer reviews are displayed. Company maintains 4.8/5 rating on the platform.
• ViennaPASSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAll-inclusive sightseeing pass sold alongside CAT tickets. Includes free admission to 90+ Vienna attractions and unlimited Hop-on-Hop-off bus access.
• Big Bus ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHop-on-Hop-off bus tour operator partnered for combined ticket offerings. Red and Blue routes available with audio commentaries in multiple languages.
• Vienna Tourist BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-marketing through ivie app - the official digital city guide app for Vienna promoted on CAT platform. App available free from App Store and Google Play.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gatwick Express: Gatwick Express operates a dedicated airport-to-London Victoria nonstop rail service with branded trains and frequent departures, mirroring CAT's product positioning of fast, scheduled airport transfer.
• Narita Express (N'EX): Narita Express is JR East's branded airport rail service connecting Narita Airport to Tokyo stations, comparable to CAT as a dedicated, premium-priced airport-city express with bundled ticket products.
• KLIA Ekspres: KLIA Ekspres is a dedicated nonstop rail service connecting Kuala Lumpur International Airport to KL Sentral, operating on a premium, time-guaranteed airport transfer model directly comparable to CAT.
• Stansted Express: Stansted Express provides dedicated airport rail service between London Stansted and Liverpool Street, functioning as a direct functional analogue to CAT in the London market.
• Arlanda Express (A-Train): Arlanda Express is Sweden's dedicated nonstop rail link between Stockholm Arlanda Airport and central Stockholm, operating on a comparable premium airport transfer model with airport-check-in and similar product features to CAT.
• Heathrow Express: Heathrow Express is a dedicated nonstop airport rail link connecting London Heathrow to Paddington, operating on a fixed-fare, time-competitive model that is the closest functional analogue to CAT's Vienna Airport–Wien Mitte service.
• Flytoget (Oslo Airport Express): Flytoget operates a high-frequency airport rail service between Oslo Airport and central Oslo, directly comparable to CAT's airport-city express service model with similar price and frequency dynamics.
• Airport Express Hong Kong: Hong Kong Airport Express offers dedicated airport rail service to/from Hong Kong Station with in-city check-in service and bundled tourism offers — directly comparable to CAT's premium airport transfer plus CAT City Check-in model.

Broad incumbents

• Wiener Linien: Wiener Linien operates Vienna's subway, tram, and bus network centered on Wien Mitte, providing S-Bahn and U-Bahn connections to Vienna Airport that compete with CAT while also being a partner for combined ticket offerings.
• ÖBB Railjet: ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) is CAT's 49.9% shareholder and operates Railjet and regional services from Vienna Airport via S-Bahn — competing with CAT on the same corridor while also being its primary infrastructure partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City Airport Train