Starting next school year, students and staff in Vienna’s public and private elementary and middle schools will enjoy free public transportation for class outings. This initiative, announced by Deputy Mayor and Education Councilor Christoph Wiederkehr (Neos), is part of the city’s efforts to make education more accessible and environmentally friendly.

The program covers both public and private compulsory schools in Vienna. Teachers in the city’s schools will also benefit from a “Jobticket,” a free annual public transport pass.

The initiative aims to ease the financial burden on families and ensure all students can participate in school trips, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Wiederkehr emphasized the importance of such trips for both students and teachers.

Accompanying adults will also travel for free, ensuring the safety and supervision of students during outings. The city hopes this will simplify organizing trips, which previously faced logistical challenges in obtaining necessary tickets.

In addition to supporting education, the initiative promotes public transportation, reinforcing the city’s commitment to environmentally friendly mobility and reducing traffic-related emissions.

Wiener Linien will provide schools with special group tickets. These tickets can be ordered through a new online form and presented in print or digital form.

Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) hailed the initiative as a significant step toward social equity and climate protection, underscoring Vienna’s commitment to combining education, social justice, and environmental sustainability.

Teachers will also benefit from free transportation, with the cost of annual passes or the Vienna portion of the Climate Ticket being refunded to eligible staff. Currently, over 16,000 teachers qualify for this benefit.