Hauser Kaibling and Planai: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Two New Cable Cars

Schladming-Dachstein. On June 10, in the presence of Governor Mario Kunasek, municipal representatives from the market town of Haus im Ennstal and the city of Schladming, as well as officials from the two ski areas, Hauser Kaibling and Planai, the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held for two forward-looking cable car projects in the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area. With the new 10-person gondola “Senderbahn Hauser Kaibling” and the 8-person chairlift “Mitterhausalm I” on the Planai, the connection between the two ski mountains will be faster, more comfortable, and more efficient starting with the 2025/26 winter season.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone for the further development of winter tourism in Styria. The new lifts will not only take the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area to a new level but also strengthen the entire Schladming-Dachstein region as a first-class vacation destination. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. A very special thank you goes to the landowners. Without them, this milestone would not have been possible,” said Governor Mario Kunasek.

The existing lifts—the Sonneckbahn on the Planai and the Senderbahn on the Hauser Kaibling—completed the 4-Mountain Ski Area in 1998 and have served us well ever since. Now a new era is beginning. “Our guests love being able to move from mountain to mountain within the Schladming 4-Mountain Ski Area. However, the connection between Hauser Kaibling and Planai was increasingly reaching its limits. With the new lifts, we will jointly set new standards in terms of comfort, speed, and the skiing experience starting this coming winter,” said Planai Managing Director Georg Bliem.

Hauser Kaibling Managing Director Mag. Klaus Hofstätter sees the new lifts as a significant step forward for the 4-Mountain Ski Area: “The 10-person ‘Senderbahn Hauser Kaibling’ gondola and the 8-person ‘Mitterhausalm I’ chairlift embody a shared vision that we, as ski resorts, hold dear: to offer our guests an unparalleled skiing experience. Construction is now underway—we all have some labor-intensive months ahead of us—and I’m already looking forward to opening the lifts together at the start of the 2025/26 winter season.”

10-person gondola lift “Senderbahn Hauser Kaibling”

The Senderbahn at Hauser Kaibling is being replaced by a modern 10-person gondola from Leitner. Once fully operational, it will have a capacity of 2,800 passengers per hour and, with a speed of 6 m/s, will provide a significantly faster connection. Winter sports enthusiasts can reach the Sender Plateau in less than five minutes—it’s just one lift ride away from the highest point of the 4-Mountain Ski Area.

The decision to replace the 4-person chairlift with this higher-capacity gondola was driven by the terrain’s topography and the desire to reduce travel time. Particularly advantageous is the gondola’s aerodynamic shape, which makes it less susceptible to wind, as well as the ski holders inside the cabin, which make boarding and disembarking considerably easier, especially for families.

“Mitterhausalm I” 8-Seater Chairlift

The new “Mitterhausalm I” 8-seater chairlift from Doppelmayr on the Planai replaces the previous “Sonneck” 4-seater chairlift and offers an even faster and more comfortable connection. With a capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour once fully operational and a ride time of just three minutes, long wait times are a thing of the past. In addition, heated seats, protective covers, and comfortable padding ensure maximum comfort, even on cold winter days.

A particularly practical feature is the conveyor belt in the boarding area, which makes boarding for the ascent much easier. Fixed footrests between the legs guarantee additional safety during the ride, which is a major advantage, especially for children.

Caption: The groundbreaking ceremony sent a strong signal about the new ski connection between Hauser Kaibling and Planai.

From left to right: Mag. Martin Latzka (Deputy Chairman of the Board, Planai), Hermann Trinker (Mayor of the Municipality of Schladming), Mag. (FH) Andreas Keinprecht, MBA (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hauser Kaibling), Mag. Klaus Hofstätter (Managing Director, Hauser Kaibling), Governor Mario Kunasek, Dir. Georg Bliem (Managing Director of Planai), Eva-Maria Kroismayr-Baier (Member of the State Parliament), Dr. Michael Krainer (Chairman of the Board of Planai), Matthias Schwab (Mayor of the Market Town of Haus im Ennstal)

For inquiries regarding Hauser Kaibling: Mag. Klaus Hofstätter, 03686/3030

For inquiries regarding Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen GmbH: Georg Bliem, 03687/22042-120