Austrian Airlines landing at Vienna Airport VIE
Austrian Airlines’ chief executive has come out in support of the decision of Vienna Airport (VIE) not to build a third runway at the airport, a decision that was announced a few days ago.
In a post on LinkedIn, Annette Mann, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Austrian Airlines, said that the airline supported VIE’s decision not to proceed with its plans to build a third runway.
Mann noted that a thorough analysis showed that the additional runway would not yield adequate returns on investment and is not necessary to grow the airport further. The two runways and a planned expansion of its terminals should ensure that VIE could handle over 50 million passengers per year, she added.
“This is a rational, future-oriented decision that strengthens the competitiveness of our hub.”
The airline’s CEO also highlighted how the airport reached its conclusion, noting close dialogue, transparent data, and “a clear view on what is best for the location as a whole.” Mann concluded that future investments should focus on terminal infrastructure, processes, and service quality.
VIE announced its decision not to proceed with a third runway on November 25, with the expansion plan carrying a price tag of around €2 billion ($2.3 billion). In a joint statement, Julian Jäger and Günther Ofner, members of the board of VIE, explained that in addition to the massive development cost, the “general conditions have also fundamentally changed as a result of the excessively long approval process.”
Jäger and Ofner pointed out that at VIE in 2005, 71 passengers moved per movement – arrival or departure – while in 2025, the number had grown to 139 travelers, easing runway capacity constraints.
“A decisive factor in the decision was also that the largest airline customers at the airport are opposed to the project, and without refinancing through higher fares, the investment is not economically viable.”
However, the airport highlighted that the decision does not rule out a potential third runway at VIE in the future, which would be subject to a new approval process.
During the first nine months of 2025, VIE welcomed 24.57 million passengers, an increase of 1.9% year-on-year (YoY), while flight movements increased by 2.4% to 181,597, yet average load factors declined by 0.8% to 80.2%. In October, VIE’s passenger numbers were 3 million, up 3.7% YoY.
At the end of the period, the company, which also has strategic stakes in Luqa Malta International Airport (MLA) and Košice International Airport (KSC), had €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) of total assets, including non-current and current liabilities.
Ofner said that in Q3, the company suffered “noticeable cost increases,” justifying that “an efficiency and cost reduction programme is necessary for the challenging year 2026, as well as in response to the reduction in airport charges by up to 4.6% and passenger declines in the low-cost sector.”
Both Ryanair and Wizz Air have announced capacity cuts at the airport, with the latter closing down its aircraft base at VIE by March 2026. Ryanair announced on October 28 that it would remove another two aircraft from its base at the airport for the upcoming summer 2026 season.
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