Third runway project
Future project of Vienna Airport 3rd runway
The third runway is of vital importance for the future of Vienna International Airport. The anticipated long-term developments in international aviation cannot be effectively handled with the current system of two intersecting runways nor would it be acceptable for local inhabitants.
An additional take-off and landing runway would also reduce delays, fuel consumption and noise by doing away with holding patterns and queued aircraft during busy periods.
CURRENT STATUS OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS
The Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG, the company operating Vienna Airport, welcomes the decision handed down by the Austrian Constitutional Court (VfGH). “This is a good day for Austria as a business location as well as for Vienna Airport. Accordingly, an infrastructure project of such importance for the future has a realistic chance of being implemented”, state Günther Offner and Julian Jäger, Members of the Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG. “Our confidence in the rule of law in Austria has been fully strengthened. We hope that the Federal Administrative Court which is responsible for the matter once again will make a quick decision”, they add.
Two-runway system reaching its capacity limits
Vienna International Airport makes an important contribution to the economic development of the region. To ensure that this remains the case in future, the airport will need a third runway. At present there are two intersecting runways available for take-offs and landings. In terms of capacity, however, 1+1 does not equal 2 but only 1.6. It will not be possible to meet the anticipated demand for international flights with the existing two-runway system. The resultant bottlenecks threaten the future development of the airport and the region as a whole.
Vienna International Airport as an economic driving force
There are currently around 20,000 people working at the airport, of whom 96 per cent live in Lower Austria, Burgenland and Vienna. A further 52,500 jobs depend indirectly on it. Vienna International Airport is a hub in the centre of Europe. This has quite specific advantages for the region’s economy. International concerns choose Vienna as their eastern European headquarters, and many local companies appreciate the good connections to global business. Upwards of 1,200 companies with a total of 600,000 employees and an extensive supplier structure are concerned. Airline companies benefit from the airport’s gateway function to eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Development will tail off without a third runway
With a third runway, Vienna International Airport will be able to continue to compete in Europe. The forecasts are quite clear. With only two runways, the development curve will tail off in terms both of passengers and of employees. With a third runway, Vienna International Airport will be able to consolidate its role as an economic driving force in the future.