Vienna Airport CEO calls for abolition of flight levies

Vienna Airport (Flughafen Wien AG) reported a 3.2 percent decline in passenger numbers during the first half of the year, totaling 14.3 million travelers. Günther Ofner, CEO of Vienna Airport, has called for the abolition of flight levies, citing high location costs that are impacting competitiveness.

Ofner noted that low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air and Ryanair are shifting operations to Bratislava, where costs are approximately one-third lower. He criticized the current ticket levies, which range from 12 to 30 euros for short-haul flights, arguing they lack a steering effect and instead drive traffic toward neighboring regions. While airport fees have risen by 22 percent since 2019, state-mandated costs for air traffic control and ticket taxes have surged by 85 percent.

Tourism State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner stated that the government will examine ways to strengthen the location's competitiveness, including the possibility of easing flight levies, while balancing economic opportunities against budgetary constraints.