0
0
There are signs of a recovery following the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting standstill in air traffic. For the first time since 2019, Vienna International Airport announced in a press release on Tuesday that it had broken through the 30 million passenger mark again.
There were 31.7 million passengers in the record year 2019—the last year before the coronavirus pandemic. However, what pleases the airport is unlikely to trigger euphoria among environmentalists, as there were also protests this year.
In 2022, 23.7 million passengers had already been counted again. Last year, the 30 million mark was already within sight again, with 29.5 million travellers. By comparison, in 2020, a year dominated by coronavirus, the number of passengers at Vienna Airport Schwechat plummeted to 7.8 million. In 2021, it was only 10.4 million.
“Vienna Airport is rising again after the Covid-19 pandemic,” says CEO Julian Jäger. City Councillor for Finance Peter Hanke (SPÖ) emphasized the importance of the airport for the economy and tourism in the joint press release. Together they welcomed a US-American woman from Boston on Tuesday as the 30th millionth traveler to Vienna-Schwechat in 2024.
Vienna Airport: decision on third runway in 2026
When asked about the expectations for 2025, an airport spokesperson referred to 17 January in response to an APA inquiry. This is when the final passenger figures for 2024 and an outlook for the new year will be provided. The official figures for January up to and including November will be available the day after tomorrow, Thursday.
With rising traffic figures in Schwechat, many also think about the planned but partly controversial third runway. The “VIE” wants to decide on this in 2026. The airport is still waiting for a decision from the Administrative Court (VwGH) on the project.
- source: APA/picture: pixabay.com
This post has already been read 3480 times!
