Tourexpi
Ryanair reduces Vienna operations for Winter 2025 amid high taxes and airport fees
Ryanair has announced it will remove three based
aircraft from Vienna and close three routes (Billund, Santander and Tallinn) in
its Winter 2025 schedule. The airline cites Austria’s €12 aviation tax and
Vienna Airport’s fees – which have risen by 30% since Covid – as the main
reasons, warning that the country is becoming uncompetitive compared with other
EU states that are lowering costs to stimulate traffic.
Growth potential blocked by high access costs
Despite Ryanair’s 160% growth in Austria since 2019,
national air traffic has yet to recover to pre-Covid levels, currently standing
at 98%. The airline argues that excessive charges are undermining Austria’s
competitiveness and discouraging tourism and investment.
If the government were to abolish the €12 tax and
reduce fees, Ryanair says it would be ready to invest over US$1 billion by
2030. This would include basing ten new Boeing 737-8-200 “Next Gen” aircraft in
Vienna, adding more than 40 routes – many at regional airports – and creating
around 1,000 jobs in the sector.
CEO Michael O’Leary criticises Austria’s policies
“Vienna’s ridiculously high access costs, including
Austria’s harmful aviation tax of €12 per passenger, have forced us to switch
three aircraft and cancel three routes for Winter 2025, further damaging
Austrian traffic, jobs and tourism,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.
He added: “Austria remains one of the few EU countries
that has still failed to recover pre-Covid traffic levels. Wizz Air’s recent
base closure underlines that the country is losing out to markets such as
Sweden, Hungary and Italy, where aviation taxes have been scrapped to stimulate
growth.”
Call for policy change
Ryanair is urging the Austrian government to follow
the example of other EU states and abolish the aviation tax to attract more
passengers and airlines. According to the airline, without reform, Austria
risks further reductions in routes and higher fares for travellers, while
neighbouring markets benefit from lower costs and stronger growth.
Image
Credit: © Ryanair
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