Ryanair reduces Vienna operations for Winter 2025 amid high taxes and airport fees

International

Three aircraft withdrawn and routes to Billund, Santander and Tallinn closed – airline calls for abolition of €12 aviation tax

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.