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Ryanair sounds the alarm: air traffic tax threatens thousands of jobs in Vienna!
Ryanair criticizes the Austrian government over the air traffic tax and is planning extensive flight cancellations from Vienna.
Ryanair sounds the alarm: air traffic tax threatens thousands of jobs in Vienna!
The discussion about air traffic tax in Austria is gaining momentum. Ryanair has sharply criticized the Austrian government and dismissed talks with Chancellor Christian Stocker and Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke as a “pure waste of time”. The decline in the aviation market is becoming increasingly clear: Ryanair is planning to withdraw up to five aircraft from Vienna, which is likely to result in a significant reduction in supply. These decisions were initiated after the government did not respond to Ryanair's investment offer, which amounts to a billion dollars, by the end of September. n-tv.de
As part of this investment plan, Ryanair plans to increase passenger volumes in Austria by 70 percent and station a total of ten aircraft in Vienna by 2030. However, the company's further expansion is conditional on abolishing the annual air traffic tax of twelve euros per passenger. This tax is one of the highest in Europe and brings the state around 160 million euros annually. ryanair.com
Danger to the aviation market
The situation is tense, especially since competitors are also suffering from the high fees. Wizz Air has already announced that it will completely stop its flights from Vienna, while Austrian Airlines is reducing its fleet. Annette Mann, the boss of Austrian, has also made a clear appeal to the government: She is calling for the abolition of the aviation tax. In a market that has fallen to just 87 percent of pre-Corona levels, there is a need for action here. If the tax is not eliminated, airfares could continue to rise and available routes could decline even further. n-tv.de
Vienna Airport itself has also expressed its support for the call for a reduction or abolition of the aviation tax and plans to reduce its own fees by up to 4.6 percent from January 2026. This could be a small ray of hope in a dark phase for Austrian air traffic, as forecasts indicate that the Ryanair cuts will mean fewer passengers in the coming year. n-tv.de
The government's next steps are currently uncertain. An official statement is still pending, but it remains to be seen whether there will finally be a rethink and measures that could stabilize air traffic in Austria. The pressure on decision-makers is growing.