Ryanair withdraws more planes from Vienna – government criticized!

Ryanair withdraws more planes from Vienna – government criticized!

In the last few weeks, Ryanair has drawn attention to itself with bad news at almost the same rate. The Irish low-cost airline has now announced the withdrawal of two more aircraft from Vienna for the summer of 2026. This decision doesn't come out of the blue; Criticism of the air traffic tax of 12 euros per passenger and the high airport fees in Vienna played a decisive role. The airline had already announced the withdrawal of three aircraft from the Austrian capital a month ago. These developments not only highlight the current market situation, but could also have serious financial consequences.

A loss of an impressive 200 million dollars (around 172 million euros) is expected due to the withdrawal of the two machines. meinkreis.at reports that Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is criticizing the Austrian government for its inaction. The airline presented an ambitious growth plan in September that envisaged increasing traffic to 12 million passengers per year by 2030. Involved in this plan was the stationing of ten new Boeing 8-200 aircraft. However, such an offensive can quickly develop in the opposite direction if the general conditions are not right.

Criticism of the government and airport fees

The aviation tax is one of the highest in Europe and is seen by Ryanair as an obstacle to the aviation market in Austria. However, the mobility authority rejected the allegations and explained that the airport fees were tied to EU requirements. The Ministry of Mobility also emphasizes that a reduction in fees will only be considered after the special Covid regulation has been completed from 2026. Vienna Airport sees the need to abolish or significantly reduce the flight tax as urgent in order to strengthen the aviation location.

To increase the pressure, Ryanair also points to positive developments at other airlines that are expanding flights, such as Austrian Airlines and SAS, which are returning to Vienna. The fact remains that in many European countries, including Sweden and Hungary, there are no aviation taxes. These unattractive conditions for Ryanair lead to flights being relocated to neighboring countries such as Italy and Slovakia.

The future of Austrian air transport

If Ryanair has its way, immediate action is required. Michael O'Leary warns that without a rethink on aviation tax, airfares could skyrocket and further cuts could be on the cards. The economic situation in the Austrian aviation market is anything but rosy. The responsibility of political decision-makers is also up for debate; The airport has kept fees at 2015 levels despite inflation and is planning a reduction of up to 4.6 percent from January 1st.

In summary, Ryanair is sending a clear message: If conditions do not change, there will not only be cuts in flight operations, but also higher prices. Whether and how the Austrian government will react to this remains to be seen. However, Ryanair itself has already pointed out that there were ways for other European countries to reduce the burden on airlines. Indeed, there is something there.