Flughafen Wien AG Abandons Third Runway Plans

Flughafen Wien AG has decided not to pursue the construction of a third runway, following a detailed cost-benefit analysis. This decision comes despite previous plans to address potential capacity constraints. Advances in aircraft efficiency have significantly extended the airport's capacity, with average passengers per aircraft nearly doubling since 2005. The current two-runway system can manage up to 52 million passengers annually, far surpassing projected traffic levels.

The abandonment avoids substantial costs associated with the third runway, estimated at €2 billion. Notably, additional capacity was unlikely to draw in new airlines or passengers, making the project financially unviable.

As a result, Flughafen Wien is expected to offer higher dividends temporarily, due to its strong cash position. The extra resources are being redirected toward increased payouts rather than infrastructure expansion.