Ryanair, announced it will cut 2 more aircraft from its Vienna base for S26 (loss of $200m investment) due to the Govt’s continued failure to scrap its harmful aviation tax and lower Vienna Airport’s excessive fees. Despite Ryanair presenting an ambitious €1bn growth plan to the Chancellor in September, which would grow Austria’s traffic to 12m passengers p.a. (+70%) and see Ryanair base another 10 new “Next-Gen” Boeing 8-200 aircraft by 2030, the Govt has failed to respond, and as a result, high cost/high tax Austria continues to lose aircraft, traffic, tourism, and jobs to lower cost neighbours Italy & Slovakia.

Austria’s air travel market is collapsing because of this harmful aviation tax – which is one of the highest in Europe at €12 per passenger – making Austria completely uncompetitive compared to lower cost EU countries, like Sweden, Hungary, Slovakia, and regional Italy, where Govt’s are abolishing aviation taxes and cutting airport fees to grow traffic and tourism.

Ryanair has already been forced to cut 3 aircraft and close 3 routes from Vienna for W25. Wizz, Level and easyJet have also closed their Vienna bases, and Lufthansa announced a cut of 10 aircraft from its AUA fleet.

The Austrian Govt. must now wake up if it wishes to save Austria’s failing traffic, tourism, and jobs by immediately scrapping the Austria’s failed aviation tax, and lowering Vienna Airport’s excessive fees