What do the expansion plans and capacities for the Vienna Airport look like in the coming years?
Expansion and modernization are integral parts of the growth strategy for the Vienna Airport. Multiple expansion projects have recently been implemented, especially in the areas of office infrastructure and real estate location for businesses – Office Park 1 and 2, for example. In the logistics and freight sector, we have created new capacities with the new Air Cargo Centre. Traffic development plays an important role in the expansion of capacities at the airport. In 2008, we handled approximately 20 million passengers; for this year, due to the restrained economic situation, we expect approximately 18 million passengers. But passenger numbers will increase again over the medium to long term. Therefore, we will create additional capacities and a new quality of travel for our passengers thanks to the new terminal expansion, Skylink. The Skylink project is on a new, correct course now and is scheduled to go into operation in the first half of 2012.
Due to economic reasons, there has been a decline in passenger numbers in 2009. When do you expect an upwards trend again, and what passenger numbers will the Vienna Airport reach by the middle of the coming decade?
Over the last few years, the Vienna Airport was able to record high growth rates in passenger numbers. But the airline business has not been spared from the crisis and the economic developments, and the Vienna Airport is no exception. However, considering the latest traffic data, we can already see a slight recovery with regards to passenger numbers at the Vienna Airport. For the year of 2009, we expect approximately 18 million passengers, which correspond to levels from 2007. It is hard to estimate from today’s perspective at what point exactly passenger numbers will increase again, but we do expect growth again in the medium to long term. This is what we focus on.
The Vienna Airport is one of Austria’s largest employers. In your opinion, how will the job situation develop until the middle of the coming decade?
With approximately 18,000 people working at this location, the Vienna Airport is Eastern Austria’s largest employer. Currently, more than 230 companies are located at the Vienna Airport. Vienna Airport AG alone employs approximately 4,000 people. Nationwide, another 52,500 jobs are indirectly linked to the Vienna Airport. This means we carry a great responsibility for the entire Eastern Austrian region. A recovery of the total economic situation will of course also affect the job situation at the Vienna Airport.
How important is the office sector for the airport as a business location?
Especially companies that manage their business activities in Central and Eastern Europe from their Austrian headquarters can rely on the Vienna Airport as an efficient transport link to this economic area. Meanwhile, the airport location also serves as an important connection for domestic companies to international trade, and therefore also is an attractive real estate location for businesses. At present, more than 230 companies are represented at the Vienna Airport location. We have created optimal conditions thanks to the Office Parks 1 and 2, and will continue to further develop the real estate infrastructure. At the same time, the large number of businesses located at the Vienna Airport contributes greatly to local value creation: Many of the people who work here come from Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland. All in all, two percent of total added value in Austria – more than 4.8 billion EUR – is generated at the Vienna Airport.
Are there plans for expanding the shopping sector at the Vienna Airport? If so, in which manner?
The shopping and gastronomy business in particular is an important pillar for the Vienna Airport, as it significantly contributes to the positive image the airport enjoys with passengers. We are in a good position today: At the Vienna Airport, passengers will find more than 85 shops and 25 gastronomic businesses on over 13,000 m². Our customers expect high-quality offerings and a comprehensive industry mix. With the Skylink terminal expansion, we will offer travellers a new, even more comfortable shopping experience.
Are there plans for expanding the logistics sector at the Vienna Airport? If so, in which manner?
Even today, many components (especially for the automobile and electronics industries) are brought to the technology clusters of Central and Eastern Europe by plane via Vienna; for example, to Kia in Slovakia’s automobile cluster and Samsung in the electronics sector. With its latest technologies and specialized know-how, the Vienna Airport is an ideal freight handling centre for the entire Eastern European economic region. In 2006, we opened the Air Cargo Centre, featuring a total of 37,676 m² of storage space and 14,533 m² of office space. This way, we have created a comprehensive logistics infrastructure with the latest conveyor techniques for air cargo palettes and containers as well as special warehouses for dangerous goods and perishables. The Vienna Airport is therefore in an excellent position in the logistics sector and is still able to win additional market shares from competitor airports, despite the restrained economic situation. In November of 2009, for example, the Vienna Airport was able to increase its freight volume by 23.8 percent compared to the previous year.
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