Vienna Airport says NO to the third runway: economy and ecology win!

Vienna Airport says NO to the third runway: economy and ecology win!

On November 25, 2025, Vienna Airport decided not to pursue the construction of a third runway. This decision was brought forward and comes against a tense background of changing general conditions in aviation, rising construction costs and a negative attitude of the most important airline partners towards the multi-billion dollar project. City Councilor for Finance and Economics Barbara Novak described the decision as responsible and forward-looking, as it took into account both economic realities and ecological responsibility. According to Wien.gv.at, growth and capacity security at the airport should be guaranteed even without a third runway.

The forecasts for construction costs were now around two billion euros, which further influenced the decision. In addition to the costs, the general conditions have changed due to long procedure times. Passenger transport per flight movement increased from 71 in 2005 to 139 in 2024, which eased the pressure on runway capacity. The airport plans to handle up to 52 million passengers annually in the future using the existing two runways, after handling around 31.7 million travelers last year, as the courier reports.

Reactions and effects

The decision, which had been planned for almost 30 years, took place in a complex legal environment. The project was accompanied by open proceedings by the Administrative Court regarding the extension of the construction period as well as protests and legal appeals from residents and environmentalists. The city of Vienna, which has invested 20 percent in the airport, sees planned expansions and modernizations in the terminal area as important investments in the future. Novak emphasizes the planning security created by this decision and plans to work closely with the airport to ensure a modern and competitive infrastructure.

Reactions to the decision are mixed. While the Lower Austrian governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) and Barbara Novak (SPÖ) welcomed the decision as economical and responsible, FPÖ general secretary Christian Hafenecker expressed criticism and warned of negative consequences for Austria as a business and tourism location. This different perspective highlights the controversies regarding the airport and its future policy.

New perspectives through sustainability

The decision against the third runway comes in a context where sustainability is increasingly becoming the focus of the discussion. Projects in the aviation industry place great emphasis on environmentally friendly alternatives and proactive measures to reduce the ecological footprint. The focus is on developing solutions that offer both economic and ecological advantages, even without a third runway, such as through the use of electric vehicles and intelligent control systems.

The flagship project TULIPS aims to promote sustainable airport development and ensure emission-free operations on the ground. The development of new technologies such as a hydrogen ground power supply unit and a hydrogen tug is being promoted in collaboration with project partners. At Fraunhofer IML a holistic approach is pursued that targets not only the airport itself, but all associated processes in order to identify and implement sustainability measures.