Klagenfurt Airport: loss of millions and uncertain future!

Klagenfurt Airport: loss of millions and uncertain future!

Klagenfurt, Österreich - The Klagenfurt Airport (Klu) sees itself in view of serious financial difficulties and a dramatic decline in the number of passenger numbers into an uncertain future. The city of Klagenfurt, which, due to a dilapidated budget, cannot do any further grants for flight operations, has decided to hand over its 20%shares at the airport to the state of Carinthia. According to click Carinthia are empty cash registers for this decisive step.

The city of Klagenfurt is currently fighting with a budget hole of 50 million euros. At the same time, it is forecast that the airport will cause a loss of another 25 million euros by 2027. Allegations are directed against the ÖVP and business representative Martin Gruber, who are accused of having done the airport into ruin. The previous privatization to the Lilihill Group is viewed by many as a disaster, especially in view of the 3.7 million euros in the deficiency and the non-transparency that was uncovered by the State Audit Office.

change of ownership and impending closure

The handover of the shares represents a significant change of ownership. The state of Carinthia is now taking responsibility for the airport and its development. Critics are alerted about the situation. Hotel owners as well as representatives of the FPÖ and NEOS are calling for more transparency and pleading for urgently needed investments in the airport infrastructure, new flight connections and marketing for tourism. The SPÖ, on the other hand, remains reserved in its reactions.

The Klagenfurt Airport recorded only 137,844 passengers in 2024, which represents a decrease of 10% compared to 2023. These numbers are alarming in the context of the economic framework, especially compared to other regional airports such as Ljubljana, Graz and Salzburg. Modernized terminals and connections to important hipwits are missing, which further exacerbates the economic situation. In addition, an ignored investor offer that could have brought millions was not implemented.

The way forward

The new airport manager Maximilian Wildt is faced with the challenge of increasing passenger volume. Positive signs are the planned increase in the frequencies by Ryanair and the resumption of flights to Cologne through Eurowings. The route to Hanover is now regularly served by Skyalps. Despite these efforts, the airport is dependent on financial support; The amount of 2.4 million euros for the next two years cannot be made available due to the city's tense budget situation.

The handover of the 20%shares to the state of Carinthia happened just two months after a payments of 2.8 million euros that the city had paid to the airport company KFBG in order to attribute its share to the original 20 percent. Critics describe this step as a late and financial wrong decision by the city. As the Kleine Zeitung reports, the concerns about the future of the airport are growing in view of the structural problems that have been visible since the global health crisis become.

The current situation of Klagenfurt Airport impressively shows how fragile the economic foundations are of regional traffic hubs. Without clear plans, transparency and substantial investments, the airport could actually be closed, which would have serious effects on the local economy and the tourism sector.