Ryanair cuts Austria winter capacity in protest against air tax and rising airport fees

Ryanair is cutting capacity in Austria in protest against the country’s "punitive" €12 aviation tax and soaring airport charges.

The budget carrier’s group chief executive Micheal O’Leary criticised Austria as becoming “hopelessly uncompetitive”.

Ryanair is withdrawing three aircraft and shutting routes from Vienna this winter to Billund, Santander and Tallin as a result.

O’Leary pledged to raise traffic by 70% to 12 million passengers a year if the Austrian government abolishes the €12 tax and follows Sweden, Hungary and Italy in lowering airport charges.

He said: “Austria remains one of the few EU countries, like Germany, that has still failed to recover its pre-Covid traffic. This is despite Ryanair’s rapid growth in Austria since 2019 (+160%), including the addition of four new routes to and from Salzburg and Linz this winter.

“As a result of the government’s €12 aviation tax and sky-high access costs, Austria has become hopelessly uncompetitive. 

“Wizz’s five aircraft base closure shows that Austria can no longer compete with lower cost EU markets like Sweden, Hungary, and regional Italy, which have scrapped their aviation tax to stimulate traffic growth.

“Should the government abolish this harmful tax, Ryanair will deliver growth up to 12 million passengers per annum in Austria over the next five years, substantially growing Austria`s tourism, jobs, and economic growth. 

"If the government fails to seize this significant opportunity to grow traffic and support economic recovery, then fares for Austrian passengers will inevitably rise, and Ryanair will have no choice but to further reduce operations in Austria as Lufthansa and Wizz have recently and relocate aircraft and capacity to lower cost markets like Sweden, Italy, and Hungary.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair is extending a Malta service from Norwich airport to year-round from this winter, adding to Alicante which became year-round last year.