Low-cost giant Ryanair has criticised Vienna’s newly announced €30 million support package for the aviation sector, calling it insufficient while the country retains a €12 passenger tax and above-average airport fees. The carrier warned it could redeploy aircraft to Bratislava and other lower-cost bases if fiscal conditions do not improve. Government officials argue the subsidy will offset rising ANSP and energy costs, but airline industry groups say the aid lacks a long-term competitiveness strategy. Since 2021, Vienna Airport charges have risen by 30 percent and air-traffic-control fees by 60 percent, according to trade-body estimates. The dispute matters for global-mobility programmes because Ryanair operates key intra-EU routes used by short-term assignees and cost-sensitive business travellers. A pull-back could force companies to rely on more expensive legacy carriers or route staff via Bratislava, adding ground-transfer time and CO₂ emissions. Analysts note that Austria’s air-passenger-tax revenue (c. €140 million annually) dwarfs the one-off €30 million subsidy, creating mixed incentives. Several EU states have recently reduced or scrapped similar levies to lure capacity post-pandemic. Failure to match those moves could see Vienna lose market share just as the region’s tourism season peaks. Corporate-travel buyers should prepare contingency budgets for Q3/Q4 and investigate rail-air intermodal options, especially for domestic hops where an expanded ÖBB night-train network is a viable substitute.
Source: Aviation.Direct
