This article will be permanently flagged as inappropriate and made unaccessible to everyone. Are you certain this article is inappropriate? Excessive Violence Sexual Content Political / Social
Email Address:
Article Id: WHEBN0000159864 Reproduction Date:
Vienna International Airport (ICAO: LOWW) is the international airport of Vienna, the capital of Austria, located in Schwechat, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of central Vienna.
It is the country's biggest airport and serves as the hub for Austrian Airlines and Niki. It is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and features a dense network of European destinations and long-haul flights to Asia, North America and Africa. During 2014, the airport handled a total of 22,483,158 passengers, representing a respective 2.2% increase compared to 2013, and 230,781 aircraft movements.[2]
Originally built as a military airport in 1938, and used during World War II as the Heinkel firm's southern military aircraft design and production complex, or Heinkel-Süd facility, it was taken over by the British in 1945. In 1954, the Betriebsgesellschaft was founded, and the airport replaced Aspern as Vienna's (and Austria's) principal aerodrome. There was just one runway, which in 1959 was expanded to measure 3,000 m (9,843 ft). The erection of the new airport building starting in 1959.
In 1972 another runway was built. In 1982 the airport was connected to the national motorway network (Ostautobahn). In 1986 the enlarged arrivals hall was opened, and in 1988 Pier East with 8 jetbridges.
On December 27, 1985, the El Al ticket counter was attacked by Palestinians terrorists during the Rome and Vienna Airport Attacks.
Flughafen Wien AG, one of the few publicly traded airport operators in Europe, was privatised in 1992. The state of Lower Austria and the City of Vienna each hold 20% of the shares, the private employee participation foundation holds 10%, with the remaining 50% held privately.[3] The shares are part of the Austrian Traded Index.
In 1992, the new Terminal 1 was opened and a year later the shopping area around the plaza in the transit area of the B, C and D gates. In 1996 Pier West with 12 jetbridges got in operation. Until its closing in 2003 the airport featured a branch of Harrods.
In 2006 the 109 m (358 ft) tall control tower started operating. It allows a free overview of the entire airport area and offers a night laser show, which should welcome the passengers even from the aircraft. From 2004–2007 an Office Park had been erected offering 69.000m² of rentable space. A VIP- and general aviation-terminal, including a separated apron, opened in 2006.
To accommodate future growth, in 1998 Vienna Airport published a master plan that outlined expansion projects until 2015. These projects included a new office park, railway station, cargo center, general aviation center, air traffic control tower, terminal, and runway. Additionally, the plan called for streamlined security control.[4] The centerpiece of the enlargement was the new terminal, dubbed Skylink during its construction. In 2002, the airport's management estimated that building the new terminal will cost €401.79 million.[5] However, costs skyrocketed and in 2009 stood at an estimated €929.5 million.[5] The Austrian Court of Audit then recommended that the airport implement several cost-savings measures, which in the Court's estimate brought down final costs to €849.15 million, still more than double the original plans.[5]
On June 5, 2012, the new Austrian Star Alliance Terminal (Terminal 3, named Skylink during its construction) was opened, which enables the airport to handle up to 30 million passengers per year.[6] Construction started in 2004 and was suspended due to projected cost increases in 2009, but resumed in 2010. The maximum planned costs totaled less than €770 million.[2] Following concerns over the mismanagement of the Skylink project, chief executive Herbert Kaufman agreed to resign at the end of December 2010.[7] The new building with its North Pier has 17 jetbridges and makes the airport capable of handling more aircraft, although further upgrades will be required to accommodate the Airbus A380.
Vienna International Airport has four terminal buildings named Terminal 1, 2 and 3 which are directly built against each other as well as the additional Terminal 1A located opposite Terminal 1. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 connect to the five concourses. The central arrivals hall for all terminal areas is located in Terminal 3.
Vienna Airport originally projected that it will need a third runway by 2012, or 2016 at the latest, in the event of cooperation with nearby
Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
Furthermore, there are also buses from the airport to various places in Vienna and to other cities including Bratislava, Budapest and Brno.
The airport lies directly adjacent to motorway A4 which leads from central Vienna to Budapest. It has its own exit named Flughafen Wien-Schwechat. Bratislava can be reached via motorway A6 which splits from the A4 in the east. Taxis and car rental facilities are available at the airport.
Additionally, the underground railway station has been expanded to accommodate long-distance trains. Since December 2014, the first trains passing Vienna's new main station, ICE services from Germany, terminate at the airport. From December 2015, ÖBB Railjet services will operate to the airport as well. Long-distance train rides between the airport and the main station take approx. 15 minutes.
The Vienna S-Bahn line S7 provides a local service to the city centre taking approx. 25 minutes.[51] The more expensive City Airport Train connects the airport directly to Wien Mitte railway station, close to the city centre, in just 16 minutes.[52]
The following airlines offer regular scheduled and charter flights at Vienna International Airport:[12]
With regard to terminal infrastructure, the airport's management have decided that the renovation of Terminal 2 will not be completed until 2017 at the earliest.[11]
[10] (the state in which the airport is located) to move ahead with the first phase of construction; verdict from the administrative court that has taken up the lawsuit is expected later in 2015.Lower Austria These groups have attacked the decision of [9]
Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, France, United Kingdom
Vienna, Lower Austria, Hungary, Upper Austria, Styria
Berlin, London, Austria, Amsterdam, Rome
Isle of Man, India, Canada, European Union, British Overseas Territories
European Union, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada
Vienna International Airport, Austria, Salzburg Airport, Klagenfurt Airport, Linz Airport
Lufthansa, Star Alliance, Austria, Vienna, Singapore Airlines
Netherlands, Delta Air Lines, Amsterdam, Klm, KLM Cityhopper
Germany, Berlin, Zürich, World War I, London Heathrow Airport
London, Milan, Berlin, Rome, Paris