09. 09. 10. - 14:00

Rising VIA flight figures tarnished by Skylink scandal

Vienna International Airport’s (VIA) passenger figures continue to climb as the pressure on bosses for their decision-making over construction of a new terminal increases.

Flughafen Wien AG, the listed firm managing the airport, announced today (Thurs) that there were 1.99 million passengers last month, up by 13 per cent year on year. VIA previously managed to increase passenger figures in June and July of this year compared to the same months of 2009.

The number of flights rose by 4.5 per cent, while the number of passengers traveling between VIA and destinations in Eastern Europe (EE) jumped by 21 per cent.

Around one in two flights landing at and departing from VIA were Austrian Airlines (AUA) services. The former Austrian flagship carrier was taken over by German aviation giant Lufthansa after the Austrian government had poured 500 million Euros into the ailing firm last year.

Meanwhile, Flughafen Wien AG's board is facing harsh criticism after details of an Audit Office (RH) investigation of the building of VIA’s Skylink terminal was leaked to the press.

Construction work at Skylink, which would be the airport’s fourth terminal, started five years ago. The provincial governments of Vienna and Lower Austria – which hold a 40 per cent interest in Flughafen Wien AG between them – announced at that time that it would start operating in 2008.

Work was however stopped for months last year after politics and business magazine profil revealed that costs would surpass 800 million Euros. Flughafen Wien AG had said in 2005 that expenses would range around half that amount. Construction activities were restarted recently, and the aerodrome’s supervisory board said the terminal would open in mid-2012.

Flughafen Wien AG board member Christian Domany was sacked – and generously compensated – in March of last year, seven months before his contract expired. Now rumour has it that Social Democratic (SPÖ) Vienna financial issues councillor Renate Brauner may replace board member Herbert Kaufmann after the 10 October city parliament election. Brauner dismissed such speculation earlier this week.

Korneuburg prosecutors raided several offices and flats of Skylink construction managers. According to press reports citing leaked investigation details, RH experts found out that planning errors had existed from the start. They also accused the airport’s board of having failed to react to apparent mismanagement appropriately.

Reports have it that costs will have surpassed one billion Euros when the terminal eventually goes into operation since decision-makers allegedly decided to invoice various activities connected to Skylink in separate billings.

The provinces of Vienna and Lower Austria are now being given three months to look into the RH’s 300-page report and make statements.

Vienna SPÖ Mayor Michael Häupl stressed there would be "consequences" if the investigation exposed planning stage errors and bad decision-making. Häupl however also vehemently pointed out that he would not act on the basis of prejudgements.