Vienna-Schwechat Airport has returned to profitability after losses in the corona pandemic.

In the first quarter of 2022, the listed operating company posted an operating profit of 12,4 million euros, after a loss of 30,9 million euros a year ago. Sales almost doubled from 57,5 to 110,9 million euros, the company announced on Thursday. The bottom line was a profit of 6,7 million euros.

“Austrians are more keen to travel than ever before and this is also reflected in the increasing number of passengers at Vienna-Schwechat Airport and significant growth in sales and earnings in the first quarter of 2022. A continued outperformance in passenger numbers could lead to a significant improvement in the business results for the full year compared to previous expectations," said Günther Ofner, board member optimistically. The autumn and the fourth quarter are still difficult to estimate, which applies to both the course of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, as the management explained.

For this year the board expects a turnover of 560 million euros and a net profit of at least 20 million euros. The company intends to update its outlook at the latest when the half-year figures are published, as stated in the announcement. By April, 4,7 million passengers were counted in Vienna, for the full year 17 million are expected in Vienna and 21 million including the holdings in Malta and Kosice.

The airport has not yet fully recovered from the corona crisis. Passenger numbers are further behind the pre-crisis level, but have recently increased significantly. In April there were 1,8 million, after 270.000 in April 2021. "We are currently at about 65 percent of the passenger volume of 2019," says Board Member Julian Jäger. For the summer he expects a flight boom. One is well prepared for this, and the security checks have been increased.