The Austrian airport Linz-Hörsching handled 68.509 passengers in the previous year. Compared to 2020, an increase of 33,5 percent was achieved, but the performance was still well below that of 2019. 21.762 passengers were handled in scheduled services. Linz Airport recorded 45.739 holiday flights. 1.008 passengers traveled in alternative traffic.

“In intensive talks with the Lufthansa Group, we succeeded in reconnecting Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. In particular, the close cooperation with Air Dolomiti has meant that we were able to offer business on the important Frankfurt connection two daily connections again very quickly. However, the fourth Covid wave and the lockdown in late autumn meant that this positive development was slowed down again. Demand for holiday flights exceeded our expectations. Almost all planned charter chains were carried out. With Gran Canaria, we were able to offer a new destination in the winter flight schedule, which was also well received,” explains Airport Manager Norbert Draskovits.

For the current year, Linz Airport expects significant growth in passenger traffic. The tour operators have significantly expanded the charter flight program for the coming summer and are offering around 21 weekly holiday flights. In scheduled air traffic, the airport expects that demand will stabilize and that frequencies to Düsseldorf and Frankfurt can be gradually increased.

“2021 showed us that people want to travel by plane again. We can offer our passengers an interesting and extensive summer flight program. It pays off that we have been working very closely with the tour operators and our flight partners European Air Charter and Corendon for years and that everyone involved has great confidence in the Upper Austrian market. We also expect a recovery and a further step towards normality in scheduled services. We therefore have every reason to be optimistic about the year 2022, although we know that it will still take a while before we can pick up the pre-Corona passenger volume again," says Draskovits.

In terms of air freight, Linz Airport achieved a new all-time high of 62.600 tons. Both the regular cargo flight connections with DHL Express and Turkish Cargo and the air freight replacement service (trucking) recorded very good results. However, the approximately 50 special transports that were handled last year were decisive for the new handling record.

“In air freight, we have earned an excellent international reputation. This applies in particular to the handling of special transports with wide-bodied aircraft. Our customers appreciate the flexibility and professionalism that we can offer them together with our partners. Handling the world's largest transport aircraft, the Antonov 225, is a particular operational challenge. It was therefore a great sign of confidence for us that this aircraft was sent to Linz three times,” explains Norbert Draskovits, Managing Director of Linz Airport.

Passenger traffic in detail  

 Air freight traffic in detail