Klagenfurt Airport was hit particularly hard by the corona pandemic, because several times there were no scheduled flights at all for weeks or months. The plans presented some time ago by the investor and majority owner Lilihill have now been adapted.

The area of ​​today's airport is to be developed into the "Aviation City". The key is, however, that the non-aviation part of the original project is much smaller than originally announced. At that time there was regional criticism that the planned exhibition center in particular should be oversized. Lilihill has apparently reacted to this.

A new handling area is to be created in the area of ​​aviation. Managing director Nils Witt emphasizes that in future you will be able to get to the aircraft in just fifty meters from the car and that this will be covered, because a parking garage that will be directly connected to the terminal is to be built.

Lilihill wants to build a hotel with a convention center in the area of ​​the former hangars. Furthermore, areas are to be created for business premises. The aim is to establish Klagenfurt Airport as a local supplier for the population. The energy supply should also be ensured with a photovoltaic system, which should have an output of up to 70.000 kilowatts. According to Witt, a net solar area of ​​230.000 square meters is planned in the second expansion stage. This would make the airport the largest solar park in Carinthia. First and foremost, the electricity generated is to be used for personal needs. They also want to produce hydrogen that could be used in vehicles, for example.

Freight is to be pushed in the future

Lilihill also wants to build a logistics center in order to be able to give Klagenfurt Airport more momentum in the freight sector. So far, cargo has played practically no role at Carinthian airport. That is about to change, because we want to link the modes of transport road, air and rail with one another. Especially in the area of ​​express freight, the availability of all possibilities could bring advantages.

Lilihill also wants to build a technology park. This should primarily deal with alternative drive options such as electric and hydrogen. They also want to get startups that develop drones to settle here. Managing Director Nils Witt also stated that the entire “Airport City” project should be built in one fell swoop. He is of the opinion that this will only work if everything is interlinked.

Lilihill gave specific information about the start of construction. In Klagenfurt, however, it is expected that the first preparatory work could start in January 2022. But politics is still a big unknown, as this could put obstacles in the way of the project and cause delays.