The airline Ryanair reports a significant shift in passenger flows in Central European air traffic.
According to the company, Vienna Airport recorded a six percent decrease in traffic volume in June 2026. During the same period, Bratislava Airport, located only about 80 kilometers away, reported significant growth. For the first half of 2026, the Slovakian airport showed a 123 percent increase in passenger numbers, indicating a growing shift of traffic to the neighboring country.
The airline cites the differing structures of location costs as the main reason for this contrasting development. While Slovakia has abolished air passenger duty and reduced air traffic control and airport fees through targeted reforms, these charges remain at a comparatively high level in Austria. The Austrian air passenger duty of twelve euros per passenger, as well as significant increases in air traffic control and airport fees since the Covid pandemic, are negatively impacting the competitiveness of Vienna Airport in the low-cost carrier segment.
Critics and industry observers point out, however, that Ryanair's drastic statements are also part of a targeted lobbying campaign against government levies. Airlines regularly use the threat of capacity shifts to pressure governments and airport operators to lower fees. Furthermore, Vienna's passenger base is more diversified and less dependent on individual low-cost carriers than Bratislava's, making Vienna more resilient to fluctuations in the low-price segment. Nevertheless, the current developments underscore the fierce competition among European aviation hubs.