The Dream of Flying: A Photographic Look at 70 Years of Vienna Airport

Since its foundation in 1954, Vienna Airport has developed into an indispensable hub for air traffic in Europe. With over 100.000 passengers and around 700 take-offs and landings every day, it is now the largest employer in the eastern region of Austria and a symbol of the tireless human urge to conquer the skies. This development was recently honored with the presentation of the art photo book "The Dream of Flying", which documents both the technical achievements and the human passion that characterize this place.

What once began with a modest infrastructure and a team of around 100 employees has developed into a globally important airport that counts over 30 million air travelers every year. This success story is not only the result of innovative technology and economic foresight, but also the fruit of a centuries-old fascination with flying that drove Daedalus and Icarus to their first high-altitude flights. Vienna Airport, with its history and its current role as a center for air traffic, is the expression of this human curiosity and the tireless efforts to reach ever new heights.

A unique photo project

The art photo book "The Dream of Flying" offers an impressive insight into the everyday life of the airport and shows it from an artistic perspective. Initiated under the direction of the renowned publisher and photographer Lois Lammerhuber and in collaboration with the author Thomas Brezina, eight internationally recognized photographers document the airport operations over a period of 24 hours. The images range from the busy aprons and runways to emotional moments in the terminals and the quiet moments of work. This artistic exploration shows the complexity and magic of a place that never sleeps.

The photographers include Hans-Jürgen Burkhard, Martina Draper, Nadja Ferroukhi, Jérôme Gence, Ana María Arévalo Gosen, Ulla Lohmann, Heinz Stephan Tesarek and Lammerhuber himself. Their work captures not only the hectic dynamics, but also the quiet, thoughtful sides of the airport. "It was really impressive to see what the thousands of employees at the airport manage to do every day so that we can travel," says Thomas Brezina. "The dream of flying is proof of what belief in what is possible can do."

A tribute to the aviation pioneers

The presentation of the illustrated book took place on December 2, 2024 in the Great Hall of the Austrian National Library and attracted over 120 guests from politics, business and culture. The event was not only a celebration of the book itself, but also of the historical pioneering achievements in aviation. In a symbolic gesture, Vienna Airport sponsored a graphic by Jakob Degen, an Austrian inventor who constructed a flying machine with movable wings in 1807 and used it to soar 17 meters in front of the audience in Vienna's Hofburg.

"This book is a tribute to the magic and challenges of flying," explained Lammerhuber at the presentation. The comprehensive chronology included in the volume highlights the history of the airport from its humble beginnings to its current role as an international hub. This chronology offers a unique overview of the development and shows how Vienna Airport has transformed from a regional hub to a global interface for aviation.

Insights into everyday life at the airport

The book "The Dream of Flying" invites its readers to look at Vienna Airport from a new perspective. The photographs reveal the intensity of the work and the people behind the scenes. More than 5.500 airport employees and thousands of employees at airlines and service providers work day and night to ensure the smooth running of one of Europe's busiest airports. The illustrated book not only pays tribute to the technical aspects of this multicultural working environment, but above all to the human aspects.

The price of the photo book is 39 euros and is available at Vienna Airport, Edition Lammerhuber and in bookstores. This visual and literary journey promises not only an insight into the mechanisms of an international air hub, but also an appreciation of the passion and commitment required to keep such a place running.