Flughafen Wien AG fought for the building permit for the planned third runway for many years. Since February 17, 2020, the supreme court has given the long-awaited green light, but then Corona came and the excavators have not rolled since. It won't be built anytime soon.

As with every building permit, there is also a so-called implementation period for the third runway project. This means that the construction work will be started and completed within a certain period of time. If you fail to do this, you run the risk that the permit will expire and you may have to apply for it again. In view of the fact that Flughafen Wien AG had to fight for the final release in court for eight years, this approach would be questionable.

The board of directors of Austria's airport has therefore applied to the responsible EIA authority for this implementation period to be extended due to the long duration of the procedure and the collapse in air traffic due to the corona pandemic. To put it simply: they want to build the third runway, but much later than approved in the official notification.

A significant increase in air traffic is not expected again until 2023. The forecast currently assumes that around 75 percent of the number of flight movements and more than 80% of the number of passengers will be reached, compared to the record year 2019.

These developments made it necessary for Vienna Airport to apply to the EIA authority for an extension of the originally planned implementation deadlines. For example, on the basis of the corresponding expert report, an application is made to set the original implementation deadline for the first construction phase, which was set for December 31.12.2023, 30.6.2033, at June XNUMX, XNUMX and to adjust the further deadlines accordingly.

The application for an extension of the deadline is based on the expert's assessment that air traffic will continue to increase in the future and that the capacity limit of the current runway system will therefore be reached in the 2030s.

The application also underscores the fact that FWAG is vigorously pursuing the 3rd runway project on the basis of the incontestable approval notice. The extension of the deadline enables Flughafen Wien AG to determine the specific start of construction based on the actual development of flight numbers and economic efficiency, although no specific date for the start of construction can be given at this time.