After a closure of more than two years, Vienna International Airport will reopen Terminal 29 including gate areas B, C and D on March 2022, 2. It is partly the oldest terminal building at Austria's largest airport, which has been completely renovated.

The airport spent around 62 million euros on the conversion and revitalization. However, the corona pandemic meant that the opening had to be postponed. The complete closure of gate areas B, C and D was not planned at all, but was completed in March 2020 due to the collapse in passenger numbers due to the corona pandemic. Since then, boarding the aircraft has been limited to Areas F and G, which are located in Terminal 3.

In the past, Terminal 2 was also used for check-in services. The counters were already dismantled before the corona pandemic, because a central security check for gate zones B, C and D was created. This has been operational for some time, but has not been used so far due to the pandemic. From March 29, 2022, passengers and their hand luggage will be checked here. In the "cellar" were additional baggage claim belts installed. These will also be operational shortly.

"It's nice that we can open Terminal 2 today. A very big moment, which is also overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. But such occasions are a good opportunity to gain strength for the next challenges," says Lower Austria's governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

New lounge, simplified paths

Another highlight that Vienna International Airport boasts in Terminal 2 is a newly designed lounge. This is around 2.400 square meters and will be one of the largest at the airport in the future. Elegant interior design with design elements from the Viennese school, comfortable and high-quality furniture and a panoramic view of the apron create a bright and pleasant atmosphere. Shower facilities, relaxation rooms and even a separate large meeting room with a view of the apron offer useful services for travellers. The renowned catering company Donhauser provides delicious cuisine. Particularly impressive: In cooperation with the Leopold Museum, the entire lounge is furnished with high-quality art prints of well-known works by great local artists such as Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and many more - travelers in the "Vienna Lounge" almost feel like they are in Vienna from his most beautiful side.

Furthermore, the gastronomy offers have been significantly expanded, which should apply to Schengen zones B and C as well as the non-Schengen area D. The Zugvogel service restaurant has been reopened with a view of the airport apron, and a Veganista/The LaLa store with vegan delicacies will open shortly. Even before the security check in the new, light-flooded hall of Terminal 2, the popular Austrian gastronomy brand Trzesniewski is also opening. The hall itself is adorned with elegant crystal chandeliers from the traditional Viennese company J & L Lobmeyr. The routes have also been simplified, because due to the fact that the security check has to be passed when entering, there is no need to go down to the "cellar" (B-Gates) and then "climb" to the "C-Gates" when departing from the C-Gates C gates. In the future – as in the days of decentralized controls that were carried out directly at the gate – you will go straight to the boarding gates again.

The east pier with the D gates for non-Schengen flights has also been modernized: the decentralized security checks and partition walls of the previously separate gate areas were dismantled as part of the new central security check. This means that passengers have extensive lounge areas and high-quality shopping and dining options at their disposal.

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig spoke of a serious turning point for the airport and the economy, as there were and are two crises, namely the corona pandemic and the Ukraine war, that have to be overcome. “It is all the more important to prepare yourself at the business location in the eastern region. Vienna is an important location for multinational companies and multilateral organizations. The airport is therefore of essential importance and an important driving force as an employer and for the economy.”

Airport has renovated terminal from the 1960s

Airport board member Julian Jäger spoke of a turning point: "After two years of pandemic, the last thing we needed was a war. We will feel the economic effects in air traffic for a long time to come." Nevertheless, he expects "strong Easter business and a very strong summer. We are now pleased that normality is taking a step forward.” Vienna-Schwechat Airport has used the past two years to refurbish the oldest terminal. “The terminal went into operation in 1960. That's why we've now modernized it, centralized security checks, built new baggage claim belts and a new lounge. We tried to bring in a Viennese flair here.”

Airport Board Member Günther Ofner said: “The long-term prospects for aviation remain positive. Austrians are also very willing to travel. People want to travel again and do something good for themselves. Business trips, on the other hand, will remain under pressure.” The airport is not only an important place for guests, but also an important employer for around 20.000 people, and there will be more in the long term. In addition to Terminal 2, the airport has invested a lot of money despite the crisis and built the country's largest photovoltaic system, which will go into operation in April. "We will thus already achieve our goal of being CO2030-neutral as a company by 2 in 2023," said Ofner.