Due to the low demand, the apron at Vienna-Schwechat Airport is gradually being transformed back into a large parking lot for commercial aircraft. Wizzair and Austrian Airlines currently have a total of 40 aircraft in so-called long time storage at this airport.

During the first lockdown phase one could almost have believed that more machines were parked on the apron than cars in the parking areas for passengers. In addition to Level Europe, Wizzair, Lauda and Austrian Airlines, other carriers also use this airport to park their aircraft. As far as the eye could see: jets and turbo-prop planes everywhere that didn't know when they would take off again.

Since the offers have been and will be successively reduced due to the pandemic and the recently tightened entry and quarantine regulations as well as “second lockdowns”, the number of commercial aircraft in the storage is now increasing again. As of Thursday, 31 Austrian Airlines and nine Wizzair planes were mothballed in Vienna. In some cases, important parts of the machines are wrapped in foil or the engines are even dismantled. Depending on the aircraft, the manufacturer's recommendations are followed and, in addition, the current needs of the respective operator.

Ryanair currently has three Boeing 737-800s in short-time storage in Vienna. In contrast to the competition, it has not yet been decided to prepare them for a longer parking period. The A320s operated by the subsidiary Lauda Europe, however, are not parked, but are currently still in use. However, individual machines are standing around in Luqa and Stansted, waiting there for better times.

Due to the fact that the demand drops drastically due to external circumstances, a strong increase in “demand” in the area of ​​parking spaces for commercial aircraft is to be expected. Most providers hope that more flights can be flown again from December, but this is a glimpse into the crystal ball, as nobody can predict how the pandemic will develop.