After the withdrawal of Wizz Air, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is also pulling back three of the 19 aircraft stationed in Vienna. Around 100 employees are affected. The airline justified the step in Vienna on Wednesday by citing Austria’s “exorbitant air traffic tax of 12 euros” and the “excessive airport charges in Vienna.” Three routes—Billund, Santander, and Tallinn—will be completely discontinued in the 2025 winter schedule, while other connections will be reduced.
Ryanair competitor Wizz Air had only last week announced that it would withdraw all five of its aircraft and close its base in Vienna. The airline also cited sharply increased airport charges, taxes, and ground handling costs in Vienna, as well as a strategic focus on core markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as reasons for its retreat.
Wizz Air and Ryanair both entered Vienna in 2018 after the insolvency of Air Berlin subsidiary Niki and, like other low-cost carriers, sought to fill the market gap. Ryanair took over the successor airline Laudamotion, founded by Niki Lauda. The result was a loss-making battle for market share that at times brought passengers very cheap tickets.
