19. Januar 2012 
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Flughafen Wien AG with 7.2% plus in passengers
Vienna Airport set a new record in 2011 with a total of 21,106,292 passengers. This year-on-year increase of 7.2% places Vienna above the European average (7.0% for 1-11/2011 according to ACI).
“The growth in passenger volume at Vienna outpaced other European airports in 2011, despite the events in Japan and North Africa, and we are pleased to have exceeded the threshold of 21 million travellers. However, we have already identified a number of challenges for 2012: we are expecting an increase of only 0 to 1% in the number of passengers, in particular because of the uncertain economic outlook and the fleet structure changes announced by Austrian Airlines for this year. Our focus will therefore be placed, above all, on the sustainable protection of long-term growth perspectives and the strengthening of Vienna’s competitive ability.
The most important project in this respect – the successful start of operations in the Skylink – is on the right track: over 370 test passengers have already taken part in trial operations and, by the end of April, this number will have risen to 3,000. Operations in the Skylink are expected to start during June 2012, and will further improve the quality of our location. The Skylink will provide space for more than 31 new shops and 19 gastronomy facilities“, explained Julian Jäger, member of the Management Board (COO) of Flughafen Wien AG.
“Despite strong economic headwinds, we will be able to offset a substantial part of the pressure on earnings from the Skylink start-up due to the successful implementation of our cost reduction programme and the completed reorganisation. We are expecting an increase in revenue and, after impairment charges of € 74 million in 2011, a further improvement in net profit which, however, will remain substantially below recent years. A total of € 160 million will be invested in 2012 to hold debt at a stable level, while investments for the period up to 2015 were cut from € 650 million to € 590 million.
In spite of the FWAG hiring freeze, Vienna Airport is still a job creator for the region – nearly 300 additional employees will be needed for the shops and restaurants in the new Skylink. With current market capitalisation of only approx. 70% of equity/carrying amount, the Flughafen Wien share is grossly undervalued and in no way reflects the overall positive outlook for the company. Although results for 2011 are not yet available, we can now say that the dividend recommendation will not be less than 50% of the prior year amount“, commented Günther Ofner, member of the Management Board (CFO) of Flughafen Wien AG, on the outlook for 2012.
European traffic as growth driver, no change in flight movements The number of passengers travelling to the Middle East rose by 3.7%. Traffic to Eastern Europe and Western Europe increased 14.9% and 7.0%, respectively. Flight movements (take-offs and landings) remained constant at 246,157, while maximum take-off weight (MTOW) rose by 3.7%, above all due to the use of larger aircraft. In spite of the strong growth in passenger traffic during 2011, Vienna remains one of the most punctual airports in Europe and, in international comparison, is ranked ahead of the other Lufthansa hubs in Munich, Zurich and Frankfurt.
“The growth in passenger volume at Vienna outpaced other European airports in 2011, despite the events in Japan and North Africa, and we are pleased to have exceeded the threshold of 21 million travellers. However, we have already identified a number of challenges for 2012: we are expecting an increase of only 0 to 1% in the number of passengers, in particular because of the uncertain economic outlook and the fleet structure changes announced by Austrian Airlines for this year. Our focus will therefore be placed, above all, on the sustainable protection of long-term growth perspectives and the strengthening of Vienna’s competitive ability.
The most important project in this respect – the successful start of operations in the Skylink – is on the right track: over 370 test passengers have already taken part in trial operations and, by the end of April, this number will have risen to 3,000. Operations in the Skylink are expected to start during June 2012, and will further improve the quality of our location. The Skylink will provide space for more than 31 new shops and 19 gastronomy facilities“, explained Julian Jäger, member of the Management Board (COO) of Flughafen Wien AG.
“Despite strong economic headwinds, we will be able to offset a substantial part of the pressure on earnings from the Skylink start-up due to the successful implementation of our cost reduction programme and the completed reorganisation. We are expecting an increase in revenue and, after impairment charges of € 74 million in 2011, a further improvement in net profit which, however, will remain substantially below recent years. A total of € 160 million will be invested in 2012 to hold debt at a stable level, while investments for the period up to 2015 were cut from € 650 million to € 590 million.
In spite of the FWAG hiring freeze, Vienna Airport is still a job creator for the region – nearly 300 additional employees will be needed for the shops and restaurants in the new Skylink. With current market capitalisation of only approx. 70% of equity/carrying amount, the Flughafen Wien share is grossly undervalued and in no way reflects the overall positive outlook for the company. Although results for 2011 are not yet available, we can now say that the dividend recommendation will not be less than 50% of the prior year amount“, commented Günther Ofner, member of the Management Board (CFO) of Flughafen Wien AG, on the outlook for 2012.
European traffic as growth driver, no change in flight movements The number of passengers travelling to the Middle East rose by 3.7%. Traffic to Eastern Europe and Western Europe increased 14.9% and 7.0%, respectively. Flight movements (take-offs and landings) remained constant at 246,157, while maximum take-off weight (MTOW) rose by 3.7%, above all due to the use of larger aircraft. In spite of the strong growth in passenger traffic during 2011, Vienna remains one of the most punctual airports in Europe and, in international comparison, is ranked ahead of the other Lufthansa hubs in Munich, Zurich and Frankfurt.
