05. Juni 2012 
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Successful start of Skylink operations
The terminal extension Skylink (“Check-in 3“) has been in operation since this morning, and all systems are basically functioning as planned. According to the Vienna Airport Holding, the morning peak hour, the first real test, was easily mastered: 116 flights with roughly 10,000 passengers had been handled by 10:00 am, and today’s schedule calls for 440 flights with almost 37,000 travellers.
“Today is a great day for Flughafen Wien. With this terminal, Vienna Airport is entering a new era. I would like to thank the Management Board and the entire team for bringing this difficult project to a successful conclusion. The successful start of operations is also a result of the future-oriented course the company has taken under its new management“, commented Erwin Hameseder, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Wien AG.
“When you start operations with complex machinery like an airport terminal, you are always walking on thin ice“, summarised Julian Jäger, “and that’s why we are extremely pleased over the smooth functioning of nearly all systems. All in all, we can say the start-up was a success“. CFO Günther Ofner is also pleased with the results: “The tension of the past weeks has now given way to satisfaction and relief. The schedule was met and costs are under control. However, we did have a few nervous minutes ‑ for example, with a two-hour power outage during the first peak period test.“ Both members of the Management Board cited the enormous team spirit as a success factor: “Without the expert project management by Norbert Steiner starting in 2009 and the substantial commitment of all involved employees, this would not have been possible. We would like to thank all these men and women for their efforts“.
In the future, roughly 60% of all passengers will be handled in the new terminal. The changeover from the old to the new terminal was largely problem-free: after the completion of check-in procedures in the old building, the last Austrian Airlines equipment and airport operating units were transferred to the new departure hall. All systems ‑ including the IT infrastructure, check-in and handling programmes as well as security control equipment ‑ were then tested one last time. Hundreds of Flughafen Wien and Austrian Airlines employees worked throughout the night to make today’s transfer and operational start-up possible. Only final optimisation steps remain to make operations in the terminal even better and to prepare for a further increase in the number of passengers during the upcoming holiday season.
After checking in, all passengers departing from the new terminal will pass through a central security zone with 15 control lines. The corridor then leads through an expansive shopping and gastronomy area with an offering that ranges from the Asian gourmet cuisine of Austria’s star chef Wini Brugger in the “Indochine Light“ to fine wines in the “SkyWineLounge“ and “DeCanto” wine bars and a relaxed coffeehouse atmosphere in the “Meinl Foodcourt“ and “Caffé Ritazza“. In this area travellers will also find boutiques with well-known international brands like Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, Thomas Sabo and many more. The new terminal doubles the retail and gastronomy space at Vienna Airport to over 19,000 m².
Following the opening of the new terminal, Flughafen Wien will now start to renovate and modernise the current terminal facilities. Work started at the end of June 2012 to revitalise the old Terminal 1 (“Check-in 1“). However, the shopping arcade and car park 3 will still be available to passengers. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012, when Air Berlin and NIKI will relocate to the redesigned terminal. Work will then begin on the old Terminal 2 (“Check-in 2“).
“Today is a great day for Flughafen Wien. With this terminal, Vienna Airport is entering a new era. I would like to thank the Management Board and the entire team for bringing this difficult project to a successful conclusion. The successful start of operations is also a result of the future-oriented course the company has taken under its new management“, commented Erwin Hameseder, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Wien AG.
“When you start operations with complex machinery like an airport terminal, you are always walking on thin ice“, summarised Julian Jäger, “and that’s why we are extremely pleased over the smooth functioning of nearly all systems. All in all, we can say the start-up was a success“. CFO Günther Ofner is also pleased with the results: “The tension of the past weeks has now given way to satisfaction and relief. The schedule was met and costs are under control. However, we did have a few nervous minutes ‑ for example, with a two-hour power outage during the first peak period test.“ Both members of the Management Board cited the enormous team spirit as a success factor: “Without the expert project management by Norbert Steiner starting in 2009 and the substantial commitment of all involved employees, this would not have been possible. We would like to thank all these men and women for their efforts“.
In the future, roughly 60% of all passengers will be handled in the new terminal. The changeover from the old to the new terminal was largely problem-free: after the completion of check-in procedures in the old building, the last Austrian Airlines equipment and airport operating units were transferred to the new departure hall. All systems ‑ including the IT infrastructure, check-in and handling programmes as well as security control equipment ‑ were then tested one last time. Hundreds of Flughafen Wien and Austrian Airlines employees worked throughout the night to make today’s transfer and operational start-up possible. Only final optimisation steps remain to make operations in the terminal even better and to prepare for a further increase in the number of passengers during the upcoming holiday season.
After checking in, all passengers departing from the new terminal will pass through a central security zone with 15 control lines. The corridor then leads through an expansive shopping and gastronomy area with an offering that ranges from the Asian gourmet cuisine of Austria’s star chef Wini Brugger in the “Indochine Light“ to fine wines in the “SkyWineLounge“ and “DeCanto” wine bars and a relaxed coffeehouse atmosphere in the “Meinl Foodcourt“ and “Caffé Ritazza“. In this area travellers will also find boutiques with well-known international brands like Lagerfeld, Dolce & Gabbana, Thomas Sabo and many more. The new terminal doubles the retail and gastronomy space at Vienna Airport to over 19,000 m².
Following the opening of the new terminal, Flughafen Wien will now start to renovate and modernise the current terminal facilities. Work started at the end of June 2012 to revitalise the old Terminal 1 (“Check-in 1“). However, the shopping arcade and car park 3 will still be available to passengers. Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012, when Air Berlin and NIKI will relocate to the redesigned terminal. Work will then begin on the old Terminal 2 (“Check-in 2“).
