AUSTRIA. Vienna Airport Group today (19 August) reported first-half results with net profit improving +7% year-on-year to €123.2 million despite stagnating revenue growth (+0.9% to €529.3 million). EBITDA climbed +7.3% to €227.1 million.
The Retail & Properties division reported revenue of €101.4 million, flat year-on-year, and EBIT of €47.5 million, up +7.3%. Within this, Center Management & Hospitality revenue increased +2.8% to €52.5 million, aided by growth in advertising income as well as in food & beverage outlets and lounges.
The company attributed the stronger profit performance to a cost-savings programme and strong growth at Malta and Kosice airports, though management expressed concern about Vienna Airport’s competitiveness. Passenger traffic in the half grew +15.6% year-on-year in Malta and +43.5% in Kosice while Vienna lagged behind with a decrease of -3.2%.
Vienna Airport Joint CEO and CFO Günther Ofner said, “Despite a difficult market environment featuring high location costs, the fee reduction in effect since 1 January 2026, the reduced low-cost carrier offering in Vienna and flight cancellations related to the Middle East conflict, the Flughafen Wien Group showed a solid development in the first half of 2026.
“Capital expenditures in Vienna and Malta climbed significantly to €150.8 million, and the Terminal 3 Southern Expansion, the largest construction project, is proceeding on time and on budget and should be put into operation in the second quarter of 2027, as planned.
“From today’s perspective, we can also slightly improve our financial guidance for 2026. However, in international comparison, Austria is falling behind as an aviation location, as shown by the developments of airlines and airports in Austria. This also applies to all of Europe, in comparison to major growth markets such as China, India and the USA.
“If Europe and Austria want to keep up, urgent changes must be made to EU aviation regulations that distort competition, along with implementing simpler administrative procedures for infrastructure projects and ensuring a fundamentally stronger focus on growth and innovation.”
Joint CEO and COO Julian Jäger said: “Traffic performance in the first half of 2026 was mixed: passenger volumes across the Flughafen Wien Group increased by +1.9%. Growth was driven by the Group’s investments in Malta, which recorded an increase of +15.6%, and Kosice, with growth of +43.5%.
“Vienna Airport, by contrast, saw passenger numbers decline -3.2% due to the reduced low-cost offering and the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. Although this trend continued in July 2026, overall traffic performance has been less negative than anticipated at the beginning of the year.
“We are therefore able to slightly raise our passenger guidance for the full year to 30.5 million passengers at Vienna Airport and 42.5 million passengers across the Flughafen Wien Group, including Malta and Kosice.”
Jäger continued: “However, for Austria to achieve sustainable growth as an aviation hub once again, it urgently needs a regulatory framework that strengthens its international competitiveness and enables growth. The relief measures for the aviation sector announced by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, amounting to €60 million over two years, are an important first step.
“However, they will fall far short of what is required, and further measures are urgently needed. The top priority must be the abolition of the air transport levy, or at the very least a substantial reduction. At present, growth is taking place primarily in markets where no such burdens exist, as demonstrated by airports in our eastern neighbouring countries.”
For the full year, the airport company said it expects to serve about 42.5 million passengers group-wide, driven by strong traffic growth in Malta and Kosice and reaching about 30.5 million at Vienna Airport.
Group revenue will reach around €1,080 million in 2026, with EBITDA amounting to about €425 million, and net profit for the year before non-controlling interests hitting about €220 million and after non-controlling interests €190 million. ✈
