The Flughafen Wien Group (Vienna Airport) has reported that its revenues rose by 6.4% to E.533.8m ($755.7m) in 2010, although this increase was less than the 8.7% growth in traffic due to higher revenue deductions, including the extended increase in the transfer incentive and – above all – due to new agreements concluded with NIKI and the Austrian Airlines Group.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) recorded by the Flughafen Wien Group rose by 1.0% to E.168.1m ($238m) in 2010 (2009: E.166.5m/$235.7m). Net profit for 2010 amounted to E.75.7m ($107.1m), compared with E.73.3m ($103.7m) in 2009.

These results were announced yesterday by the Management Board of Flughafen Wien, which stated: “The past year brought a recovery in traffic, and we were able to generate sound results. This year we will be faced with a number of challenges, for which we have already set an appropriate course. 

“Responsibilities and corporate structures were reorganised, work on the Skylink project proceeded at a high pace and the long-term costs were analysed in detail.

WORK IN PROGRESS…
“Our goal is to become faster and more customer-oriented and to demonstrate our competitive strength even better in the future,” explained Christoph Herbst, Chairman of the Board of Flughafen Wien AG.

With an increase of 8.7% in the number of passengers to 19.7m in 2010, Vienna International Airport far exceeded the European average of 4.2% (Source: ACI Airport Traffic Report, December 2010 – full year). Passenger traffic to the Middle East rose by 10.0%, and traffic to Eastern Europe was 13.6% higher. 

Meanwhile, work to complete construction and preparations for the start-up of the much delayed VIE-Skylink terminal extension continues, with completion expected in the first half of 2012.

The maximum costs for the Skylink amount to E.830m ($1.1bn) and management says that it believes this budget can be met. 

SKYLINK RETAIL STATUS
Ernest Gabmann, member of the Management Board of Flughafen Wien AG (Vienna Airport) and Gebr. Heinemann co-owner Gunnar Heinemann reconfirmed last February that the contract negotiations have been concluded to extend the retailer’s presence to the new much-delayed Skylink terminal when it eventually opens.

Heinemann will extend its ‘Heinemann Duty Free’ concept to the new Skylink terminal, where the company will run shops with total floor space of around 2,000sq m.

Gebr. Heinemann Wien GmbH has held the concession at Vienna Airport since 2003 where it currently runs 12 shops, including seven Heinemann Duty Free shops, its own specialist outlets and brand-label boutiques.

COMMENT: Hopefully, Christoph Herbst’s wish for the airport company to become more customer-oriented will include Flughafen Wien’s press office. Several attempts by TREND to establish the status of the airport’s retail contracts at the Skylink last year were met with zero responses from the airport.