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Information About

Vienna International Airport




  IATA VIE
  ICAO LOWW
  Type public
  Run By Flughafen Wien Betriebsgesellschaft
  Opened 1938
  Closest Town Vienna, Austria
  Distance From Town 11 Mile s (18 Kilometer s)
  Elevation Ft 600
  Elevation M 183


  Runway Angle 16/34
  Runway Length F 11,811
  Runway Length M 3,600
  Runway Surface Paved


  Runway Angle 11/29
  Runway Length F 11,483
  Runway Length M 3,500
  Runway Surface Paved


Vienna Schwechat International Airport (German: ''Flughafen Wien''), located 18 Kilometer s (11 Mile s) southeast of Vienna , is the busiest airport in Austria . It is often referred to as Schwechat , the name of the nearby town. The airport is capable of handling Wide-body Aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 . The airport is the hub of Austrian Airlines and its subsidiaries, as well as budget airline Niki .


HISTORY


Originally built as a military airport in 1938 , it was taken over by the British in 1945 . In 1954 , the ''Betriebsgesellschaft'' was founded, and the airport replaced Aspern as Vienna's (and Austria's) principal aerodrome. There was just one Runway , which in 1959 was expanded to measure 3,000 metres. The erection of the new airport building starting in 1960 . In 1972 another runway was built.

The airport received Olympic teams as Austria has twice hosted the Winter Olympics . Pope John Paul II also used the airport during his visits to Austria. On December 27 , 1985 , the El Al ticket counter was attacked by Palestinian Terrorists . (See '' Rome And Vienna Airport Attacks ''.)

The airport formerly featured a Harrods , but it closed in 2003 .


TERMINALS


Presently, Vienna International Airport has two (actually three) terminals. A provisory .


MASTERPLAN 2015


Because of its constant growth in passenger numbers and freight, Vienna International Airport has decided to enlarge Austria 's biggest airport with several new and respectively adapted buildings.

  • New was built, directly besides the World Trade Center. With its 109 meters of height, it allows a free overlook of the entire airport area and it offers another spectacular sight: a night laser show, which should welcome the passengers even from the airplane.


  • New Terminal: Due to constant passenger and freight growth, Vienna International Airport has planned to build another Terminal , SKYLINK, which should be able to compensate higher passenger rates. Construction started in 2006 and will last until late 2008. If there is still an enormous amount of passenger growth, the Masterplan 2015 sees an enlargement of SKYLINK.


  • Third Runway : Due to higher aviation rates, a third runway will be necessary for the airport. A mediation process was held, and the start of the construction of the third runway will be in 2009.


  • Railway station: The underground railway station will be enlarged and a connection to Bratislava will be constructed. Additionally the CAT , City Airport Train, which connects the center of Vienna with the airport in just 16 minutes, will receive a new underground railway station.



AIRLINES

The following airlines fly to Vienna International Airport:



EXTERNAL LINKS