Austria’s nine federal states have called for the abolition of the country’s aviation tax, warning that it undermines the competitiveness of domestic airports and encourages passengers and airlines to use neighbouring markets, highlighting Slovenia as one of them. The demand was backed at a meeting of provincial governors in Mellau, following an initiative by Styria. Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek singled out Slovenia, Slovakia and Hungary as countries benefiting from Austria’s taxation policy.
Carinthian Deputy Governor Martin Gruber highlighted Ljubljana and Trieste airports as competitors operating without a comparable passenger departure tax. Austrian regional officials argue that the levy shifts traffic across borders rather than reducing aviation emissions. However, they have not provided figures showing how many passengers have chosen Ljubljana Airport as a result. Austria’s federal government has indicated it intends to reduce the tax, although a complete abolition remains under discussion.
Ljubljana Airport has in recent months heavily advertised itself as the “airport of choice for the region", highlighting its easy access to Austria, Croatia, Italy and Hungary in its advertising material aimed at airlines.
Well at least for once it's not the other way around haha.
ReplyDeleteI think the airlines are getting cautious again because the fuel prices have gone up for the second time. FlyDubai strongly decreased frequencies for December and next year, Pegasus also removed a few flights ... It's time this nonsense in the ME finally ends.
DeleteAlso Aegean was planning to start flying to LJU again in February next year, but pushed it back until March and it also pushed back the start of it's third weekly flight next year from June to July.
DeleteBravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteYesterday the Austrian finance minister gave a statement saying they don't intend on abolishing it or reducing it. I guess Austria needs any extra Euro it can get.
ReplyDeleteGermany and Austria need every cent they can take from their citizens to fund their fatalistic policies. And Austria, in particular, has no reason to complain—AUA has cut back on flights to KLU and GRZ, so it’s no wonder that Carinthians, in particular, are flying out into the world via LJU.
Delete'fatalistic policies' lol..mate...
DeleteVery successful textbook lobbying playing out different federal structures against each other. Bravo Ryanair and Wizz!
ReplyDeleteAustria was taking advantage of neighboring markets for decades and now is mad that small portion of Austrians want to use and discover other airports. Hilarious.
ReplyDeleteof which neighbouring marketS??? Germany? Italy? Hungary? HiIarious comment
DeleteEx Eastern Bloc, duh. Hilarious geography knowledge
DeleteSlovenia, Slovakia, Hungary ?
DeleteAirport of choice for the region is a good approach. The region with Carinthia, Slovenia, Friuli-Giuglia/TRS and Istria indeed is a great region to visit.
ReplyDeleteI just booked in May ZRH-FCO-TRS with LX/AZ and returning LJU-ZRH with LX
It's their business model, they want 'green' skies to match their 'blue' Danube 😄.
ReplyDeleteLet them pursue only legacy airlines, who cares.
As if the guys drive to slovenia and fly from ljubljana
ReplyDeleteSure! I am living south of Salzburg. Taking the train from me to Kranj takes me less than 3 hours, much quicker than to Vienna or Munich. And if I compare the prices with Turkish Airlines (for example), to a favourite destination in the Middle East it costs me around 350 Euro going there and back from LJU. But from SZG also with TK it it always cost me around 700 Euros and up. Going from me to Salzburg takes around 1 1/2 hours.
DeleteCarinthians do drive to Slovenia and fly from Ljubljana. Seen and heard it on my own. Planes are getting more german speaking pax day by day.
ReplyDeleteit is because there is day by day more destinations from LJU and not just to EU hubs.
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