On November 8, 2024, the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair officially started its winter flight operations at Linz Airport and introduced a new direct connection from Linz to London.
With four weekly flights, Ryanair is strengthening the airport's international connections and offering an attractive way to connect Upper Austrians and international tourists at low cost. This new route fits into the steady expansion of the Ryanair fleet in Austria and is seen as an important step for regional tourism and economic development in the region.
Expansion of connections for the Upper Austrian market
With Linz as the fourth Austrian airport in the Ryanair network (after Vienna, Salzburg and Klagenfurt), the airline is banking on the increasing importance of the region and the growing demand for international connections. Linz Airport, which has so far been relatively limited in the international flight network, now benefits from a direct connection to the British capital London. The route is intended not only to promote incoming tourism from Great Britain, but also to present Upper Austria as an attractive destination for British travelers.
The new connection also strengthens the competitiveness of Linz Airport and offers passengers a cost-effective alternative to other international airlines such as Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines. Ryanair is committed to low fares that provide access to important markets such as the United Kingdom and highlights the positive impact on tourism and job creation.
Ryanair is confident that the new route will be well received and hopes to have the opportunity to increase frequencies in the future and negotiate additional international connections with Linz Airport. Ryanair manager Andreas Gruber explained that the airline is committed to contributing to promoting economic growth and local jobs in Upper Austria.
Competitive advantage through low ticket prices
To celebrate the new connection between Linz and London, Ryanair has announced a three-day seat sale, with tickets available from just €24,99 - but only via the official Ryanair website. This discount campaign is intended to make the new flight on the Linz-London route attractive and offer passengers a cheap way to benefit from the direct connections.
Another aspect that Ryanair highlights is the increase in air traffic in Austria. Andreas Gruber said that Ryanair has achieved an impressive growth of 160 percent in Austria since the pandemic. In particular, the winter flight schedule for 2024 includes two important expansions with the new routes Vienna-Tirana and Linz-London.
Criticism of the air traffic tax
Nevertheless, Ryanair is critical of the Austrian air travel tax, which it believes is hindering air traffic and economic growth. The Austrian government currently levies an air travel tax of 12 euros per flight ticket, which Ryanair describes as "anti-consumer" and "outdated". In an appeal, Ryanair is calling on the new government to follow the practice of other European countries such as Italy and Sweden and abolish the tax.
Ryanair has already announced that air traffic in Austria could increase by up to 50 percent if the tax is abolished, promising an even greater expansion of connections, which would ultimately promote tourism and the economy.
Positive response from the region
Those responsible at Linz Airport also welcome the new connection. Norbert Draskovits, Managing Director of Linz Airport, explained that the direct connection from Linz to London Stansted opens up one of the most popular city destinations in the world to passengers. He was optimistic that the route would be well received and hopes that the collaboration with Ryanair will lead to further connections and an increase in frequencies on existing routes. The new connection is therefore not only an advantage for travelers, but also a strategic step to further establish Linz Airport as an important transport hub.
The introduction of Ryanair's new direct connection between Linz and London marks another milestone in the expansion of Linz Airport and underlines Ryanair's role as a driving force in European air traffic. With low fares, an attractive range of routes and a clear focus on promoting tourism and the regional economy, the new connection is a clear signal of the importance of low-cost, international flight connections.
However, the issue of air traffic tax will continue to play a role when it comes to the long-term development of air traffic in Austria. Ryanair remains an important player in the Austrian air traffic market and is counting on further growth that will benefit both passengers and the regional economy.
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