What eco-fanatics did not manage, a tiny virus did: Flughafen Wien AG is putting the construction of the third runway, for the approval of which had to be legally fought for a long time, on the back burner. Board member Günther Ofner announced this on Wednesday.

Originally, construction work should have started between 2024 and 2025. Now the board director assumes that the project will be postponed "a few years back". Ofner emphasizes, however, that the “project has not been canceled”. There is not yet a new date for the start of construction. Other investments are also on hold indefinitely.

Unsurprisingly, politicians from the ruling party “The Greens” outdo each other with OTS broadcasts in which the decision is welcomed and at the same time the final end of the construction of the third runway at Vienna Airport is demanded. Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) has already said that, in her opinion, the project has finally been canceled.

“We will be flying significantly less in the future than we are today. For this reason, it makes economic and ecological sense not to press ahead with the construction of the third runway at Vienna Airport, ”said the government member in an initial statement. State Secretary Magnus Brunner (ÖVP), who is responsible for aviation within the Gewessler Ministry, has not yet made any public statements.