2009 expected to be a difficult year for Vienna International Airport
The Management of the Flughafen Wien Group (Vienna International Airport) reckons with a difficult financial year 2009. As a consequence of the global financial and economic crisis further consolidation measures of the sector and reduction of routes are to be expected. Thus the trend of declining passenger and freight volumes, and consequently of the results, which has been visible since the second half of the year 2008, is likely to continue, as Herbert Kaufmann, Spokesman of the Executive Board, announced at the annual press conference. According to the Manager the total investment for 2009 is budgeted with a maximum amount of EUR 443 million for the expansion of the terminal VIE-Skylink, the improvement of security systems and the expansion of the fire station. Flughafen Wien Group can look back on a successful financial year 2008. Revenue rose by 5.1% to EUR 548.1 million despite a reduction in airport tariffs. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 10.7% to EUR 133.3 million, and the earnings before tax (EBT) showed a 4.4% year-on-year increase to EUR 119.0 million. In total Flughafen Wien Group achieved a net profit of EUR 91.1 million before minority interest (2007: EUR 87.5 million). “We closed the 2008 financial year with excellent results, above all because of our farsighted attention to costs beginning in the second semester. That places us in a good position to meet the challenges expected in 2009,” explained Herbert Kaufmann to journalists. The construction of the Airport Logistic Center with an investment of EUR 7.7 million was successfully finalised. The only bad news is a decline in airfreight volumes (air cargo and trucking) of 1.6 per cent to 267,985 tons. Quelle: Österreichische Verkehrszeitung |