"Thanks to years of investment in the airport infrastructure, its excellent geographical location and its 24-hour operating license, Vienna Airport offers its customers fast turnaround times and is ideally equipped to meet current and future challenges", says Julian Jäger, Member of the Management Board of Vienna Airport.

With the ability to handle all types of aircraft, the employees of Flughafen Wien AG have proven their adaptability during the coronavirus crisis, for example in the handling of so-called freighters, i.e. passenger aircraft used exclusively for air freight. The 24-hour operation of all facilities, such as customs, border protection and health authorities, also provides airline customers with flexibility. With the Pharma Handling Center built in 2018, Vienna Airport is also equipped for time- and temperature-critical transports of medical goods.

Even during the crisis, the airport's logistics and handling facilities were able to maintain their hub function to Eastern Europe for goods from the electronics and automotive industries. There was growth in important relief goods such as masks, corona tests and protective suits as well as in production goods, urgently needed pharmaceutical products and e-commerce.

"With its existing capacities, Vienna Airport is optimally positioned for the currently very dynamic market environment with rapidly increasing cargo volumes in Europe. Despite a decline in belly cargo due to the lack of passenger aircraft, we have been recording increases of up to 30 percent for months, above all in load-outs/import cargo", explains Michael Zach, Vice President Sales & Finance, Ground Handling & Cargo Operations at Vienna Airport.

Vienna Airport can also exploit its advantages as a European freight hub for truck traffic: The catchment area of the dense road feeder network for air freight extends far beyond neighboring countries and the major European hubs to the Balkans, Ukraine and Poland.