Vienna Airport's lost treasures
A look back at once (glorious) flight connections – and a glance at what might (one day) return
10 April 2025
Announcements of new flight routes are a popular marketing tool in commercial aviation. Airlines and airports often try to outdo one another when it comes to presenting new destinations to travelers. The goal is to tap into new markets, be it previously unserved countries or cities, intensify competition on existing routes, or establish new airlines in a given market.
The launch of new routes is typically the result of years of planning, with a wide range of factors taken into account: Is it a point-to-point route or a hub destination aimed at connecting passengers? Which target groups are being addressed—business travelers, tourists, or ethnic traffic (VFR - visiting friends and relatives)? And is the focus on departures (outgoing) or arrivals (incoming)? Airports often compete for the same airlines, especially in the long-haul sector. In the end, the overall package must be attractive enough for an airline to add a new airport like Vienna to its network.
In contrast, the discontinuation of existing routes receives little media coverage. The reasons behind such decisions often remain in the dark, but economic factors are nearly always at the core. Political instability can also lead to the (temporary) suspension of a route.
As a long-time aviation enthusiast and expert on Vienna Airport, thanks in part to my previous roles at Flughafen Wien AG in various operational departments (baggage sorting system, cargo, baggage transportation driver) as well as serving as a management trainee and later as the person responsible for tariffs and concessions, I’ve delved into this very “shadow zone.” More precisely: into all the destinations that appeared in Vienna’s scheduled route network over the past 30 years but are no longer served today.
I uncovered no fewer than 117 former destinations, some of them with a fairly realistic chance of making a comeback, while others were arguably doomed from the start.
Today, Vienna Airport offers service to around 197 destinations—a remarkable portfolio. But not everything that glitters is gold. Some former routes might once again be economically viable under different conditions. Others were overly ambitious from the beginning. Below is a selection of noteworthy examples, grouped by region and accompanied by background information.
Western Europe -
The Decline of Regional Connections
A clear gap has emerged in the area of regional flight connections. Cities like Linz (LNZ) and Salzburg (SZG) have been replaced by rail services, some even marketed with flight numbers, a symbolic yet controversial move in the name of sustainability. Many travelers are dissatisfied, leading to a shift toward private transportation or to foreign airlines offering hub connections. Salzburg, in particular, has shown interest in restoring its link to Vienna, not for point-to-point travel, but for access to onward flights via the hub.
Moreover, Austrian Airlines' withdrawal of regional aircraft, particularly the Bombardier Dash 8-400, has led to a thinning of the network. Ljubljana (LJU), for example, once a regular destination with three daily flights, has been unserved since the collapse of Slovenia’s national carrier, Adria Airways. Despite subsidies from LJU, no new operator has been found for the route. This is hardly surprising, as the Lufthansa Group no longer supports the use of turboprop aircraft. Austrian has recently acknowledged that continuing some routes with its smallest jet, the Embraer 195, seating 120, is not economically viable, and has therefore launched a cooperation with Swedish airline BRA.
Other cities affected include Nuremberg (NUE), Ostrava (OSR), Verona (VRN), and Dresden (DRS)—though they may now get another chance through Austrian’s partnership with BRA, which operates ATR 72-600 turboprops. Bolzano (BZO) in South Tyrol could also be a candidate, though the local airline Sky Alps is currently focused on other markets.
One of the more unusual connections was Vienna–Lugano (LUG), launched in 2013 by Greek airline Minoan Air but quickly discontinued due to lack of demand.
Historical Footnotes
Berlin Schönefeld (SXF) and Berlin Tegel (TXL) are unique cases, having both closed with the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), so their absence is not due to airline strategy. There is also little hope for a revival of flights to Mönchengladbach (MGL), which was served by Air Berlin for only one summer season (2003) before the route, along with others from MGL, was discontinued. Today, Mönchengladbach Airport does not handle any scheduled or charter commercial flights.
France: A Cause for Concern
France remains clearly underrepresented in Vienna Airport’s current route network. There have been several attempts to expand into French secondary destinations, but the withdrawal of airlines such as ASL Airlines and Volotea from Vienna has left a noticeable gap that has yet to be filled. The most likely scenario would be the resumption of these routes by dominant local players such as Austrian or Ryanair.
In the case of London City (LCY), Austrian would be the most suitable candidate for a return. However, LCY’s location and unique operational constraints significantly limit the types of aircraft that can be used there.
Eastern Europe – Vienna Airport’s Former Stronghold
Austria’s economic ties with the Balkans are clearly reflected in the airport’s destination portfolio for this region. In recent years, Romania has lost ground in terms of point-to-point flights to Vienna, especially in non-central areas. Likewise, several attempts to establish secondary destinations in Poland have failed. This decline has been particularly noticeable following the phase-out of turboprop aircraft by Austrian and LOT. Moreover, the focus has shifted increasingly toward VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic in point-to-point segments rather than hub-and-spoke connections via Vienna.
Mostar (OMO) in Bosnia and Herzegovina currently has the best prospects for a renewed direct connection to Vienna, since Italian carrier Sky Alps has established a base there. Suceava (SCV) and Baia Mare (BAY) in Romania were each briefly served by Romanian airline Blue Air, which has since ceased operations.
Political Instability
Since the regions around Donetsk (DOK) and Kharkiv (HRK) have been occupied by Russian forces, any resumption of flights to Vienna is off the table for the foreseeable future.
Austrian Airlines, in partnership with Vienna Airport, was once known as the gateway to Eastern Europe, operating a network of over 50 destinations in the region at its peak. Today, more "adventurous" destinations like Almaty (ALA), Yekaterinburg (SVX), or Sochi (AER) are unlikely to see a return of scheduled flights to Vienna anytime soon, partly due to current sanctions on Russia.
The best chances for a comeback lie with Astana (TSE) in Kazakhstan, also known as "Nur-Sultan", provided that Air Astana considers Vienna as part of its expansion strategy.
Middle East – Perspectives and Problems
Due to Austria’s long-standing diplomatic and economic ties with the region, Vienna Airport has traditionally maintained a dense network of routes to the Middle East. However, countries like Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon are frequently affected by political and military instability, making it difficult to sustain a stable and long-term route network. In addition, Iran is regularly subject to international sanctions, which lead to corresponding restrictions in air traffic.
The most likely candidate for a near-term resumption of flights is Damascus (DAM). Following the official end of the war in Syria, airlines such as Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines have resumed scheduled services to Damascus. Austrian Airlines had served this route for many years prior to the conflict and could potentially return in the future.
Kam Air from Afghanistan briefly operated flights to Kabul (KBL) in 2010. Given the current political situation on the ground, however, a resumption of direct flights is not foreseeable at this time.
Iran maintained flight connections to Austria for decades (with brief interruptions). Sanctions have repeatedly made it difficult to maintain or expand flight services to Iran: Isfahan (IFN) and Shiraz (SYZ) were unfortunately affected by this a few years ago.
North and South America
North America in Vienna’s Flight Schedule
North America has almost always only been represented in Vienna Airport’s (VIE) schedule through destinations on the East Coast. Atlanta (ATL) has appeared multiple times as a destination. Both Austrian Airlines and Delta Air Lines (DL) have operated flights to what is currently the world’s largest airport. DL would certainly be a valuable addition to Vienna Airport’s destination portfolio again, especially due to its extensive connecting options. Moreover, Delta Air Lines would be the first U.S. carrier in a long time to resume direct flights to Vienna.
Orlando (MCO) and Mexico City (MEX) are remnants from the days of Lauda Air, while Miami (MIA) currently stands the best chance of being reintroduced by Austrian.
Latin America in Retrospect
Many readers may be surprised to learn that Vienna once had direct flights to three cities in Brazil: Manaus (MAO), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), and São Paulo (GRU). These cities were served by Brazilian airline Transbrasil in the mid-1990s.
The lack of direct connections to South America, especially to a suitable hub, has been a topic of discussion for some time. However, due to the absence of a strong local partner for Star Alliance connections within South America, a near-term solution seems unlikely.
Asia and Australia – Opportunities and Obstacles in the Far East
As the map shows, Vienna Airport has lost numerous destinations in Asia and Australia over the years. These routes included both tourist and business-relevant destinations, with a strong focus on transfer traffic via Vienna.
Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD) are remnants of Lauda Air and Austrian Airlines. Until 2007, Vienna was one of the few airports in Europe to offer direct flights to Australia. Melbourne flights were routed via Singapore (SIN), while Sydney was served via Kuala Lumpur (KUL).
As of June 3, 2025, Singapore will once again be connected to Vienna: Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will resume the route and operate three flights per week.
The Chinese airport Guangzhou (CAN) also has good chances for a comeback. China Southern would likely not face regulatory hurdles to resume the route, previously operated via Urumqi (URC), unlike China Eastern. The latter had planned a connection from Shanghai (PVG) to Vienna this year but was denied approval by Austrian authorities. The reason: unfair competitive advantages, particularly the lack of overflight restrictions for Chinese airlines over Russia. This was deemed problematic given direct competition with Austrian on the same route.
Mumbai (BOM) also has great potential for a route resumption. Possible operators include Austrian, Air India, and IndiGo.
In contrast, the outlook for Amritsar (ATQ) is currently bleak. Despite big announcements, Air Sylhet operated the route only temporarily.
Africa
Africa has historically played a minor role in Vienna Airport’s route network. This is mainly due to Austria’s lack of a colonial past on the African continent and the resulting weak economic and cultural ties.
The two South African cities of Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT) were served by Austrian Airlines for many years. Cape Town, in particular, has good seasonal potential for a return to Vienna’s schedule, assuming Austrian increases its long-haul fleet.
Casablanca (CMN) also holds solid potential for a comeback, as Morocco is developing positively in many respects. Royal Air Maroc suspended its Vienna service during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now considered a promising candidate for resuming operations.
If the political situation continues to stabilize and safety conditions remain secure, a return of flights to Tripoli (TIP) would also be possible. The route was served for many years by Austrian, and Austria has traditionally maintained close ties with oil-rich Libya.
Long-Haul Leisure Destinations
A common trait among many of the aforementioned long-haul destinations is strong seasonality and limited flight frequency. Following the full integration of Lauda Air into Austrian Airlines, numerous routes were discontinued in favor of others. Currently, Austrian can only operate a small portion of these routes each season, regularly rotating destinations, as seen with the discontinuation of Cancún (CUN) in Mexico.
Destinations like Phuket (HKT), Holguín (HOG), Cancún, Havana (HAV), Punta Cana (PUJ), the Seychelles (SZE), Colombo (CMB), or Cape Town (CPT) certainly have the potential to become regular fixtures in Vienna’s schedule once more.
I covered this topic in detail in my article “Does Austria lack of leisure longhaul flights?” published on January 22, 2025.
Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine
Finally, let’s turn to those destinations that are currently unreachable due to war or sanctions, but were regularly served before conflict or sanctions took effect. These include markets in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, totaling ten destinations.
The loss of Kyiv and Moscow was especially hard for Vienna Airport, as both cities were served multiple times a day and had long been key parts of the schedule.
Media reports have repeatedly suggested that flights to Ukraine will resume as soon as possible once the military conflict with Russia ends. Vienna Airport AG recently signed a cooperation agreement with Ukrainian airports, which includes the provision of technical equipment.
European legacy carriers, including Austrian Airlines, are expected to reintegrate Ukraine into their networks. Moreover, post-war Ukraine is likely to become a battleground for market share, particularly among low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air, as the VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) market will likely grow even larger than it was before the war.
Conclusion
The analysis clearly shows that Vienna Airport has lost many interesting connections over the years, due to economic, political, or structural reasons. Some routes were ambitious but unsustainable, while others became impossible due to external circumstances.
But not all doors are permanently closed. With new partnerships (such as the Austrian–BRA cooperation), geopolitical shifts, and increasing demand, some of these “lost treasures” could very well be revived. What’s crucial is a realistic and long-term strategy, along with the shared commitment of all stakeholders to breathe new life into these former connections.