Bratislava Airport could get a one-quarter increase in its current number of passengers in spring 2011, the head of low-cost airline flyNiki, Niki Lauda, told the Austrian daily Österreich. The Sme daily quoted him as saying that if Austria launched an aviation tax, he would move charter flights to Bratislava.
flyNiki is the trademark of Austrian airline Niki Luftfahrt, owned and managed by Lauda, a former Formula 1 racing driver. Its main hub is currently Vienna’s Schwechat Airport, where it is the second biggest carrier. Lauda said the half-hour drive between Vienna and Bratislava would be manageable for holidaymakers. As the flights would be holiday charters and not scheduled flights the change would not broaden the range of destinations offered by Bratislava, but would improve the airport’s economic results.
Lauda suggested he would provide more information next week. Vienna Airport has so far refused to comment on the news.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
