Vienna International Airport (German: Flughafen Wien), located in Schwechat, 18 km (11 mi) southeast of central Vienna, is the busiest and biggest airport in Austria. It is often referred to as Schwechat, the name of the municipality it is in. The airport is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380. The airport is the hub of Austrian Airlines and its subsidiaries, as well as Niki.
During 2012, the airport handled a total of 22,165,794 passengers, representing a respective 5.0% increase compared to 2011, and 244,650 aircraft movements.
VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HISTORY
Originally built as a military airport in 1938, and used during World War II as the Heinkel firm’s southern production complex, or Heinkel-Süd facility, it was taken over by the British in 1945. In 1954, the Betriebsgesellschaft was founded, and the airport replaced Aspern as Vienna’s (and Austria’s) principal aerodrome. There was just one runway, which in 1959 was expanded to measure 3,000 m (9,843 ft). The erection of the new airport building starting in 1919. In 1972 another runway was built. In 1982 the airport was connected to the national motorway network (Ostautobahn).
The airport received Olympic teams as Austria has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. Pope John Paul II also used the airport during his visits to Austria. On December 27, 1985, the El Al ticket counter was attacked by Palestinians terrorists. (See Rome and Vienna Airport Attacks.) In 1986 the enlarged arrivals hall was opened, and in 1988 Pier East with 8 jetbridges.
VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATION
VIENNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FACTS
ICAO/IATA: LOWW / VIE
Lat: 48°06′37″N
Long: 016°34′11″E
Elevation: 600 ft.
Runway length available: 11/29 11483×148 ft. :: 16/34 11811×148 ft.
