Austrian higher court approves construction of 3rd runway at Vienna Airport, refused on climate & noise grounds in Feb 2017

The Supreme Administrative Court in Austria has approved construction of a 3rd runway at Vienna Airport. The court overturned appeals made by local residents and environmental groups on the basis of noise complaints and environmental impact of the runway. Opponents had successfully argued that noise would be a problem across urban Vienna. Also that it could not be justified on climate change grounds.  But the airport appealed – and has now won.  It says the noise will not be a problem as there will not be landings over the Vienna city area during normal operations, and it aims at “decreasing noise pollution in the area.”  There are the usual claims that it will “reduce delays, fuel consumption, and noise by abolishing allotment patterns and queued aircraft during peak hours”.  Back in February 2017 a court said the increased greenhouse gas emissions for Austria would cause harm and climate protection is more important than creating other jobs. Also that the ability of the airport to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by its own measures were not sufficient, and emissions would rise too much. All now forgotten, it seems. Making money trumps climate stability.
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Austria court approves construction of third runway at Vienna Airport

20.3.2019 (Airport Technolog)

Vienna Airport

The Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) in Austria has approved construction of a third runway at Vienna International Airport.

The court overturned appeals made by local residents and environmental groups on the basis of noise complaints and environmental impact of the third runway.

In their complaints, the citizens’ groups alleged that noise will be caused due to the landing of additional aircraft, especially in landings that cross the urban area of Vienna.

The VwGH clarified that the third runway is not intended for landings over the Vienna city area during normal operations, and it is aimed at decreasing noise pollution in the area.

“This decision ensures the long-term growth perspectives and competitiveness, not only for Vienna Airport but for the Austrian economy, industry, tourism and labour market.”

The management board of Flughafen Wien, the company which manages Vienna Airport, welcomed the verdict of the VwGH.

Flughafen Wien management board members Julian Jäger and Günther Ofner said: “Today is an important and positive day, not only for Austria as a business and tourism location. An overly long process has come to a positive and incontestable decision.

“This decision ensures the long-term growth perspectives and competitiveness, not only for Vienna Airport but for the Austrian economy, industry, tourism and labour market.”

The third runway is important for the future of Vienna International Airport, as it will reduce delays, fuel consumption, and noise by abolishing allotment patterns and queued aircraft during peak hours.

The airport said that it will now examine the court decision and provide information about the next steps in the near future.

Vienna Airport welcomed an increase in passenger numbers of just fewer than 11% for 2018 to 27 million. The airport expects to welcome more than 30 million travellers this year.

https://www.airport-technology.com/news/vienna-airport-austria-runway/

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See earlier:

 

Court in Austria blocks 3rd runway at Vienna airport, as climate harm outweighs a few more jobs

A court in Austria has ruled that Vienna Schwechat Airport cannot be expanded with a 3rd runway, on climate change grounds. It said the increased greenhouse gas emissions for Austria would cause harm and climate protection is more important than creating other jobs. The court said the ability of the airport to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by its own measures were not sufficient, and emissions would rise too much. It also said it was important to conserve valuable arable land for future generations to provide food supplies. The airport will appeal. It is using the same false arguments that the DfT and Heathrow are using here – that building a 3rd runway would (allegedly) reduce the amount of carbon emissions and noise because they claim (against common logic) that “fuel consumption and the noise are reduced, because the waiting times of the aircraft would be avoided at peak times.” The airport hopes the runway would bring more tourists into Austria to spend their money, and would be needed by 2025. The airport had 22.8 million passengers in 2015.  It is a mystery how such a low number of passengers could require 3 runways, when there is barely enough to fill one, let alone two, runway.

Click here to view full story…

Objections to plans for a 3rd runway at Vienna airport

September 14, 2012

Vienna airport has plans for a third runway, saying it is necessary due to increasing numbers of passengers etc. In July a consultation process started, on the environmental impact assessment. This has now closed, and there have been at least 25 appeals sent in. The second phase of the decision process will be handled by the Department of the Environment. Realistically, a final decision on the runway will not happen before 2014/15. Expansion opponents fear that their objections will not be listened to. A spokesman for the initiative opposing the runway plans said a few weeks ago that the construction of the road is already a foregone conclusion. The airport’s dialogue forum says residents groups are happy that more stringent noise and night flight regulations had been incorporated than provided by law.   Click here to view full story…

Important legal challenge by Vienna campaigners on noise compensation

October 28, 2012     Vienna airport has plans for a third runway, saying it is necessary due to increasing numbers of passengers etc. A decision due to be made on 8th November by the European Court of Justice could have major implications for campaigners across Europe. The court will decide whether compensation should be paid to residents who experience noise as a result of new flight paths being introduced. The compensation would be paid for loss of value of their property. The case has been brought by AFLG (Antifluglärmgemeinschaft) which consists of the 38 citizens’ initiatives who are opposed to the proposed 3rd runway at Vienna Airport. More details about the challenge in this newspaper article     Click here to view full story…

 

 

 

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