Photo Credit: Alan Parkinson

Vienna International Airport

Austria’s main airport is Vienna International Airport (VIE). Located in the southeastern part of the city, it is the biggest airport in the country. The airport services over 21 million passengers a year, with one terminal and five concourses. Over 30 airlines fly in and out of VIE and offer connections to destinations all over the world, as well as to domestic locations. The three busiest routes are Frankfurt, London, and Zurich. North American connections are available with Austrian Airlines. The airport offers excellent shopping and a large selection of restaurants and fast food eateries. Last-minute souvenir shopping is possible, as well as duty-free shopping for international travelers.

Transportation options to Vienna are plentiful. An S-Bahn station is located beneath the airport terminal, and the S7 line runs straight to the city center. This is the cheapest option to get downtown. Other options include buses, which provide connections to various points in the city. The City Airport Train, or CAT, terminal is also located beneath the airport terminal and is probably the fastest way into Vienna, taking only 16 minutes. Metered taxis are also available from outside the terminal.

Salzburg Airport

Salzburg Airport (SZG) is the second largest airport in Austria, but is significantly smaller than the Vienna airport. Salzburg services about two million passengers a year and 20 airlines, with many providing charter or seasonal flight connections. Flights to Germany, London-Stansted, and domestic connections are offered, but there are no direct connections to North America. There are plenty of shopping and eating options at the airport.

The airport is located only a few miles from the city center, and it is possible to take trolley buses 2 and 8 downtown. The ride only takes about 20 minutes. Taxis are another easy transportation option.

Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport

The third largest airport in Austria is Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport (INN). Passenger traffic increases significantly here in the winter, as the airport is the main gateway to the Tyrol area, the skiing region in Austria. The airport handles just over one million passengers a year and has only basic passenger facilities. Most flights are seasonal and charter in nature, with scheduled flights on offer through Air Berlin, EasyJet, Lufthansa, and Thomson Airways.

The airport is only two miles from the city center of Innsbruck, and passengers can take city bus F to the city. The journey takes about 18 minutes. Taxis are also available outside the terminal building, as is car rental.

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