1. Home
  2. Company
  3. Flughafen Wien AG
  4. 3rd runway
  5. Mediation procedure
Dear User

Microsoft no longer supports your version of the Internet browser and no longer provides it with security updates. As a result, it is also no longer possible to use modern web technologies that are required for the Vienna Airport website you are accessing.

If you want to use this page correctly and with full functionality, please switch to a current version of your Internet browser.

If you are using Internet Explorer 10 or higher and receive this message, please deactivate the compatibility mode for our site.

Yours sincerely,

Your Vienna Airport Team

Mediation procedure

Most extensive mediation process in Europe

In the planning for the 3rd runway, Flughafen Wien AG has consistently pursued the path it took years ago. This path means: high commitment to environmental protection and serious dialogue with the people in the region. The declared goal is to work together to develop solutions that are as environmentally friendly as possible and recognised by the majority for the people, the environment and the economy.

Flughafen Wien AG is proud of what has been achieved so far. From 2000 to 2005, the most extensive mediation process ever carried out in Europe took place. Around 50 parties to the process (citizens' initiatives, neighbouring communities, Austrian, Austro Control, etc.) invested thousands of hours of joint work in the search for amicable solutions. This process was concluded with the mediation agreement, which is binding under civil law, the establishment of the Dialogue Forum and the foundation of the Environmental Fund. In doing so, Flughafen Wien AG has taken on tasks that - in the interest of the people living around the airport - go far beyond what is required by law. 

Halving of night flights

In the mediation agreement, it was decided to gradually reduce the number of night flights from 23.30 to 05.30 hrs to 3,000 a year - that is, to half of the number in 2006 - until the 3rd runway comes into operation. However, if the commissioning of the 3rd runway is delayed or if it is not built at all, the reduction of aircraft movements between 23:30 and 05:30 will be frozen from 2010 onwards.

Since no decision has yet been made on the construction of a third runway, the number of aircraft movements during the night core period has been limited to 4,700 as of 2010 until it is clear when a third runway can be built at Vienna International Airport. If this is built, the mediation agreement stipulates that take-offs and landings in the night core period must be reduced to 3,000 per year until the 3rd runway is commissioned.

Controlled airport growth through "noise zone cap"

The "noise zone cap" will limit the absolute number of people affected by aircraft noise when the 3rd runway comes into operation. This brings advantages for the communities and for the airport. The neighbouring communities undertake not to dedicate any new residential land in the noise zone above 54 dB. In return, they receive a guarantee from Vienna International Airport that the noise zones around the airport will not increase in size.

Noise protection programme for residents

Protecting the health and increasing the quality of life of people living close to the airport is the goal of the Noise Abatement Programmeof Flughafen Wien AG.

If the continuous noise level exceeds 54 dB during the day and 45 dB at night, the airport pays 50 to 100 per cent of the costs for the installation of noise protection windows and doors, among other things. Under certain conditions, the construction of conservatories is also subsidised.

At the instigation of ARGE Bürgerinitiativen in the Dialogforum Flughafen Wien and the mayors of the neighbouring communities, the noise protection programme was again considerably expanded in November 2007. The noise protection programme was considerably extended in November 2007 to include those affected by the future three-runway system, who can expect relief from noise pollution, but who will continue to be significantly affected by the two-runway system until then. The costs for this expansion of the noise protection programme are borne by the environmental fund endowed by Flughafen Wien AG.

With the noise protection programme, Flughafen Wien AG is significantly undercutting the legally prescribed limits. According to the Federal Environmental Noise Abatement Ordinance, threshold values for the preparation of action plans at night, for example, are only envisaged from a continuous noise level above 55 dB; in the airport's noise abatement programme, they are already 45 dB.