Wien Schwechat Airport (LOWW)

IFR and VFR operations are supported with professional ATC, but strict adherence to published AIP procedures and slot times is expected. Arrival and departure slots are mandatory for all flights; requests are made by email to slot.gac@viennaairport.com. Handling is not always compulsory, but airside transport between aircraft and the GA terminal is required in most cases, especially with passengers, and incurs a fee per direction. The General Aviation Terminal (GAT) is located at the west end of the airport, separate from the main terminal.

Fees for non-commercial GA are high compared to other airports. Example: total charges for landing, parking (one night), slot coordination, navigation, and crew bus can reach about €320–€470 for a short stay. Parking is charged per hour (approx. €5/hour plus VAT), with no clear daily maximum reported. Crew transport between apron and GAT costs about €35 per direction. A 30% surcharge applies during peak hours as defined in NOTAMs.

Customs and immigration are available at the GAT for both domestic and international flights. The GAT offers basic facilities including a lounge (access may be restricted without handling), security screening, and a self-briefing room; staff levels can be low at times, leading to occasional delays.

Ground transport options include taxis directly outside the GAT (about €50 to Vienna city center), with journey times of 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. There is no direct bus service between the main terminal and GAT; the nearest public bus stop is about 450 meters away along a busy road without a dedicated footpath, making it impractical on foot.

Expect long taxi times on the ground due to airport size and layout. For approaches, maintain 160 KIAS until 3 NM final when requested by ATC. Procedures vary; see AIP/NOTAM for operational details.

LOWW provides reliable GA access with full customs but at a premium price point and limited ground transport convenience.