Innsbruck Airport: ÖVP and Greens back in the clinch
Heated debates as to whether the airport should have its own motorway connection or not.
Innsbruck Airport has once again become the subject of heated discussions in Tyrol. The coalition partners in the country, the ÖVP and the Greens, are at odds as to whether the airport in the west of the city should have its own motorway connection or not, the ORF Tirol reported. The blacks are for it, the greens against. The Green Minister of Transport, Leonore Gewessler, will commission Asfinag with an examination, but she was skeptical at the outset.
Innsbruck’s mayor Georg Willi (Greens) opposed the project to the APA. As the ministry explained in a statement, “this project would involve an enormous investment”. In addition, Willi once again questioned the airport per se: “In the light of the climate crisis, there is also the question of the future of the airport.”
The city manager receives support from the state Greens. “Especially in times of a climate crisis that is becoming more and more noticeable, which is causing many people to rethink flying, this project would have been outdated,” said traffic spokesman Michael Mingler. “In addition, valuable floor space would be concreted over in the middle of the local recreation area on the Inn, where many Innsbruckers like to stay,” he said.
The coalition partner ÖVP showed no understanding for these views. “The ill-considered statements made by Mayor Willi are damaging Innsbruck Airport,” said Innsbruck State Deputy and former Economics Minister Patrizia Zoller-Frischauf (ÖVP) in a broadcast. With his statements, Willi would cause “a strong sense of insecurity among the employees and companies in and around the airport and far beyond”.
“Environmental policy is important, but please use common sense,” appealed to Willi. The own departure is a long-standing demand of the People’s Party. “This would avoid detour traffic through the city and at the same time significantly reduce traffic jams and exhaust fumes,” she said. The FPÖ and the Innsbruck party “Für Innsbruck” (FI) are on the side of the ÖVP. FPÖ city party chairman Rudi Federspiel was “shocked” by Willis’ statements and emphasized the economic importance of the airport for Tyrol. In addition, the residents would suffer “massively from the traffic situation”.
In a statement to the Tyrolean state parliament at the end of last year, Minister of Transport Gewessler explained that a new junction had to meet a number of criteria – such as that the traffic situation on the Inntalautobahn (A12) should not be adversely affected and that it was economically and economically viable have to give benefit. In addition, the goals of the mobility master plan 2030 and the goals for reducing land consumption and CO2 emissions must be taken into account.
A variant study was drawn up in 2005, and current figures are now to be collected. Subsequently, a so-called ESA (extended strategic analysis) is to be created in part for Asfinag. The minister, however, sent so much ahead: “Due to the high construction costs and the determined traffic loads, however, a very simple economic benefit can be assumed and due to the general business conditions, financing by Asfinag will not be possible,” it said.
Innsbruck Airport had already become a bone of contention between the ÖVP and the Greens in 2019. The city and the state each have a 24.5 percent stake in the airport, and the Innsbruck municipal services have a 51 percent stake.