In “one of the most important” developments in the gateway’s strategy to enhance the airport experience for its passengers, Vienna Airport has completed a 9,500sqm renovation of its Pier West – a modernisation that has seen the redesign of its C-gates, new retail and culinary concepts and the creation of a brighter, more spacious feel. The partition walls in the 3,200sqm area of the C-gates have been removed for a more open waiting area for passengers, while seats have been equipped with power outlets and USB connections to charge personal devices and unlimited cost-free WLAN has been implemented.
The terminal area was opened on 14 November by Julian Jäger and Günther Ofner, the Executive Directors of the Flughafen Wien AG Management Board, together with Attila Dogudan, CEO, DO & CO, and Christian Lesjak, Managing Director of NIKI. “The modernisation of Pier West was one of the most important projects within the context of our quality strategy, and the results are what we wanted,” Jäger said. “Effective immediately, passengers will experience a continuous, spacious gate area, a high quality culinary offering and a brighter, more pleasant overall atmosphere in the terminal. This project will serve as a benchmark for future modernisation projects focusing on the terminal infrastructure of the airport hub.”
Julian Jäger, Executive Director of the Flughafen Wien AG Management Board: “This project will serve as a benchmark for future modernisation projects focusing on the terminal infrastructure of the airport hub.”
More than 17,000 passengers are handled each day at Pier West, flying with up to 140 aircraft from 15 airlines, primarily from airberlin and NIKI – the second largest airline group at Vienna Airport. “The project was implemented within the planned timeframe and budget, something we are very proud of,” added Ofner. “In particular, this is due to the good cooperation of all the participating organisations, the employees of Flughafen Wien AG, and the planning and contracting companies to our business partners and public authorities.”
An enticing commercial offering
The airport has placed significant emphasis on delivering a high-quality culinary offering, rich in innovation. In an entirely new restaurant area of about 800sqm designed by Austrian food & beverage company DO & CO passengers now experience an unparalleled culinary offering featuring the brands Demel, Henry, American diner Big Daddy and a separate children’s adventure area.
Guests can enjoy an extensive offering ranging from traditional Viennese coffee house culture with Viennese schnitzel, pastries and a large choice of cakes, to fresh salads, high quality burgers and cold and hot sandwiches. The new extravagantly designed, centrally located DO & CO Bar meanwhile has a large offering of exquisite wines, beer and cocktails for a relaxed stay until departure.
Shopping opportunities at the gates themselves have also been expanded, with a spacious plaza with 20 shops located in front of Pier West. The enlarged Manner Store and new Flavors of Austria Shop offer travellers a large selection of sweets, traditional specialties and a sales corner specialising in the cult brand PEZ. Well-known fashion brands meanwhile feature in the 126sqm Welcome Fashion Shop, including Flug zeug, Capo, Codello, Vilebrequin, Jockey International, lolaandgrace, LU.ST and OLYMP. In addition to the comprehensive duty free offering from Gebr. Heinemann, the International Bookstore has a large selection of magazines, books and newspapers. The shopping offering is rounded off by the souvenir shop Senses of Austria, along with Geox and the German fashion and accessories brands Roeckl and Falke.
“The renovated Pier West enables our passengers to experience a product on the ground which sets new standards, whether for culinary entertainment, shopping possibilities and the clear arrangement,” Lesjak said. “The time spent at Vienna Airport is already part of the travel experience, which has no need to fear any international comparison. As a result, NIKI and Vienna Airport will become an even more convincing transfer hub of the airberlin Group.”
