Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (11 Nov) responded to Transport Minister Peter “Hopeless” Hanke’s claims that “he wanted enough time to review Ryanair’s proposal”. Ryanair’s proposal was submitted to Minister Hanke by the Lauda Motion CEO at a meeting on 12 June, almost 5 months ago. Minister Hanke promised to reply by the end of Sept. Surely, even for a “do nothing” Minister like ‘“Hopeless” Hanke, 3.5 months between 12 June and 30 Sept is enough time to “consult with the Finance Ministry”, and make a decision to grow Austrian air traffic, tourism and jobs in the economy generally.

While “Hopeless” Hanke has wasted 5 months doing nothing, neighbouring countries like Slovakia have abolished Enviro Taxes and have reduced ATC and airport fees. The Regions of Italy are also abolishing their Enviro (Municipal) Tax. Even Sweden – the home of Greta Thunberg – has abolished its Enviro Tax, while “Hopeless” Hanke has been asleep at the wheel between June and Nov.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“It appears that “Hopeless” Hanke just can’t make a decision. While he has done nothing over the last 5 months, competitor countries like Slovakia, Italy, Sweden, and Hungary have abolished their Enviro Tax. “Hopeless” Hanke now defends this Tax, despite the fact that it raises less than €160m p.a, and has done untold damage to Austrian air traffic and tourism, as airlines -including Ryanair, Wizz, EasyJet and others – are moving aircraft, routes, traffic and jobs out of Austria to lower-cost economies like Slovakia, Sweden, Italy and Hungary.

If “Hopeless” Hanke hadn’t wasted the last 5 months, he could have easily worked out that with the 70% traffic growth Ryanair has promised, the increased spend from these visitors in the Austrian economy, the Austrian budget would generate far more in visitor taxes, than the €160million it will lose from abolishing this failed, but damaging Aviation Tax.

Now “Hopeless” Hanke surfaces to tell us “how responsible Politics works”. We know from his inaction over the last 5 months, and his failure to accept a $1bn investment by Ryanair to grow Austrian tourism, that “Hopeless” Hanke doesn’t know how responsible Politics “works”. Politics doesn’t work, if Ministers take 5 months to consider a growth proposal, but then fail to meet their own deadline to respond by the end of Sept. There is not much point in meeting with this hopeless Minister, when 5 months after his last meeting he still hasn’t accepted (or rejected) Ryanair’s €1bn growth proposal.

It appears that “Hopeless” Hanke is following the lead of “Sleepy” Stocker. We met with Chancellor Stocker in his office on 17 Sept. He too promised us a reply on this ambitious growth plan by the end of Sept, yet we are now in Nov and still no action from either or “Sleepy” Stocker or “Hopeless” Hanke. While Austrian Politicians do nothing, Politicians in Slovakia, Italy, Sweden and Hungary are abolishing Enviro Taxes, lowering airport fees, and slashing ATC charges to win traffic, tourism and jobs growth – all of which being lost by Austria. This is reversable, but it needs some Politician in Austria to make a decision, without delaying another 5 months and then complaining that this is “how Politics works”. It doesn’t work in Austria, which is why Austria is declining, while neighbouring countries are growing, with the help of Ryanair and other low-cost airlines.”