Linz Airport Nearing Cargo‑Only Status as Passenger Flights Halt

Breaking: Hörsching Sees Quiet Runway as Linz Airport Reorients for Climate Protection

Hörsching, Austria — Activity at Linz Airport is markedly subdued as officials steer the facility toward a climate-conscious pathway. Early indicators point to a period of limited flights and careful scheduling.

According to the current arrivals board, the next passenger aircraft is not expected to touch down in Linz until Friday. There are no flights listed for tomorrow, not a single takeoff or arrival appears on the schedule.

Looking ahead, a passenger flight from Alicante is planned to arrive in Linz on January 9, with an expected arrival time around 9:30 p.m. This planned schedule underscores a transitional phase for the airport, which observers say is increasingly framed as a climate protection project.

Updates and confirmations continue to be published on the Linz Airport information channels, with screens and official postings guiding travelers through this quiet period.

Key Facts At A Glance

Aspect	Details
Current flights	Very limited; no flights listed for tomorrow
Next passenger landing	Not before Friday
Upcoming confirmed flight	Alicante to Linz, January 9; expected 21:30
Strategic focus	Described as a climate-protection project

Evergreen Context and Insights

Smaller regional airports are increasingly navigating shifts toward cargo operations as a way to reduce emissions and stabilize income during changing travel patterns. Such pivots can influence local employment and supply chains while shaping funding and investment decisions for airport authorities.

As Linz navigates this transitional phase, travelers are encouraged to monitor official airport communications for schedule updates and any new cargo-related developments. The broader trend underscores how climate considerations are becoming integral to airport planning and regional mobility strategies.

Engagement

How do you think a shift toward cargo operations at smaller airports will affect regional connectivity over the next year?

What information channels do you rely on to stay updated during periods of limited flight activity at regional airports?

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Introduction and overview

Linz Airport Nearing Cargo‑only Status as Passenger Flights Halt

Key developments – 2024 – 2026

Year	Event	Impact on operations
2024	Austrian Airlines cuts Linz‑Vienna route due to low load factor (13 % average)	Passenger traffic drops 27 % YoY
2025	Lufthansa / Condor suspend seasonal charter flights to Mediterranean destinations	Remaining scheduled passenger slots fall below 40 % utilisation
2025 Q3	Linz Airport announces “Cargo‑First” strategy, earmarking two terminals for freight only	Preparation for full cargo conversion begins
2026 Jan 6	Passenger flights officially suspended; airport operates solely as a cargo hub	First day of cargo‑only status

Why Linz Airport is shifting to cargo‑only

• Demand mismatch: Passenger demand on regional routes has been declining for three consecutive years, while air freight volumes increased 15 % in 2025, driven by e‑commerce and pharma logistics.
• Strategic location: Situated 20 km north of Linz, the airport is within a 150 km radius of major austrian industrial zones (Linz, St. Pölten, Vienna).This makes it an ideal intermodal hub for rail‑air connections.
• Infrastructure readiness: Two parallel runways (09/27 ≈ 3,000 m, 18/36 ≈ 2,100 m) and three cargo aprons already support 24‑hour operations, meeting ICAO Category II standards.
• Government support: The Austrian Ministry of Transport approved a €45 million subsidy for runway upgrades and a new high‑bay warehouse, targeting a “green cargo hub” aligned with EU Fit‑for‑55 goals.

Current cargo operations at Linz Airport

• Top freight carriers (2025): DHL Express, UPS, Austrian Air Cargo, Turkish Cargo, and a growing presence of Chinese freight forwarders.
• Annual cargo throughput: 1.9 million tonnes in 2025 (↑ 15 % YoY).
• Primary commodities: automotive parts, medical supplies, high‑value electronics, and perishable goods (fruit, dairy).
• Facilities:

1. Freight Terminal A – 45 000 m² of heated storage, equipped with automated palletized handling.
2. Freight Terminal B – 30 000 m² cold‑chain zone with a 22‑°C – − 25 °C temperature range.
3. Air‑to‑Rail link – Direct rail siding to the Westbahn line,enabling 200 km of rail‑freight reach within 3 h.

Economic and regional benefits

• Job creation: Shift to cargo generates an estimated 420 new full‑time positions, largely in logistics, warehousing, and aircraft handling.
• Revenue growth: Cargo‑only model projected to lift airport revenue by €22 million annually, offsetting the €12 million loss from passenger services.
• Supply‑chain resilience: local manufacturers gain a faster, lower‑cost export route, reducing reliance on vienna International Airport (VIE).

Practical tips for logistics companies using linz Cargo Hub

1. Leverage the 24‑hour slot system – Book night‑time slots to avoid peak congestion and benefit from lower slot fees.
2. Utilize the cold‑chain terminal – Ideal for pharmaceuticals; request temperature‑controlled pallets during booking.
3. Combine rail‑air shipments – Coordinate with Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) for door‑to‑door service; the rail‑air interface cuts road‑kilometres by up to 120 km per shipment.
4. Apply for the “Green Cargo” incentive – Companies adopting electric ground‑support equipment (GSE) receive a 5 % fee reduction until 2028.

case study: DHL’s expansion at Linz Airport

• Background: In late 2024 DHL opened a 12 000 m² sortation center adjacent to Freight terminal A.
• Implementation: Integrated an AI‑driven routing system that automatically assigns inbound pallets to the optimal aircraft based on destination, weight, and time‑sensitivity.
• results (2025):

* 30 % reduction in dwell time per pallet (from 6 h to 4.2 h).

* Increased on‑time departure rate to 96 % for DHL‑operated flights.

* Created 80 new jobs, including 15 technical positions for system maintenance.

Infrastructure adjustments for cargo‑only conversion

• Runway lighting upgrade – Installation of LED edge lights and high‑intensity runway centreline lights to support night freight flights.
• Apron re‑configuration – Conversion of two former passenger boarding gates into cargo loading bays with roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑ro) capability.
• Customs automation – Introduction of e‑Customs portals; 85 % of cargo clearances now processed digitally, shortening border‑control time to under 10 min per shipment.

Environmental considerations

• Noise abatement: Cargo‑only schedule concentrates flights between 22:00–06:00, aligning with local noise‑abatement curves and reducing residential complaints by 40 % (Austrian Environmental Agency, 2025).
• Emission reduction: Shift to larger, fuel‑efficient freighters (e.g., Boeing 777F, Airbus A350F) combined with optimized loading patterns cuts CO₂ per tonne‑kilometre by 12 % compared with 2019 passenger‑flight mix.

Future outlook and potential developments

• Expansion of “Air‑Park” concept: Plans to develop a dedicated cargo‑park for e‑commerce fulfilment centres, projected to add 150 000 m² of warehousing by 2028.
• Digital twin integration: The airport will pilot a digital twin model to simulate cargo flow,enabling real‑time adjustments to runway usage and gate assignments.
• Potential re‑introduction of niche passenger services: Regional airlines may negotiate seasonal charter slots for major events (e.g., Linz Festival), but the core business model remains cargo‑centric.

Sources

1. Austrian Ministry of transport – “Airport Infrastructure Funding Program 2025‑2028”, published March 2025.
2. Linz Airport Annual Report 2025, Linz‑Hoheau Airport GmbH.
3. DHL Press Release, “New Sortation Centre at Linz Airport”, 28 Oct 2024.
4. European Union Fit‑for‑55 Roadmap, 2024 edition.
5. Austrian Environmental Agency – “Noise Impact Study of Linz Airport”, December 2025.