Salzburg Airport has to make the most of its small footprint to manage 1.7 million annual passengers effectively. Nestled in the Austrian hills, the airport experiences peaks in the winter and summer as travellers come to enjoy the region’s world-famous mountains and lakes.

However, its terminal infrastructure dates back to 1966, presenting problems for modernisation Bettina Ganghofer, Salzburg Airport CEO, joined us at World Aviation Festival to share more about this transformation and how she is leading the airport to be more tech-forward and sustainable.

In the present environment we cannot squeeze in the new security technology. The machines are too big for the small airports. So it’s either the machine or the passengers. We’ll stick to the old technology until we have the space.

Under the redevelopment project, Terminal 2 will be extended, while Arrivals at Terminal 1 will also be rebuilt.

What is the new way? It’s spacious. We have more floor to ceiling space, you can breathe. We’ll have a bigger business lounge. We’ll have more space for security lanes.

Aside from structural development, sustainability is also at the heart of Ganghofer’s vision for Salzburg’s future. Advanced air mobility (AAM) startups including the FlyNow eCopter have been tested on the airport’s grounds. Through partnerships with universities and innovation programmes, Ganghofer and her team are trying to see how AAM could fit with the airport’s infrastructure in the future.

As a small airport, we have the opportunity to try something out, see whether it works well and whether you have to adapt.

Aiming for net-zero emissions by 2040, Salzburg Airport has introduced a range of energy-saving initiatives to support the transition. From electric vehicles to biofuels, Ganghofer is committed to achieving real goals rather than greenwashing. Ultimately, she believes the biggest sustainability challenge in aviation lies with airlines.

The airports have a bigger chance to be ready for carbon-neutrality before the rest of aviation can fulfil its promises. Everyone has to work together. I think sustainable aviation fuel for the airlines is something we have to support, because it’s one big step in the future.

🎥 Watch the interview to hear the full conversation with Bettina Ganghofer, CEO Salzburg Airport.

Questions asked include:

  • How do plan for growth while also keeping in mind the limited footprint that you have?
  • How do you think traveller expectations have changed over the past few years? What do they want now that not all airports have?
  • How do you see AAM tech being integrated at the airport in the future?
  • From a more short-term perspective, are there any easy wins for airports in reducing their carbon footprint?

Join us at Aviation Festival Asia 2026 to discuss the future of airport technology.

For more like this, see: