Vienna Airport third runway ruling sparks inquiry into officials

The operator of the hub in the Austrian capital had its expansion plan refused by a court but two officials involved in the ruling are now are being investigated.

A plane takes off from Vienna Airport. An investigation into two officials has been launched after a court ruling rejected the hub's push for a third runway. Heinz-Peter Bader / Reuters

Austrian prosecutors have opened an investigation into two officials for alleged abuse of office over their involvement in a court ruling against a planned third runway at Vienna Airport, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The newspaper Kurier reported earlier on Wednesday that the investigation was into two of the three administrative court judges who ruled last month the runway should not be built, on the grounds that it would run counter to Austria's commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The paper said the two judges were suspected of having a conflict of interest.

“It is true, an investigation has been opened,” a spokeswoman for the Vienna prosecutors’ office said when asked about the report, adding that the investigation was on suspicion of abuse of office.

When asked if the investigation was into the two judges, she said: “I cannot provide any information on that. There is an investigation into two suspects and further unknown persons.”

Vienna Airport has said it will appeal the ruling, which said the positive aspects of the plan to build the runway did not justify the extra carbon dioxide emissions it would involve.

A spokeswoman for the administrative court that issued the verdict declined to comment.

* Reuters

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter