Vienna-Schwechat Airport hosted the official launch of the New Technologies Summit 2025 on 28 October, ahead of the main conference scheduled for 3–4 November. The two-day event brings together AI, robotics and biometrics experts to discuss how emerging technologies can streamline airport operations and border processing. State Secretary for Digitalisation Alexander Pröll and Flughafen Wien CEO Julian Jäger highlighted Austria’s ambition to be an early adopter of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which entered its transitional phase on 12 October.
Demonstrations included automated e-gates equipped with facial-recognition cameras designed to integrate with EES databases, as well as autonomous baggage-handling robots aimed at reducing turnaround times. For corporate mobility managers, the expected outcome is shorter queues and more predictable connection windows at Austria’s principal international gateway.
Airline partners attending the summit—among them Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which resumes a 12-weekly Vienna–Copenhagen service in December—said the technology upgrades would support schedule reliability and premium transfer products. Travel-risk consultants noted that improved identity verification should also cut document-fraud incidents that have disrupted some EU hubs since biometric border pilots began.
The airport confirmed that installation of 24 next-generation e-gates at non-Schengen arrivals will be completed by April 2026, aligning with the EU’s deadline for full EES deployment. Vienna is seeking EU innovation funding to extend the system to Schengen departure gates, aiming to become a showcase for seamless “kerb-to-gate” travel.
Businesses relocating staff to or through Austria can expect phased testing over the winter timetable. Mobility teams should advise travellers to allow extra time while both manual stamping and biometric enrolment run in parallel during the six-month transition period.
Demonstrations included automated e-gates equipped with facial-recognition cameras designed to integrate with EES databases, as well as autonomous baggage-handling robots aimed at reducing turnaround times. For corporate mobility managers, the expected outcome is shorter queues and more predictable connection windows at Austria’s principal international gateway.
Airline partners attending the summit—among them Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which resumes a 12-weekly Vienna–Copenhagen service in December—said the technology upgrades would support schedule reliability and premium transfer products. Travel-risk consultants noted that improved identity verification should also cut document-fraud incidents that have disrupted some EU hubs since biometric border pilots began.
The airport confirmed that installation of 24 next-generation e-gates at non-Schengen arrivals will be completed by April 2026, aligning with the EU’s deadline for full EES deployment. Vienna is seeking EU innovation funding to extend the system to Schengen departure gates, aiming to become a showcase for seamless “kerb-to-gate” travel.
Businesses relocating staff to or through Austria can expect phased testing over the winter timetable. Mobility teams should advise travellers to allow extra time while both manual stamping and biometric enrolment run in parallel during the six-month transition period.
