Innsbruck Airport (INN)

The biggest international airport in Tyrol, Austria is Innsbruck Airport, otherwise referred to as Kranebitten Airport. The airport is about 4 km from Innsbruck city center, which serves as the capital of Tyrol.

In 1948, Innsbruck Airport was converted into a civil airport after having started out as a military airfield in 1925. There is one runway measuring 2,000m by 45m and can accommodate planes .which are similar to Boeing 767 in size. Renovated and expanded in 2004, Innsbruck Airport has just one passenger terminal with an annual capacity of handling up to1.5 million passengers and various facilities for travelers.

Being surrounded by alps valley, makes landing at this airport very challenging and scenic for pilots and tourists alike. It is near the center of town that is accessible through different means of transport.

History of Innsbruck Airport

Innsbruck Airport has a long and varied background since the time of aviation’s early days. Some of the airport’s historical highlights include:

In 1925, the military airfield was opened as an airport by Austrian Air Force.
In 1938, German Luftwaffe took over the airport and used it as a base for fighter and bomber operations during World War II.
Allied forces liberated the airport in 1945 and returned it to Austria.
The airport was turned into a civil airport in 1948, starting with its first scheduled flights to Vienna and Zurich.
The earliest international ski jumping contest held on Bergisel hill near the airport in 1958.
It became a hub for Winter Olympic Games that took place in Innsbruck in 1964 and 1976
In 1980, yhe name was changed to Innsbruck-Kranebitten Airport after Kranebitten district.
Modernization occurred at this facility in 1990; new control tower, radar system as well as navigation aids were installed in this facility.
A major renovation project including construction of new terminal building, parking garage, railway station among others took place between 2004-2012 at this facility
The year 2012 marked sixty years of operation at this civilian aerodrome thereby celebrating ten million passengers.

Airlines and Destinations Served by Innsbruck Airport

A number of well-known airlines such as Austrian, Lufthansa, British Airways, Swiss and Turkish Airlines fly to INN airport. The airport is used for both domestic and international trips offering flights to various places:

Airlines	Destinations	Flight Time
Aegean Airlines	Seasonal: Athens	2h 10m
Air Dolomiti	Frankfurt	1h 10m
Air France	Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle	1h 35m
Austrian Airlines	Vienna	1h 5m
	Seasonal: Amsterdam, Berlin	1h 40m, 1h 20m
Avanti Air	Seasonal charter: Calvi	1h 15m
British Airways	Seasonal: London–Gatwick, London–Heathrow	2h 5m, 2h 10m
easyJet	London–Gatwick	2h 5m
	Seasonal: Bristol, London–Luton, Manchester	2h 10m, 2h 5m, 2h 15m
Eurowings	Seasonal: Hamburg, Karpathos (begins 21 May 2024), Stockholm–Arlanda	1h 35m, 3h 10m, 2h 45m
	Seasonal charter: Copenhagen, Heraklion, Kos, Lamezia Terme, Palma de Mallorca, Rhodes	2h 10m, 2h 55m, 2h 40m, 1h 40m, 2h 15m, 3h 5m
Icelandair	Seasonal: Reykjavík–Keflavík	4h 35m
Jet2.com	Seasonal: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London–Stansted, Manchester	2h 15m, 2h 10m, 2h 25m, 2h 10m, 2h 15m
Marathon Airlines	Seasonal charter: Cagliari, Kalamata, Kavala, Kefalonia, Preveza/Lefkada, Thessaloniki	1h 30m, 2h 10m, 2h 5m, 2h 10m, 2h 5m, 2h
Scandinavian Airlines	Seasonal: Stockholm–Arlanda	2h 45m
Smartwings	Seasonal: Split (begins 20 April 2024)	1h 5m
Transavia	Amsterdam	1h 40m
	Seasonal: Brussels, Eindhoven, Rotterdam/The Hague	1h 30m, 1h 25m, 1h 30m
TUI Airways	Seasonal: Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, London–Gatwick, London–Luton, London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne	2h 15m, 2h 10m, 2h 35m, 2h 25m, 2h 5m, 2h 5m, 2h 10m, 2h 15m, 2h 20m
TUI fly Belgium	Seasonal: Antwerp	1h 30m

Airport Facilities

Terminals: The airport has one passenger terminal with two levels. On the ground floor are the arrivals area, baggage claim, customs and immigration, as well as car rental counters. The upper level houses the departure area, check-in desks, security checks and boarding gates.
Check-In Process: There are 18 check-in desks and six self-service kiosks at INN where passengers can check in for their flights and drop off their luggage. Check-in counters open two hours before scheduled departure time and close 40 minutes prior to flight.
Security Procedures and Screening: INN has four security lanes where passengers must pass through security checks and screening before reaching the boarding area. Security personnel may ask passengers to take off their shoes, belts, coats or any other metal objects. Also at INN applies liquids aerosols gels (LAGs) laws which means that passengers can only carry LAGs in containers of 100 ml or less packed into a transparent plastic bag of 1 liter or smaller.
Shops & Restaurants: The airport offers various shops and restaurants for travelers’ convenience. Duty-free shop, souvenir shop, bookstore, newsstand and pharmacy can be found here. Café, bar, restaurant and bakery are also located within the airport.
Lounges: There is a VIP lounge offered at the top level of the terminal building. Access to this lounge is available for passengers holding valid business class ticket or frequent flyer membership card. Lounge facilities include comfortable seating areas with complimentary beverages & snacks served throughout the day; free Wi-Fi access; newspapers/magazines available; TV screen showing latest news bulletins etc.
Duty-Free Shopping: Located on upper level of terminal building there is a duty-free shop offering wide range of products such as perfumes/colognes; cosmetics; alcohol (including spirits); tobacco/cigarettes; sweets/chocolates etc., which can be purchased by all departing/arriving travelers.
Wi-Fi & Internet Access: Free Wi-Fi is provided in the entire terminal. Furthermore, on the top level of the terminal building there is a business center where internet access can be gained for fee along with fax photocopying printing facilities.
Currency Exchange: On the ground floor of the terminal building there is currency exchange office. Here one can exchange money, send/receive international transfers or buy traveler’s checks. The office operates daily from 06:00 till 22:00.
Medical Services: The airport’s medical center is located on the ground floor of the terminal building as well. It offers emergency treatment services, first aid kits provision and travel health advice including immunizations etc. Working hours are Monday-Friday 08:00-16:00, Saturday 08:00-12:00.

Transportation Options from the Airport

Innsbruck Airport is well-connected to the city center and other destinations by various modes of transportation, such as:

Parking at Innsbruck Airport: The airport has a parking garage, which is located next to the terminal. The parking garage offers short-term and long-term parking options, as well as valet parking services. The parking garage also has a railway station, which connects the airport with the city center and other destinations.
Short-Term Parking: The airport has a short-term parking area, which is located on the ground level of the parking garage. The short-term parking area is ideal for travelers who need to park their cars for up to 3 hours. The short-term parking area charges €2.50 per hour or €15 per day.
Long-Term Parking: The airport has a long-term parking area, which is located on the upper levels of the parking garage. The long-term parking area is suitable for travelers who need to park their cars for more than 3 hours. The long-term parking area charges €12 per day or €60 per week.
Valet Parking: The airport offers valet parking services, which allow travelers to leave their cars at the terminal and have them parked by a staff member. The valet parking services charge €25 per day or €125 per week.
Parking Rates and Reservations: The airport offers online parking reservations, which allow travelers to book their parking spaces in advance and save money. The online parking reservations charge €10 per day or €50 per week for the long-term parking area and €20 per day or €100 per week for the valet parking services.
Ground Transportation: The airport offers various ground transportation options for travelers to reach their destinations, such as airport shuttle services, public transportation options, taxi and ride-hailing services, and car rental companies.
Airport Shuttle Services: The airport has several airport shuttle services, which provide shared or private transfers to and from the airport. The airport shuttle services operate to various destinations, such as ski resorts, hotels, and other cities. The airport shuttle services charge from €10 to €50 per person, depending on the destination and the type of service.
Public Transportation Options: The airport has a railway station, which is located on the ground level of the parking garage. The railway station connects the airport with the city center and other destinations by train or bus. The railway station operates from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. The train or bus tickets cost from €2 to €10, depending on the destination and the type of ticket.
Taxi and Ride-Hailing Services: The airport has a taxi rank, which is located outside the terminal. The taxi rank offers metered or fixed-rate taxis to and from the airport. The taxi rank operates 24/7. The taxi fares cost from €10 to €50, depending on the destination and the traffic. The airport also has ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, which can be booked via mobile apps. The ride-hailing services charge from €5 to €30, depending on the destination and the demand.
Car Rental Companies: The airport has several car rental companies, which are located on the ground level of the terminal. The car rental companies offer various types of cars, from economy to luxury, for rent. The car rental companies operate from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. The car rental rates vary from €20 to €200 per day, depending on the type of car and the duration of the rental.

Airport Hotels

Hotels near or at Innsbruck Airport are convenient and comfortable for travelers. These hotels include:

Hotel Penz West: This is a 4-star hotel, located about one kilometer from the airport. It has modern rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a fitness club, and a sauna. There is also free transport to and from the airport. Depending on seasonal rates and room types, the hotel charges between €100 and €200 per night.
Hotel Kranebitten: This is a 3-star hotel located about two kilometers from the airport, offering intimate rooms with a garden terrace where one can dine. The shuttle service is absolutely free of charge in this case too. Prices may vary depending on the room type and season, from €80 up to €150 per night.
Hotel Maximilian: A four-star hotel situated approximately 4 km away from the terminal of Innsbruck Airport presents superior apartments, which include a conference hall, spa center, restaurant, and café-bar, among other amenities. For those flying with airplanes, there’s no need to worry because, regardless of its distance from their landing area, this place has a complimentary shuttle service provided by the hotel’s staff. Prices range from €120 to €250 per night, contingent upon the accommodation option and time of year.

Other hotels found in different sections within the airport territory are:

Hotel Innsbruck Airport: Another four-star facility inside Innsbruck Airport’s main building provides spacious en-suite bedrooms complete with restaurants, bars, gyms, and saunas, while offering access to check-in points, customs clearance areas, and boarding passes directly from their bedrooms. Seasonally dependent, rates for each room range between €150 and €300.
Hotel Ibis Innsbruck Airport: Located just close to an airfield parking lot, there is another three-star accommodation called Ibis at the Innsbruck Airbase, which offers a cozy living area with a business corner. Moreover, there is a direct route leading to the air terminal, that is, the railway line allowing passengers to travel between this important hub and the rest of the region. The price varies with the season and room type, from €90 to €180 per night.