Austrian is not state owned, but let that pass.
The point is that SOMEONE is paying the tax; it is either being passed on to the customer (result - fewer passengers) or the airline is absorbing it (result - less revenue). Either way, if the tax could be reduced, it is a win/win. Whether that is enough of a win/win to encourage an operator to start a flight to CWL in the current climate? Jury is out. I would bet that some operators may well switch services out of BHX and BRS - particularly the IT companies...
TA