An axial ventilator has multiple fan wheel blades (2) arranged around an axis of rotation (RA) in a blade ring. At least one of the fan wheel blades (2) has an inner section (3) located on the radial inside. A blade edge section (4) directly adjoins the inner section (3) and borders a blade edge (5). The at least one fan wheel blade (2) has a local projection (6) over a radial extension of the blade edge section (4). The local projection (6) is formed as an extension of the chord length of the fan wheel blade. The projection locally enlarges the fan wheel blade (2) in the blade edge section (4). An average angle of attack (α) of the fan wheel blade (2), in relation to a plane of rotation (RE), of the fan wheel (1), is larger than an average angle of attack (β) of the projection (6), in relation to the plane of rotation (RE).