Italy’s SkyAlps to open Mostar base in 2025

SkyAlps and Mostar inked an agreement yesterday which will see the Italian regional carrier base one of its Dash 8 turboprops at the city’s airport and launch several new routes. This partnership was established following a successful bid by SkyAlps in a tender designed to attract carriers by providing subsidies for basing aircraft in the city. The development was anticipated as Mostar Airport’s CEO had indicated as early as last year the airline would establish a base in 2025. Currently, SkyAlps operates seasonal summer flights to Mostar from Rome, Munich, and Verona​. Under the agreement it will maintain flights to eight destinations, including Stuttgart, Bari, Naples, Catania and Palermo, in addition to Rome and Munich, while Verona will be swapped for another route, which is yet to be selected. The emphasis on the Italian market comes as Italians make up the largest portion of Mostar’s visitors, primarily as religious pilgrims.

The establishment of the SkyAlps base was marked by a signing ceremony attended by local and regional officials. The Mayor of Mostar, Mario Kordić, said, “You have witnessed over the past three and a half years the tremendous effort, growth, and positive results achieved by Mostar Airport under this management and administration. From practically no passengers, we are now talking about 40.000 travellers this year across six routes connecting the City of Mostar with the rest of Europe and the world”. The government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton has set aside just over 176.000 euros for SkyAlps to open its base. Alex Spinato. SkyAlps' General Director for Aviation and Operations, said, “None of this would have been possible without the support of the local authorities and the management of Mostar Airport. Mostar and its surroundings are among the smallest regions, but it is a region with enormous potential. That is why we decided to make Mostar our second base, and I am confident that this cooperation will continue for a long time”.

Mostar Airport anticipates handling 65.000 passengers next year, up from the estimated 44.000 in 2024. In addition to SkyAlps, both Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines will continue to maintain their subsidised services from Belgrade and Zagreb respectively, while talks are ongoing with Pegasus Airlines over flights from Istanbul. SkyAlps started operations in June 2021 as a virtual airline and secured its Air Operator's Certificate in January 2023. It aims to expand its all-Dash 8 fleet to fourteen aircraft within the next year, positioning itself for further growth. With its hub in Bolzano, the carrier now links over twenty European cities with nonstop flights.