There has been significant interest in the Macedonian government's public call for airlines to introduce new routes to Skopje and Ohrid airports in exchange for subsidies. The General Manager of airport operator TAV Macedonia, Nejat Kurt, said, "As far as I am informed, many airlines have applied for the call, though I cannot disclose which ones at this moment". He highlighted that TAV representatives held regular meetings with the Ministry of Transport and Communications before the call was issued. Mr Kurt also noted that the new subsidy model is expected to attract more airlines and routes to the country's airports.
The development comes as TAV unveiled plans to develop a masterplan for Skopje and Ohrid airports for the upcoming twenty to thirty years. "The masterplan we are currently preparing, with the support of our majority owner ADP, is aimed at the growth and development of both Macedonian airports. Our objective is to further advance the aviation industry in Macedonia”, Mr Kurt said. He added, “The analysis will determine the necessary improvements required at Skopje International Airport and Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport, after which the findings will be presented to the government. Our ambition is to position Skopje and Ohrid airports as regional aviation hubs, competitive with other airports in the region". TAV’s concession of the two airports runs until 2032.
The current public call for airlines to apply for subsidies to launch new routes from Skopje and Ohrid airports remains open until October 7 at 10:00. A key difference from previous tenders, which were almost exclusively won by Wizz Air, is that this call allows non-European carriers to participate. However, applicants must have handled at least five million passengers in 2023 and reported a net profit of at least ten million euros. Financial support will be awarded based on criteria such as the duration of operations, the frequency of weekly flights, the appeal of the destination airport, and the number of seats available for sale.
What a stark difference with LJU
ReplyDeleteShows that the Slovenian tender is sh*t.
DeleteSubsidy again... You're kidding me 🤦♀️.
Deleteisnt the slovenian tender more flexible than the macedonian? the other doesnt allow routes to be partly disconnected during winter
DeleteExcellent news. I'm hoping the fact that non European airlines could apply made a difference
ReplyDeleteyes, return of QR would be perfect
Delete+1
Delete+1
DeleteHope the master plan includes terminal expansion at SKP and OHD.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the planned reconstruction of Ohrid airport in 2020, then for reasons we all know postponed for 2021 and never started is part of this plan?
ReplyDeleteOr TAV forgot about it?Some do not forget that investments planned for the cancelled Shtip cargo airport should've been allocated in different projects.
Since the government allows them to do so why would they spent money to invest.
DeleteThe government just subsidizes airlines and TAV collects the fees.
Why was Ohrid airport renovations cancelled?
DeleteWhere was Shtip cargo centre to be built, and why was it cancelled?
"The government just subsidizes airlines and TAV collects the fees" how dare you say those conspiracies!
DeleteWelcome to TK!
ReplyDeleteWe don't want airlines with less than 5M passengers - says the airport that can't even get to 4M!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThey want to avoid falling for the same bait as Tuzla who gave money to a small carrier that discontinued flights less than half a year later
DeleteAnd if you made less than 10M profit, don't even talk to us. We want to give money only to very profitable airlines. And your airport has to be appealing, says the airport with flights to some rural airports. What is considered appealing anyway? Maldives, Hawaii and Tahiti?
DeleteFlights to destinations which have potential, rather than small and regional airports that very few know of and have very few flights. Again, mirroring Tuzla, which saw a tiny airline fly to almost worthless destinations. Skopje wants to avoid that
Delete@9.54 +1
DeleteHow the hell do u want SKP to get to 4 million pax with a country of 2mil population? 09:54 is right. Nonsense.
Delete@13.42 they already have 3mil. look at PRN
DeleteWhat stops Slovenia of doing a similar tender?
ReplyDeleteEU regulations
DeleteMr. Kurt also said that an airline that has never entered the Macedonia market has also applied
ReplyDeleteJust hope it's not a gazillionth Turkish airline.
Deletehaha, Ankara is calling! (Ajet or Pegasus)
Deletei stand corrected: "that has never entered" i read as "has never applied". now that makes it more interesting
DeleteMaybe BA returns :)
DeleteDid Air France ever fly to SKP?
Deletenon
DeleteThe airline that never applied can be anyone than Wizz or Aegean.
Delete@13.42 "an airline that has never ENTERED the Macedonia market"
DeleteGood to hear
ReplyDeleteOh oh be careful with this new minitser, everything he has said so far made very little sense...
ReplyDeletethis can also mean also "zero" or just "Wizz", just saying
(ofc I would love it to be "many")
the positive thing for me is that ADP is being active... we have never heard ADP in relations with SKP Airport before
ReplyDeleteWell if many airlines have applied that's really good. Since there are over 2 weeks left until the tender closes.
ReplyDeleteMany airlines applied.
ReplyDeleteThe airlines that applied: Wizz Air, Wizz Air UK, Wizz Air Malta, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.
:D:D:D
DeleteMaybe we see Lufthansa launch Munich, or Air Dolomiti since LH is offloading many routes to them.
ReplyDeleteI think Iberia applied for a route between Madrid and Skopje
ReplyDeleteis it clever to anounce such a thing in the middle of the process?
ReplyDeletei hope these "many" airlines have actually applied and not only showed interest like many years ago (there was even an article here about it)
ReplyDeleteaccording to TAV Macedonia CEO they applied. Let's wait and see.
DeleteEurowings?
ReplyDeleteif there ever was a golden moment to start DUS, then now
DeleteHope we se Ohird malmo back again
ReplyDelete