The Macedonian market has emerged as having the largest share of passengers handled by low cost carriers in Europe. Some 65.6% of those travelling to and from the country are carried by no frills airlines. Wizz Air, which boasts a base in Skopje and also maintains operations from Ohrid, held a market share of 63% during the first half of the year. Macedonia ranked ahead of Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Lithuania. The top three airlines in Macedonia based on seat capacity are Wizz Air followed by Turkish Airlines and Austrian. Despite having the largest share of passengers handled by low cost carriers, neither of the three busiest LCCs in Europe - Ryanair, easyJet and Norwegian Air Shuttle - maintain services to the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was the sixth largest European market for no frills airlines based on passenger share, with 56.2% of all travellers opting for low cost options. The high share is primarily the result of Wizz Air, which maintains a base in Tuzla. Similar to Macedonia, Wizz Air also offers the most capacity out of Bosnia, followed by Turkish Airlines and Austrian. Europe's largest low cost airline - Ryanair - will enter the Bosnian market this year with flights to Banja Luka from late October. Other LCCs present on the market include Norwegian Air Shuttle, Eurowings and Pegasus Airlines.
Croatia was the twentieth largest European market for low cost airlines, with a 35% passengers share. This is despite LCCs holding just an 8.5% share at the country's busiest airport, Zagreb, in 2017. However, no frills airlines dominate across the country's coastal airports. easyJet is the busiest LCC in Croatia, followed by Lufthansa's Eurowings and Ryanair, which boasts a seasonal base in Zadar. However, Croatia Airlines offers the most capacity out of the country on an annual basis, followed by easyJet and Eurowings.
Serbia failed to position itself among the top twenty European markets for low cost carriers. This is despite all four of the continent's busiest no frills airlines serving the country. Air Serbia continues to offer the most capacity, followed by Wizz Air, which operates a base in Belgrade, and Turkish Airlines. Likewise, Slovenia, which remains the only European Union-member state not to be served by Ryanair, has not placed among the top twenty markets based on passengers handled by LCCs. Adria Airways offers the most capacity out of Ljubljana, followed by easyJet and Turkish Airlines. Montenegro, which has recently seen a number of low cost airlines enter its market, including Ryanair and easyJet, also failed to make the top twenty. Montenegro Airlines offers the most capacity out of the country, followed by Air Serbia and Ryanair.
Not surprised.
ReplyDeleteIn the text only 3 airports in B&H are mentioned: TZL, SJJ ans BNX (with reason).
DeleteNow, OMO is completely out of everything...
Unbelivable!!!
OMO did say they are in talks with an LCC about Scandinavia flights so hopefully it may be Ryan or Wizz.
DeleteHow come FR hasn't started flying to LJU?
ReplyDeleteAirport is too expensive for them. They don't fly to any main airport in ex-Yu except TGD.
DeleteThey used to fly to Maribor.
DeleteFor a couple of months until subsidies ran.
DeleteHow come it is not expensive for Wizz and Easyjet to fly to LJU but it is for Ryanair?
DeleteThe Macedonia situation is ironic. Largest share of LCC passengers all handled by one airline. I really hope someone else will enter market. Easyjet would be a great option.
ReplyDeleteEasy Jet obviosuly doesnt want to enter the Macedonian market. Its not even interested in the major cash cow Basel. Even Air Serbia is flying charters Basel-Ohrid this summer
DeleteInteresting, and I assume there is a good mix of Albanian and Macedonian passengers on this route.
DeleteI hope we finally see another airline using thos LCC subsidies in Macedonia. Wizz Air needs some competition.
DeleteIt will be Wizz Air again unfortunately.
DeleteI really hoped that we the change in government we would see actual competition in SKP but unfortunately they seem to be no different than the VMRO.
DeleteSo we will continue to subsidize a monopoly.
o_0 lupas bez veze
DeleteIt is unfortunate. And when the government wanted to make a deal with Ryanair a few years ago and they were very close to just signing the agreement suddenly they changed their mind. Wonder if Wizz had something to do with it.
DeleteWishing Ryan a lot of success in Banja Luka. I hope they eventually open a base there.
ReplyDeleteThey've started off with 3 routes which is a good sign.
DeleteSo Montenegro is the only ex-Yu market with two national airlines offering the most capacity.
ReplyDeleteYes, but that is quite a unique situation since the travel market between RS and CG is huge.
DeleteIt's time for Ryan to open a permanent base in Zadar.
ReplyDeleteIs there enough demand during winter?
DeletePossibly to the German market but that would be it.
DeleteI don't get how Dubrovnik and Split are so expensive for Ryanair? Practically all LCCs fly there and they don't seem to have problem with the price.
ReplyDeleteExactly! Even Wizz flies to Split and they have complained time and again how Croatian coastal airports are expensive.
DeleteLook at how expensive Wizz is to Split.
DeleteWith more and more legacies flying to SPU and DBV, I don't think Ryanair is their top priority.
DeleteThe biggest advantage of having Ryanair flying to Dubrovnik would have been the all year-round flights which they said they wanted to operate.
DeleteDBV is getting more and more year round flights. This year from Iberia and LOT. So I think they can achieve these without Ryanair's involvement.
DeleteBut those will be low frequency. If FR based a plane in Dubrovnik we would get a couple of new routes several times per week.
DeleteI have a feeling easy might open a base in BEG.
ReplyDeleteBased on what?
DeleteBased on the fact that they are introducing new routes and increasing frequencies.
DeleteAnd they are close to Vinci too.
DeleteEasyJet is funny. Second largest airline in Croatia with over 1 million passengers, almost 20 destinations from Split and no base.
ReplyDeleteThey probably want special conditions to fly from the coast in winter and SPU has said numerous times they don't want to give special treatment to anyone.
DeleteAnd just a few years ago LCCs were only available in Croatia in ex-Yu. How times change.
ReplyDeleteBest thing that has happened in aviation in this region.
DeleteBest thing would be, LCC would offer flights within ex yu
DeleteAgree. It will happen one day I hope!
Deleteif the new tender in MK is successful, this number will get even higher
ReplyDeleteI see W6 with around a 70% passenger share in Macedonia next year.
DeleteI read Ryan is closing the base in Temisoara. Perhaps a chance for them to start BEG?
ReplyDeleteIf that happens, Air Serbia is toast.
DeleteNo chance
DeleteWhy?
DeleteThe Serbian government is in talks with Ryan and I assume it is about something big so let's wait and see.
DeleteOf course, could it be anything else but big when Serbia is in question ?
DeleteBy "big" I meant that they are probably discussing the possibility of a base. That is what I meant because I doubt they were discussing about trends on the aviation market or the weather. No need for your bitter hatred to get in the way of a harmless discussion.
DeleteEasy would be a good replacement for Monarch/Croatia Airlines on the ZAG - London route.
ReplyDeleteBA will replace OU by adding more frequencies but a lpw cost option would be welcome.
DeleteOT. To guys who didnt believe me in changing liquid policy on BEG airport
ReplyDeleteUpon the request of the Airport Nikola Tesla Belgrade, due to security reasons, it is not allowed any longer to transfer in the hand luggage liquids with a volume greater than 100 ml, which were purchased at another airport and packed in a free shop bag (special bag with visible sign of unauthorized opening). This change is valid from 1 May 2018 for passengers traveling to the Belgrade Airport from other airport and at proceeding to another flight from Nikola Tesla Airport Belgrade (transfer passengers).
https://www.airserbia.com/en/travel-alerts?newsplus_news_id=187744&newsplus_topic_id=77905
I am disappointed that Niš Constantine the Great Airport,is not mentioned in the article.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, this is the very airport that become a model to many smaller airports who have little or almost zero traffic. Hoping to see the 500 thousand mark very soon.
In Ohrid airport More and more often, crew and other airport skilled stuff are being asked to do more for the same pay.The passenger traffic has been increased by 88% last year.
ReplyDelete