Ukrainian carrier Windrose Airlines is considering introducing flights between Kiev and the Slovenian capital from late December but is yet to make a final decision whether the service will go ahead. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the airline's head of Public Relations, Natalia Kochanova, said, "We have the intention to start these flights, but there is no final decision at the moment". Under the carrier's draft schedule, flights to Ljubljana would operate three times per week from Boryspil Airport, starting December 21, each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoon, with an evening return service.
Windrose Airlines had plans to serve Ljubljana in the past. In mid-December 2017 it intended on launching two weekly flights between the two capital cities with Embraer E145 jets, but the service never materialised. The Ukrainian carrier had previously operated summer charters to Maribor. Ljubljana and Kiev were last linked with a nonstop air service in October 2018 when Adria Airways discontinued the route after less than a year of operations, along with several others. Another Ukrainian carrier, Dniproavia also had plans to connect the two cities in 2017 and went as far as putting tickets on sale. However, the airline ceased operations prior to the route launch and the majority of its fleet has since been absorbed by Windrose Airlines.
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is preparing for a challenging winter season following the collapse of Adria Airways. Despite the planned arrival of several new carriers, as well as frequency and capacity growth on existing services, the airport is expected to shed up to 200.000 passengers this year. In a statement, Ljubljana Airport said, "We will strive to further expand our flight network and improve its connectivity. We strongly believe in the continued growth of traffic at our airport, thus we are investing in the modernisation of airport infrastructure and increasing our capacities. In five years, [operator] Fraport Slovenia will spend more than forty million euros in investments, half of which will go towards the new passenger terminal, which will enhance airport standards for passengers".
Great news! LJU needs all the airlines it can get now.
ReplyDeleteIf these go ahead I wonder if they will use the Airbus fleet or the Embraers.
ReplyDeleteERJ for sure. They have seven.
DeleteIt's actually perfect for this route with 50 ssat capacity.
DeleteIs there really that much demand for flights between Ljubljana and Kiev?
ReplyDelete10000 indirect pax between Sept 2018 and Aug 2019 -source OAG Traffic Analyser, so demand is.
DeleteDoes Windrose offer any transfer options? Where do they fly to?
ReplyDeleteNo they don't.
DeleteThat's stupid.
DeleteNot sure this route can survive purely on P2P passengers.
DeleteHow come an airline has a preliminary schedule and everything but it's still unsure it will start flying a particular route?
ReplyDeleteNot serious
DeleteMaybe it depends on sone factors out of their control.
Delete*some
DeleteI hope it will not be not a seasonal charter (like winter flights to Salzburg) but just a seasonal flight open to everyone (an if possible with one way tickets available too (that was not the case for Pula))).
ReplyDeleteIt's planned 3 times per week. Don't think it's going to be a seasonal charger.
DeleteMost of their services are charter.
DeleteOk, when they already operate occasionally charters to SLO it will most likely mean that a good chunk of the seats on their flights will already be sold to TOs - so TOs/agencies take over the risk to sell these seats and airline has some safe income and secured min LF. This surely gives Windrose a competitive advantage
ReplyDeleteDniprovavia was selling tickets at 250 EUR. Hope these guys will be more competitive.
ReplyDeleteAnd what were Adria's fares like?
DeleteAround 220 euros, depending what dates you picked.
DeleteWindrose livery is cool!
DeleteOk, so that seems to be the price then.
DeleteAgree. The livery is fantastic.
DeleteI find Aerosvit to have had the better livery
Deletehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/AeroSvit_Ukrainian_Airlines_Boeing_737-300_KBP_UR-DNJ_2011-10-2.png/1280px-AeroSvit_Ukrainian_Airlines_Boeing_737-300_KBP_UR-DNJ_2011-10-2.png
There are much more pressing markets to cover other than Ukraine!
ReplyDeleteI don't think Fraport chased after Windrose to come. They came on their own and would have come even if Adria was alive today.
Delete^ exactly. Windrose saw an opportunity and will likely come. We should be grateful for that.
DeleteWould have preferred Ukraine International. They have one of the cheapest fares and a great network.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI najveći stupanj šikaniranja putnika. Pročitaj malo recenzije na skytraxu. Radije idem pješice nego sa UIA
DeleteWho flies between Ljubljana and Ukraine? Are there some stronger business ties? Ukrainians working in Slovenia? Tourism?
ReplyDeleteUkraine is a country of 40 million getting closer and closer with the EU.
DeleteThe boom in travel is only logical.
People from ex USSR are partial to Terme resorts of which, I think, there are several of in the east of Slovenia. An obvious selling point.
DeleteTuristi na more i lječilišta
DeleteUkrainians who live in Slovenia
DeleteOther than Kiev are there some other perspective destinations from Ljubljana at the moment?
ReplyDeleteVienna!
DeleteBy the way
DeleteVienna is well connected to
Kiev–Boryspil: Austrian Airlines, Lauda (for Ryanair),
Kiev–Zhuliany: WizzAir.
LCC prices are very competitive.
Scandinavia. There are no more flights to any Scandinavian city.
DeleteThere is Finnair from Helsinki.
DeleteHelsinki is only seasonal.
DeleteDon't tell a Finnish person you consider them Scandinavian :D they will get offended
DeleteI have a feeling this might end up like Dniprovavia and they cancel flights a few weeks before launch. Hope I'm wrong though.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with the sudden interest for Ukraine from Slovenia?
ReplyDeleteAsking myself the same question.
DeleteGreat. Kiev is a good city break destination
ReplyDeleteIn the last few years it has not only been Windrose that has flown to Maribor. Dniproavia flew Maribor charters from Harkov.
ReplyDeleteHope the loads will be there to keep this route.
DeleteSpeaking of Maribor, what is going on there?
DeleteThis is good news for Ljubljana Airport which desperately needs more destinations and airlines.
ReplyDeleteIs Windrose a reliable airline?
ReplyDeleteYes. They have been around for quite some time.
DeleteLjubljana should first get linked with a number of EU markets before lines like Kiev.
ReplyDeleteLOL it should be linked with markets that can generate passengers. Ukraine seems to be one of them.
DeleteThanks for clarifying ex-yu. Most Slovenian media reported as if this was a done thing. Obviously far from definite.
ReplyDeleteOve objave mogućih linija su kao objave nogometnih transfera. Baci se kost da se ima raja oko nečeg uzbuđivati, a 90% šansi je da se NE obistini, a 10% da se obistini
ReplyDeleteLJU Airport has listed the flights on its website.
DeleteAccording to Fraport , this should be the schedule
ReplyDeleteArrival
KYIV-BORYSPIL
- 2 - 4 - 6 - 17:00 18:20 7W761 21.12. - 28.03.
Depqrture
KYIV-BORYSPIL
- 2 - 4 - 6 - 19:00 22:20 7W762 21.12. - 28.03.
Not the best of schedules to be honest.
DeleteNot convenient for tourists at all.
DeleteArrival to Kyiv is too late but for the rest is good. A schedule Friday and Sunday would be better.
DeleteCurrently train from Boryspil Airport train has 2 departures after 23.00. It's not too late. Than you have bus and taxi.
DeleteWindrose are actually operating to both OTP and SOF for years following Aerosvit's bankruptcy in 2012. Unlike Ukraine International, they focus eastwards. I see them launching LJU and maybe DBV or SPU.
ReplyDeleteNice. Do they fly anywhere in ex-Yu, seasonally at least?
DeleteYes to Tivat during the summer.
DeleteMeanwhile JU has once again added larger planes to LJU.
ReplyDelete17.10 B733 evening flight
20.10 B733 evening flight
25.10 A319 morning flight
26.10 B733 morning flight
27.10 A319 morning/ B733 evening (!)
28.10 13.10 departure is added, three daily on Atr
03.11 A319 evening flight
14.12 B733 in the evening
15.12 B733 in the morning
WOW! Congrats to JU and LJU.
summer timetable 2 daily moscow and 3 times weekly LED additional to Ukraine flights would be gr8 as the trend of tourism and business is through the years growing... isnt it?
ReplyDeletewhat about pobeda (LED), volotea (MAD/BCN/LIS)?
ReplyDeleteWhy Lisbon ?
DeleteVolotea does not even fly there.
This Iggy guy is a fake like the other one !
Delete