Ljubljana Airport’s operator Fraport is hopeful that most airlines will resume their services to the Slovenian capital once the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic eases. However, it warns that the impact on the aviation industry as a whole will be “enormous”. “Fraport anticipates for all of the destinations announced in the summer timetable to be kept, but it is unknown to what extent and when carriers will actually start flying", the operator said. It added that the majority of airlines have cancelled their flights to Ljubljana for the whole of April, while Finnair, which maintains seasonal services from Helsinki to Slovenia, has suspended the route up to and including most of June.
Ljubljana Airport is currently closed for commercial traffic. Services from European Union-member states are cancelled until April 27, although this restriction may be extended for a further two weeks, depending on the health situation. Commercial flights from outside the block are banned until further notice. "We expect for a gradual recovery in traffic and hope that after the restrictions are lifted, a timetable will be compiled as soon as possible, both in terms of the number of destinations and frequencies", Fraport explained. The Slovenian government has outlined plans to begin easing certain kerbs as of next week, as the epidemic is believed to be under control in the country, thus allowing public life to gradually resume.
Several airlines have initially planned to introduce new routes to Ljubljana this summer. These include easyJet from London Luton, Israir from Tel Aviv, Windrose Airlines from Kiev and Iberia from Madrid. At this point, all are planned to go ahead although this is likely to change. Furthermore, the majority of airlines serving the Slovenian capital were to boost their frequencies over the summer. Despite the new arrivals, and under the premise that all services planned for the remainder of the summer materialise, Ljubljana Airport’s capacity will still be nearly 45% lower than before the collapse of Adria Airways last year.
This couldn't come at a worse time for LJU as it was trying to recover from Adria's collapse.
ReplyDeleteI hope so
ReplyDeleteBut how could one keep flights if the airlines that fly to your airport go bust or shrink? After this first mess is over airlines will be even more determined to quickly axe the flights that are underperforming and not bringing back enough money.
ReplyDeleteWell perhaps they know that Ljubljana isn't underperforming for airlines. Considering everyone was about to increase frequencies to LJU, the logic is they will keep flying to Ljubljana.
DeleteWell I am sure LJU is contact with airlines that fly there and they informed them that they were satisfied with their performance. Don't forget that since JP went bankrupt and especially once airlines started expanding in LJU, some of them suffered in ZAG. Aeroflot is an example of that. LJU went to double daily A320 while this summer they planned on sending daily SSJ to ZAG. Why? Because those who travelled from Slovenia to ZAG no longer have to do it.
Deletewhat are you talking about?
DeleteIt's a commonly known fact that because of LJU being held hostage by JP, many airlines stayed away from Ljubljana. That is why a massive number of Slovenes flew from ZAG. Now when JP is gone and more airlines fly to LJU there is less need to go to ZAG. SVO on SU and AMS on HV are good example of this since both destinations suffered from ZAG once LJU got them. It's normal when sphere of influence overlap.
Deletestopped reading at "hostage"
DeleteJust because you stopped reading his comment doesn't mean what he wrote isn't true.
DeleteNo, it isn't true. Why? Because no one held Skobir at gunpoint, preventing him to sign other carriers. So no, LJU airport was not held hostage.
DeleteWould be great if it turns out this way but highly doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI think they will manage to keep all airlines. I don't see any of them suspending flights to LJU but like Fraport says it's a question of frequencies.
DeleteAirlines won't return with the same frequencies because of various travel restrictions.
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeful LJU will reopen on 27th of April. Which airlines could start flying straight away?
ReplyDeleteLH group won't start flying until mid May. I don't see any airline being able to return in late April.
DeleteYes I see it as highly unlikely for any airline to resume flights at end of April. I only hope the LJU will also open for non-EU airlines.
DeleteI mean open to non-EU airlines sooner, rather than later.
DeleteSo there is no chance Windrose will start flights on 30th of April?
DeleteAre you serious? Who is going to go to Ljubljana (or anywhere for that matter) in 10 days.
DeleteNo there is no chance.
Deletewell if someone wants to go into quarantine upon arrival in SLO, then they can theoretically travel. Those measures are still in force.
DeleteIt has been reported that it is likely that EU won't open its borders until fall
DeleteLJU doesn't have too many non-EU routes.
DeleteNon-EU routes from LJU:
DeleteIST
INI
BEG
SVO
LON
TLV
London is still considered am EU route during the Brexit transitional period.
DeleteGrasping at straws Anon 17.05. They are leaving the EU and they are on their way out, there is no reason to consider London or the UK as part of the EU. After all their flag has been removed from Brussels and they don't have a commissioner.
DeleteI'm tellinh you in terms of aviation (seeing this is an aviation and not a politics site) since Slovenia will likely lift ban on EU flights in 2 weeks. This will include London route. Your flag example has little to do with it.
DeleteIt will be more difficult to attract new airlines in the post covid era.
ReplyDeleteLet's see what happens, LJU is not an expensive airport so airlines should do ok there.
ReplyDeleteLJU is an expensive airport for its size and market potential.
DeleteRight, that's why foreign carriers keep on boosting their presence there?
DeleteForeign carriers have started growing only after Adria went bankrupt (or was in the process of going bankrupt) and various incentives were introduced. LJU's fees are in line with those at ZAG and BEG while the market is smaller. Even the airport CEO claims that fees are high because a lot of state imposed taxes amd some issue around refuelling which is out of their hands.
DeleteDo you think BA will start flying to LHR? I have a flight booked in late June from LJU, I was really looking forward to visiting England with my familiy.
ReplyDeleteI think it's highly likely those flights will go ahead as planned.
Deletesays my crystal ball ...
DeleteOk no flights will go ahead for the next 20 years
DeleteWe should lock ourselves and throw away the key. Happy?
Yes @ANONYMOUS 11:15, for some time everybody has to be patience and wait until the flights start again.
DeleteThe flights will go ahead. BA just announced that the LJU flights are transferring from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Terminal 3.
DeleteThanks for the info, thats good to hear.
DeleteMaybe to do everything possible to try to get more frequency or new destionation for: DXB,TLV,LED,MAD,BCN, DUB, LHR, LCY and SEN and to invite the slovenian goverment for a discussion of setting a definition of flight transfers in context of development standards and projects - to get the status of public services. The state should add connections hand in hand with slovenian economy
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI agree. I hope there will be more coordination between the airport, government and agencies. Slovenia could even apply for some PSO routes.
DeleteSEN maybe but LCY... not sure. This is an expensive airport. Maybe LO can try launching it next year when the new airport is opened.
DeleteWhat is the current government's stance on establishing a new Slovenian national airline? Is there more of an appetite for it as a result of this crisis or less of a chance?
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in this too. I'm not from Slovenia but I know there has been a change in government. But from what I've seen that Pocivalsek guy is still in government (not sure if he is infrastructure minister still). If someone from Slovenia can enlighten us? :)
DeleteHe was never infrastructure minister (Alenka Bratušek was). He is still minister at Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. At the moment there is no discussion regarding new national airline (at least not known to the public). The only thing that was mention lately was that Army should buy a big transport plane. That's all.
Deleteemphasis is on word HOPE, they hope...they do nothing or enough. Regarding big army transport - Slovenia is already partner in C-17, together with few other nations, but has NEVER used it! https://www.sacprogram.org/en/Pages/The%20Strategic%20Airlift%20Capability.aspx
DeleteWould the possible arrival of TK and Lufti group means it's bad news for JU? Those bigger ones can take a bigger piece of this JP cake. TK might even add a 3rd daily flight.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if the government will have to subsidise flights to/from LJU. It would be funny though as people were cheering for the demise of Adria under the pretence of saving taxpayers money.
ReplyDeletetotally agree. they even use the word "hostage" as we see above
DeleteLjubljana is killed by a double-stroke.
ReplyDeleteWoochich announced that BEG might be opened between 04 and 11 May so let's pray that LJU is among the first destinations to be re-introduced.
ReplyDelete