Sarajevo Airport has launched a public call for an airline willing to open a base in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital in an attempt “to soften the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”. The tender is open to any carrier willing to station its aircraft in the city between at least 2021 and 2023. During the first phase, the selected airline will be required to base two planes “with the option of growing its fleet, as Sarajevo Airport's capacity grows and other conditions are met”. The tender documentation notes, “An advantage will be given to those carriers that put forward the largest number of weekly/monthly frequencies with plans to increase them in 2022 and 2023”.
Sarajevo Airport will also give an advantage to those airlines that plan to launch the greatest number of destinations, as well as establish flights to points that were not previously served in 2019. “Furthermore, carriers that plan to operate aircraft with a capacity of 150 passengers or more will be favoured”. Airlines will be given incentives for stationing aircraft in the city as well as additional funds depending on the number of passengers carried. The public call, which was officially launched towards the end of last month, will close on October 25.
Sarajevo Airport has seen its passenger numbers decline 78.3% to 199.910 during the first three quarters of the year. The Covid-19 pandemic has also affected FlyBosnia, which had two aircraft stationed at the airport prior to the global health emergency but has returned both to their owners. Sarajevo Airport believes its recovery will begin next year. “During the 2020/2021 winter season, we don’t expect a notable increase in weekly traffic. A more significant number of airlines are expected to return during the summer of 2021, when we also anticipate the arrival of some new carriers”, the General Manager of Sarajevo Airport, Alan Bajić, said. It is currently served by six carrier, including Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Flydubai, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines.
Here comes Wizz Air.
ReplyDeleteThough I'd rather have FR, make it more diverse.
What about easyjet? :D
DeleteWell that would definitely make our region more diverse... and more exciting as they would make the region much more competitive.
DeleteWould be fun to have FR in BNX, W6 in TZL, U2 in SJJ... and then JU in Trebinje :D
If FR comes it will be really bad news for TZL.
DeleteWell i would not say for the all of region that it has not a diverese market. Just look at coastal airport. In Tivat you have a lot of russian airlines, in Split you have the largerst numbers of scheduled LCC and legacy carrier in the region, for Dubrovnik i can say the same, in Zadar you have a lot of different LCC holding mayority of passangers....
DeleteGuys it's going to be Wizz Air without a doubt. In 2016 Wizz and SJJ management were in talks about Wizz opening around 6 routes to/from SJJ. It was reported here. But the deal fell through and was sabotaged mostly by the Sarajevo Airport management at the time who wanted to keep Sarajevo a star alliance fortress.
DeleteAre you seriously comparing SJJ to the freaking coast? We can fill an A320 in November while they can't. Different worlds.
Delete@10.48
DeleteSpeaking of non-corona times, SPU has winter services on 150 seater ,and bigger, to Rome, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Zagreb... DBV has the same to London, Istanbul, Zagreb, and more, even RJK has EW to DUS, so your post shows you either have no information of what you write about, or you deliberately writing lies.
Yes and we all know both DBV and SPU had 30.000 to 40.000 passengers in winter months. So those A320s were not that full.
DeleteNovember 2019 : SJJ 67000, DBV 57000, SPU 46000. I shall say nothing more.
DeleteThis is a good chance for JU to sneak into Bosnian market.
ReplyDeletenot gonna happen, JU has only A319s that could realistically be used for this and they have 144 seats, not 150.
Delete"Furthermore, carriers that plan to operate aircraft with a capacity of 150 passengers or more will be favoured"
DeleteThis doesnt mean JU or any other airline with capacity less then 150 seats cannot enter in competition. It only says airlines with a capacity more then 150 seats will be favoured.
This can be good chanse for JU, OU and Trade Air because all these airlines got aditional capacity this year.
Yes but knowing Wizz they'll offer two A321s just to blow away any form of competition. Just look at how much money they are burning left and right.
DeleteFor JU thé ability to operate overnight flights would mean more than opening a base in SJJ.
JU won't even apply for this, I'm certain.
DeleteJU should really focus on its current hub BEG and that‘s it, why would they potentially invest elsewhere during the crisis and when they haven’t achieved their original plans yet. I guess they can offer at least more flights and better connections to BEG. SJJ will make smth out of this, no doubt.
Delete+1000 last anon
DeleteReally objective and logical comment.
JU have the past year explored outside of BEG into INI and KVO.
DeleteIts a shame that JU havnt increased capacity to SJJ. Early morning and late evening departures would work ok as well.
They did it because of huge amounts of money given by goverment for "PSO".
DeleteThey didn't do it because of the money, they did it because the government told them so. Since the government wanted that project going through they paid them. Don't see anything controversial in that.
DeleteAmount of money in controversial same as contract under the name PSO.
DeleteThis could be a game changer for Sarajevo Airport
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteFingers crossed.
DeleteWell we can not be assured Sarajevo Airport will overtake LJU next year.
ReplyDeleteIt had just a few hundred passengers less in September compared to LJU.
DeleteFinally! Forget about Air Bosna's, FlyBosnia's, B&H Airlines and allow real airlines to fly.
ReplyDeleteLet's wait and see who they choose. If its an LCC then I would agree. We will see fast paced growth. If it some Balkan legacy forget it.
DeleteIt definitely won't be any ex-Yu national carrier.
DeleteJasmin Bajic from OU could help out his cousin Alan from Sarajevo?
ReplyDeleteMy thought was too that we might see OU set up base
DeleteI think that would be too risky for OU‘s management, SJJ is not worth it ...
DeleteWho knows. Remember they had plans to open SJJ base years ago and they were also considering LJU just a few months ago. They have too many planes. And the CEOs of the airport and airline are really close.
DeleteDidn't Bajic used to work for OU in Sarajevo?
DeleteNo, he didn't work for OU in Sarajevo. But he is from Bosnia. Born in Teslic, educated in Sarajevo. He came to OU and Croatia in 1994.
DeleteOf course he is from Bosnia, like most other competent managers in the public sector in Croatia.
DeleteOU should get preference. They are a full fare airline that will connect SJJ with European capitals and it was the first airline to start flights there after the war.
DeleteI hope OU bases two aircrafts in SJJ, they still have aircraft maintenance and representatives in SJJ.
DeleteThis has Wizz written all over it.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! People in Sarajevo have been waiting for this. Now please make a smart and rational decision.
ReplyDeleteI'm really interested to see how many airlines will apply.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo is missing so many vital links that this will be welcomed. There are no flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Rome... just to mention a few.
ReplyDeleteAnd this was PRE-COVID!
DeleteWatch and learn Fraport!!
ReplyDeleteSarajevo Airport deserves a serious airline to open up a base. Well done on this initiative.
ReplyDeleteNo Airline will take up this offer under the present circumstances. Most lcc's will probably go out of business next year.
ReplyDeleteWith their cash reserves and not tied to any specific market, I doubt it.
DeleteWe will see more government pour millions and billions into perpetual loss-making state airlines, that's a given.
It would be an operational suicide to set up a base in SJJ for the constant bad weather outside the summer. Only Wizz is stupid enough to do it but what about Tuzla then?
ReplyDeleteThey could simply leave Tuzla. There agreement expired anyway and I don't think they are too happy with TZL (in terms of infrastructure development).
DeleteI doubt they will leave Tuzla, even if they start Sarajevo. But they may reduce Tuzla. Tuzla could stay mainly with routes to Scandinavian region.
DeleteFantastic news from SJJ for a change!
ReplyDeleteThis is the smartest decision the management could make.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope for another success story. I think Wizz Air would be best suited.
ReplyDeleteTZL showed that it can be done with a good plan and carefully chosen destinations. Hopefully Sarajevo follows that example.
DeleteI think SKP showed even more ;)
DeleteThe world was on fire and no one could save me but you Wizz Air.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange what desire will make foolish people do
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you
And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you Wizz Air.
That's deep...
Deletewhy not one aircraft in the beginning?
ReplyDeleteIf Wizz comes to SJJ it will be the end of Tuzla (when is their contract with Tuzla ending?)
It has already ended. They were negotiating a new one when Covid started and I don't think they have reached an agreement yet.
DeleteI don't think it will be the end. They have downsized their TZL base due to covid and they might just leave it as is. Tuzla would be most affected if Wizz Air launched BNX or OSI flights not SJJ.
DeleteWhat benefits do SJJ offer to the airline that maybe decides to do it? Lower taxes, 24h open airport?
ReplyDeleteThe tender actually states that the chosen airline must respect the airport's work hours, and they close at midnight. So they won't be open 24 hours.
DeleteObviously, the typical candidates will either be Wizz or Ryan. Although, Volotea doesn't usually do the Balkans, I think a 717 or 319 are perfect aircraft for SJJ to begin with a smaller, but healthier growth. Volotea is really nice as an airline. Spotless and bright cabin, punctual service and very friendly cabin crew.
ReplyDeleteVolotea would be an interesting choice. I wish they were more present in the region. They only fly to Croatia in ex-Yu I think.
DeletePunctual service?
DeleteThey almost got banned from operating flights in Italy due to constant 24h+ delays in 2018.
Volotea and nice in one sentence?? Are you for real? Did you ever fly with them? They are by far the most strictest and rudest airlines I have flown with and those were a few...
DeleteWant a little story: They checked every single hand luggage peace that was bigger than a small shoulder/handbag and if it had I swear 10 grams of overweight they charged every owner I believe it was flat 60ish or 70ish EUR or the choice to leave the bag behind or not fly at all. This way they "caught" I believe around every third person on the plane, so I know they collected a couple of thousand of EUR just right before boarding. (And yes, they were "smart" enough not to do that at check in already, in that case passangers could have registered the bag as check in luggage for a cheaper price, an option they did NOT give at boarding anymore).
And by the way, the amount of extra service you have to pay when you book with them was outstanding. Wizz, Easy and Ryan are almost like legacy compared to them, at least few years ago!
How strange...of course I did. It was a very pleasant experience and found the 717 in an impeccable state.What you just mentioned is simply because people are greedy and do not obey the LLC simple rules. You wanna fly cheap, don´t bring lots of stuff with you. You wanna fly cheap, follow the rules and obey the instructions. 30cm is 30cm, black is black, etc. Plus, SJJ is just the perfect airport that fits their size as they usually do smaller cities or cities.
DeleteFrom where did you fly with them to experience this?
This could finally mean some low fares from SJJ!
ReplyDeleteLondon, Paris, Berlin, Eindhoven, Bratislava, Baden Baden, Dortmund, Hamburg... I think these have potential to work from SJJ.
ReplyDeleteGood for SJJ.
ReplyDeleteTime to break up the Star Alliance cartel at Sarajevo Airport.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThere is a lot of potential from SJJ.
ReplyDelete... and a lot of unserved routes.
DeleteWe need more flights to Europe. Wizz Air would be a good addition.
ReplyDeleteYes please. But any airline is more than welcome
DeleteThey could really boom with any LCC.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know the details of those incentives?
ReplyDeleteFull details are on the Sarajevo Airport website.
DeleteFull details are pretty much in the article. It doesn't say in the document the amount of money that will be given for the incentives.
DeleteWohoooo, finally :)
ReplyDeleteGreat news for Sarajevo. It really needs a major LCC.
ReplyDeleteAll the best of luck to SJJ. Definitely an underrated destination. Hoping to see flights to Scandinavia, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland and Italy.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWell better late than never.
ReplyDeleteWizz Air will definitely come
ReplyDeleteI am certain Wizz would start Eindhoven, Charleroi, Beauvais and maybe Copenhagen.
DeleteI don't understand how Sarajevo is going to finance this. Just the other week the airport said they were slowing down the terminal expansion to save cash.
ReplyDeleteThey also asked for state aid.
DeleteDid they get it?
DeleteI wonder f this is somehow connected with the recent tender issued for an airport concession / privatisation adviser for an airport in B&H (it didn't state which airport it was for though presumably it's SJJ)?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Didn't know about that.
DeleteBecause tiny planes with less than 150 seats during Coronavirus slowdown are not boujee enough to be preferred for slot restricted, bursting-at-the-seams overcrowded global airport hub such as Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteIt is logical that they want the airline to operate a larger plane. Because that means more passengers and translates into more revenue for the airport.
DeleteFollowing that flawed logic they should have asked for a minimum 400 seat widebody, LOL.
DeleteWizz air nije produzila
ReplyDeleteugovor,jer je jedan od glavnih razologa RASVJETA NA AERODROMU,KOJA SE NIJE NAPRAVILA GODINAMA.
Zbog toga odloze iz Tuzle 100%,kriva je uprava,za lose stanje...
Koliko je para Wizz placala Tuzli? Ako nije placala, od kojih je para napraviti? Kako Wizzu godinama nije bio mrak? Ne budi naivan.
DeleteCan't wait to see who applies. I think there will be some interest.
ReplyDeleteHope it's one of the two on the photo ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen will the result be announced?
ReplyDeleteWho's gonna win?