Carriers from the Gulf are continuing to show interest in launching services to Sarajevo with Bahrain’s Gulf Air being the latest to schedule flights, joining Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, Flynas and Flydubai. Sarajevo Airport has confirmed that Gulf Air will commence a two weekly charter operation from Manama to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital starting next Saturday. It is in line with earlier talks held between the country and the carrier. In addition, Saudi Arabian Airlines has shown interest in commencing flights to Sarajevo, as well as Flynas in launching services from Dammam, in addition to its existing Riyadh and Jeddah operation. However, a recent decision not to lift visa requirements for Saudi nationals entering Bosnia and Herzegovina has deterred Saudi airlines from announcing new flights. On the other hand, residents from other Gulf countries can enter the Balkan state visa free.
Another Gulf carrier from a country that is presently not linked to Bosnia is also considering operations to Sarajevo this summer. The city is being heavily promoted in the Gulf as a destination for middle class families looking at cheaper alternatives to Western Europe, fuelling point to point travel from the region during the summer months for those wanting to escape the heat. As a result, demand is highly seasonal. This summer there is additional interest due to entry bans and quarantine requirements imposed by the majority of European countries for Gulf residents and nationals.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has the greatest demand for flights from the Gulf out of any other state in the former Yugoslavia, almost all of which is being generated by tourists during the summer. Sarajevo Airport’s busiest unserved route in the Middle East is Kuwait City, followed by Muscat and Tel Aviv. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines have been the big winners, jointly handling 64% of the Sarajevo - Middle East indirect traffic flow. They are followed by Flydubai with a 20% share. Meanwhile, FlyBosnia which had plans to maintain flights from Sarajevo to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain this summer, has so far only scheduled services to Riyadh, which are due to commence tomorrow.
wow well done Sarajevo
ReplyDeleteWhy so much demand from the middle east?
DeleteMaybe read the article...
DeleteWhat a bad decision by Qatar Airways to end flights to Sarajevo.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI'm sure they calculated it. The yields probably weren't there to begin with.
DeleteSarajevo performing better than pre-covid :D
ReplyDeleteMakes sense since most people from Gulf can't enter majority of Europe with exception to a couple of countries allowing all vaccinated travelers.
ReplyDeletePity about the visas. If Saudi was to launch flights we would have three national airlines from the Gulf flying to Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteThis is nice and I would like to see even more flights to Sarajevo
ReplyDeleteWhat could be the airline that is thinking about starting flights to SJJ?
ReplyDeleteOf those countries that dont need visas, only Qatar and Oman lack flights to SJJ
DeleteGood news for Sarajevo.
ReplyDeleteI am really hoping Qatar Airways comes back.
ReplyDeleteMe too. But they were not performing that great before the pandemic either. Hopefully the reopening of former markets to them like Saudi Arabia and UAE pushes them to stay in Sarajevo. Let's see.
DeleteThis is a great source to get more passengers and profit on this wave of tourists coming from the ME region.
ReplyDeleteWow. 2021 could be a very good year for Sarajevo.
ReplyDeleteIronic isn't it
DeleteIt's interesting. I think the market will be oversaturated with so many seats available from the Middle East to SJJ.
ReplyDeleteDuring the summer all flights are packed but in the winter that's not the case. That's why all the flights are seasonal.
DeleteWhat about flights from Iran? Any plans for these to start?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Iranians are even allowed to leave Iran at this moment because of the pandemic. Plus they need visas.
DeleteMahan Air flights to BEG are still listed for this summer on Flightradar
Delete^it's not happening
DeleteFlyBosnia really missed their opportunity in the last couple of years, pre-Covid of course.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteWhat is FlyBosnia doing now?? They have a plane they got recently sitting in Sarajevo.
My bet, that there is no certainity who is who within office, not speaking about of outside strategy
DeleteFlybosnia should try to do charters from Belgrade and Zagreb.
DeleteThey have good contacts to tour operators in the Middle East and are thus able to create demand even from the other side.
Tel Aviv is third on the list and yet no flights. Hopefully some Israeli airline considers it.
ReplyDeleteOnly ex-Yu city that has flights to three destinations in the UAE :D
ReplyDeleteGood for the struggling tourism industry.
ReplyDeleteFly dubai has most operations to Sarajevo out of all ex-Yu cities. Would not be surprised if we see Emirates here before other cities in the region.
ReplyDeleteWould not be surprised if we eventually see Emirates in Sarajevo.
DeleteGreat news for Sarajevo airport.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that Sarajevo is attracting serious players from Gulf. Before these flights used to be operated by some no name airlines. Now we have the likes of Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air. Hope Saudia follows.
ReplyDeleteMiddle East Airlines from Beirut also used to fly seasonally to Sarajevo. Anyone know what happened with that?
DeleteThose flights were for Christian pilgrims going to Medjugorje. Eventually the tour operator chose Croatia Airlines to fly Mostar-Beirut during the summer so MEA flights ended.
DeleteWhat equipment did MEA use to Sarajevo?
DeleteA320
DeleteThanks. Would be nice if they came back and started scheduled flights.
Deletewow TK and Pegasus are killing it. Handling over 60% of mid east market. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteStunning livery on that Gulf Air bird.
ReplyDeleteWhy are all these airline so inactive in other ex-Yu markets? I'm sure there could be demand generated if they tried other cities too.
ReplyDeleteIt is not working like that. They start with some line because of statistic of passengers who travel between these cities.
Delete"with Bahrain’s Gulf Air being the latest to schedule flights, joining Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air Arabia, Flynas and Flydubai."
ReplyDeletenow that's an exotic line up at a European airport :D
And??
DeleteAnd what? I just said it is exotic.
DeleteI would love to see Air France, British Airways, KLM, Transavia, easyjet, Ryan or at least one of those. People here in Bosna would have much more use of them.
DeleteEven the flight Lufthansa has from Frankfurt isn't scheduled so you can make any transatlantic connections back and forth. And as you said, AF, BA, KLM are definitely missing
DeleteWhy people in BiH would have much more use of them?
DeleteI am working in Tourism and it doesn't metter for me from where is guest.
This is great. Now there are finally flights to Europe thanks to Wizz Air and there are the Middle East airlines for Gulf tourists. Win win.
ReplyDeleteGood for Sarajevo. I think the tourist board should work on promoting Sarajevo as a year round destination to Gulf travelers. Because in winter demand drops significantly while in summer it explodes.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Bosnia is one of the few countries in the world (and probably the only in Europe) without a central tourism board or authority.
Delete10:30 - Exactly. Government should star with promotion of country to in all those countries.
DeleteRemember one year they didn't had money for Oslo Tourism Fair and owner of one agency did it from private sources with help of his friend from Norway.
People in B&H should vote for politicians who see opportunities in Tourism.
Would be interesting to see what the premium travel demand on these flights.
ReplyDeleteToday Air Arabia sent A321LR to Sarajevo! Demand is exceeding expectations.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteDo we already have some numbers?
DeleteSvaka čast Sarajevo, a mislim da sada ljudi iz BiH trebaju da što više promovišu državu na Bliskom istoku, samo jak marketing i niske cijene aviokarata su pun pogodak. BRAVO SARAJEVO I SRETNO
ReplyDeleteBosnia doesnt want to lift visas for Saudi nationals?
ReplyDeleteThats a good cause for the Serbian government to do so.
If Indians can travel visa free to Serbia, Saudis should can too.
This would boost Belgrade airport immensely.
The HDZ party blocked lifting visas for Saudis earlier this month.
DeleteHDZ are idiots but still Saudis will become visa free at some time.
DeleteNeighbouring Croatia has to look at Brussels and EU for lifting visas but Serbia is free to do so.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteUnfortunately B&H and Serbia are not free to do that because they are candidates for EU. When some B&H politicians talked about lifting visas from Saudies, EU representatives in B&H judge that move and stop it.
DeleteWell that's good news for tourism, and the airport off course :)
ReplyDeleteThe demand is there.
ReplyDelete