Ljubljana Airport has seen growing demand for nonstop flights to cities across Germany, its biggest market, over the past few years but currently boasts services only to Frankfurt, operated by Lufthansa. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the German carrier also maintained operations to Munich, while easyJet flew between Berlin and Ljubljana. In the years prior to its collapse, Adria Airways, in addition to Frankfurt and Munich, served Dusseldorf and Hamburg. In 2017, Eurowings considered introducing flights from Dusseldorf to Ljubljana and in 2018 organised a public vote for the launch of new routes, with the Slovenian capital being shortlisted, but ultimately it was not selected. In the last few years, there were an average of over 140.000 passengers flying between Ljubljana and Frankfurt, with exception to 2019 due to Adria’s collapse, and 2020 due to Covid, while there were over 80.000 travellers on an annual basis between Ljubljana and Munich.
Ljubljana - Frankfurt - Ljubljana route passenger performance by year
Ljubljana - Munich - Ljubljana route passenger performance by year
Despite the recent slump, the German market holds a lot of potential for Ljubljana Airport and figures show that airlines did not fully utilise the travel potential between the two countries. During the pre-pandemic 2019, easyJet handled 38.631 passengers between Berlin and Ljubljana. However, OAG data shows a further 7.268 travellers flew indirectly between the two capitals by transferring via Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna or Zurich. Adria Airways maintained flights to Dusseldorf during the 2018/2019 winter season up until late March of 2019. During those almost four months in 2019 it handled 2.045 passengers, while there were a further 6.378 travellers flying indirectly between the two cities over the duration of the year.
Ljubljana Airport’s General Manager, Zmago Skobir, previously said that Northern Germany holds great potential for flights from Ljubljana and that more must be done to secure services to this region. Data indicates that almost 11.000 passengers flew indirectly between Ljubljana and larger cities in Germany’s north such as Hamburg, Bremen and Hanover. Overall, over 35.000 travellers connected through other airports in order to reach either Ljubljana or cities in Germany. With Lufthansa exclusively operating international flights out of Frankfurt and Munich, Eurowings has the greatest chance of introducing services to the Slovenian capital from a secondary German city if the airport’s management is successful in attracting the low cost airline.
Indirect passenger traffic between Ljubljana and cities in Germany in 2019
Ideal for Eurowings
ReplyDeleteI still have no idea why easyjet will not resume BER.
ReplyDeleteMe too. What was the issue?
DeleteBerlin just doesn't seem to have worked for anyone. Adria also tried before.
DeleteYeah, but 38k pax isn't small number.
DeleteAs most developed ex Yugoslav country I don't think that neither Slovenian government or Slovenian public will be satisfied with status quo airport situation as is today. I believe that Slovenian's will turn both Ljubljana and Maribor and make of them engine for Slovenian tourism and economy. If people can't come and go then your economy can't grow. If Zaev has turned situation then I believe Janša can do much much more.
DeleteYou would think that with Fraport being a German company there would be more flights to Germany.
ReplyDeleteIts because Fraport does not care about how many flights are from LJU. For them cargo is more important.
DeleteIt took 10 years to get Dubai, so I give another 10 years for another German destination.
ReplyDeleteLJU should do much more to attract low cost airlines. The choice from Ljubljana is bad.
ReplyDeleteWith FR in Zagreb, I don't expect any LCCs coming to Ljubljana.
DeleteMichael O’Leary once said, “If Ljubljana Airport were to lower its taxes Ryanair would surely return to Slovenia”. Big missed oppurtunity that will really hurt LJU with Ryanair in ZAG. Bravo Fraport!
DeleteSlovenia is the last EU country that is not served by Ryanair.
DeleteThat's acctualy something to be proud of acctualy ��♂️
DeleteNot being served by one of the largest two airlines in Europe is something to be proud of?
DeleteThe reason why Adria's flights to CGN did not work was the far to high fares! Nobody would pay 400 Euros for a return ticket between Cologne and Ljubljana in Economy class.
DeleteThere is significant passenger flow between Slovenia and Germany.
ReplyDeleteYes but the majority of that passenger flow is constrained between Frankfurt and Munich.
Delete1. Cologne
ReplyDelete2. Stuttgart
3. Berlin
4. Dusseldorf
5. Hamburg
That is usually the pattern by Eurowings when launching flights from Germany to another country.
Adria cancelled Cologne before it even started flights there. Don't think it can work.
DeleteThe list really isn't correct. For example they wanted to start flights to Ljubljana from Dusseldorf.
DeleteActually the biggest surprise for me is Dresden, ahead of Cologne or Stuttgart on the list, I mean Dresden, who is flying to Dresden and why?
DeleteDresden is a cultural capital of Europe. The art museums are as good and rich as in London and Paris.
DeleteI know it sounds strange and people would never think of that.
But most are totally blown away if they visit.
Definitely one of the most underrated smaller cities in Europe!
Let's first get Lufthansa to resume Munich.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteMunich will resume next summer.
DeleteHopefully. It was first supposed to resume this summer.
DeleteSkobir was fired
ReplyDelete?
DeleteSource??
DeleteWith 17% of pre-pandemic traffi and just like 15 destinations, i'm not surprised.
DeleteJust saw the news, Skobir got replaced by Babett Stapel!
DeleteFormally not fired, succeeded is the term. He will stay as a consultant until end of 2022, then probably retire.
DeleteWhere do most Slovenians live in Germany?
ReplyDeleteHamburg could do well. It's Germany's second city and the entire north gravitates towards it.
ReplyDeleteLjubljana is underserved from most European markets, not just Germany.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Ljubljana's busiest unserved route?
ReplyDeleteSeems to be ZAG :)
DeleteIf I remember correctly from an article here it is Bucharest
DeleteNever would have thought OTP would be number 1!
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/02/bucharest-remains-ljubljanas-busiest.html
DeleteRenault - Dacia business connections
Delete^What does that have to do with Slovenia?
DeleteSeriously starting to think about getting together investors, lease a few atr's and 2 e90s, and set up a few flights. Numbers look promising, subsidies are there, and charter market is powerful
ReplyDeleteWould be nice
Delete"investors"...
DeleteNobody so far made a case for Adria 2.0 to be operating at a net zero, let alone making a profit, which investors generally want to see.
Netting zero via just regular flights is almost impossible, it's about gov wanting to cover the costs (for example like LOT does it with 2 e70s being converted to gov planes), and/or hitting the right way with charters like Air Serbia is now.
DeleteMaking a hybrid between Trade Air business model and scheduled airlines works on calcualtions if the gov is willing to subsidize 10€ per empty seat
Wake up Slovenia and drop the unfruitful talk about the new national carrier, Star Alliance connectivity, Croatia Airlines, LOT, Trade Air, Air Serbia, Eurowings and so on. LJU can be saved only by Wizzair, and only they can quickly and easily launch routes to the UK, Spain, Germany, Scandinavia and Med. There’s so much going on in the in the surrounding markets that you can easily start to convert your new shining terminal into a cargo warehouse.
DeleteWe need more flights to all markets
ReplyDeleteGermany has conquered Balkana for such a long time. Slovenia is no exception. From the Trieste border all the way to Atina. Welcome to the real world, LJU.
ReplyDeleteDanke Deutschland 😃
DeleteHope we can see Berlin reinstated soon.
ReplyDelete