Low cost carrier Wizz Air will be discontinuing its operations to Ljubljana from early February until mid-March at the earliest. Following the suspension of its Charleroi - Ljubljana route last week, the carrier will halt flights on its recently launched London Luton service starting February 4. Wizz Air’s service to the British capital will be restored at the start of the 2022 summer season on March 29, while operations to the Belgian city of Charleroi are due to resume earlier, on March 11, although this is subject to change. The budget airline commenced operations between London and Ljubljana in mid-December 2021 after previously terminating flights in 2019. easyJet will continue to link the two cities, with services to Gatwick Airport, however, frequencies have been reduced to just one per week.
Prior to Covid-19, London was Ljubljana Airport’s busiest route with Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stansted all being served from the Slovenian capital. In 2019, almost 227.000 passengers flew on nonstop flights between Ljubljana and London, while a further 9.672 travellers made their way indirectly via other points in Europe. Stansted was the busiest, with 45% of all of Ljubljana’s London passengers flying to and from the airport. The route was served by easyJet and has since been terminated due to the closure of the airline’s base at Stansted. Luton was Ljubljana’s second busiest London airport until Wizz Air terminated the route in 2019.
Wizz Air performance on London Luton - Ljubljana route
* Service suspended in October 2019
Wizz Air is the second airline to withdraw from the Slovenian market on a temporary basis due to surging Covid-19 cases across the continent and plummeting demand. Brussels Airlines pulled out earlier this month as well, while a number of other carriers, including Lufthansa and Swiss reduced their frequencies. On the other hand, Aeroflot’s subsidiary Rossiya Airlines will commence a one weekly service from St Petersburg next week, while Nordwind Airlines is expected to introduce flights from Moscow in early February. Ljubljana Airport estimates it will handle some 900.000 passengers this year, while pre-covid traffic figures could be reached in 2025.
That lasted long (:rolleyes:)
ReplyDeleteI wonder would things have been different had Wizz been allowed to open a base in Ljubljana as requested.
ReplyDeleteThey probably would because the government would have given subsidies. I still can't believe they rejected them :(
DeleteOf course they rejected them (and they weren't the only one). Each month i have bigger and bigger feeling that govt is really trying to do everything to reduce air connectivity.
DeleteWizzair never considered opening a base in Ljubljana. I don't know where you got this from.
DeleteThey did. Slovenian ministry said they held talks with them but their offer was rejected.
DeleteBecause they probably asked for too much money.
DeleteI cannot imagine Wizz opening a base in Slovenia any time soon, considering the country's very high taxiation and social contribution levels (even for underpaid Wizz pilots it would be over 50% of gross income).
DeleteCouldn't they use foreign crew. Or crew from Croatia?
DeleteCroatia has similar taxation and contributon level on gross income, and is progressive, higher on higher incomes, and likely even higher than in Slovenia, so crew from Croatia is definitely not an option
DeleteOr pilots could be self employed, like most Slovenian pilots (and more and more everyone else), which would reduce the tax to almost zero.
DeleteIf I remember correctly, in Slovenia if you work at least 80% of your capacity for one employer, you must have an employment contract with said employer. Pretty straighforward and how it should be everywhere else to curb this fake self-employment
DeleteFrom 227,000 passengers to London per year in 2019 to one weekly flight in 2022 :(
ReplyDeleteWell it is Covid's fault in this instance. Nothing has changed at LJU.
DeleteThat's the issue. Airports need to change and adjust their policies during Covid to attract and retain airlines.
DeleteIs 900.000 really achievable this year? The management was saying how BA and IB will increase flights this year but neither have.
ReplyDeleteManagement is delusional if they really believe they will get to 900k this year. The best they can get is around 500-550k.
DeleteI still have no idea why Ryanair doesn't start flying from London to LJU.
ReplyDeleteThey got slots from the airport in London last year to fly to Ljubljana but then used them for another route :/
DeleteBecause when you take into account high airport charges, expensive fuel, relatively small market, there are probably more yielding routes around Europe they could deploy their aircraft on.
DeleteSmall market? 227.000 passengers is small market for you? STN (Ryanairs biggest base) had 120.000 passengers to LJU per year. The BS you read here..
Delete@15:07, he said relatively small, not small. He just said there are probably routes with more demand than this one.
DeleteExactly. It's all about how much money they can make compared to other routes.
DeleteFraport is still saving all of their own slots for the rich russian bussiness people who are still waiting in masses to finally come to Ljubljana... Hahaha
DeleteThe list of cancellations and reductions is becoming longer.
ReplyDeleteHoping London goes back to pre Covid levels soon.
ReplyDeleteIt won't be soon that's for sure.
DeleteI'm sure the route will rebound eventually.
ReplyDeleteIt will take time.
DeleteGreat news for LH as they will get all the passengers to fly via FRA. Soon the only airport LJU will be connected is FRA :)
ReplyDeleteAnd INI ;-)
DeleteAnd that’s exactly what Fraport-the owner wants.
DeleteDepressing
ReplyDeleteAnd here I was going they would add routes.
ReplyDelete*thinking
DeleteI don't know why british doesn't serve Lju all year, there are a lot of pax on route to LHR, flights were over 80% full this year.
ReplyDeletePlus they would have transgers to US.
DeleteDid Adria used to fly to London?
ReplyDeleteYes, to London Gatwick.
DeleteNot in the last few years of its existance.
DeleteDidn't they also change many airports? I remember them flying to Southend at one point.
DeleteFrom MBX that is.
DeleteSo easyjet will be only airline with flights to London.
ReplyDeleteThis was an opportunity for British Airways to keep flights from Heathrow over winter.
ReplyDeleteBA suspended Zagreb in January because there is little demand for travel at the moment. Don't think it would be different in Ljubljana.
DeleteDoes anyone know how BA performed last summer in LJU?
DeleteThese figures are very interesting. Can someone explain to be what is the passenger structure? Are these mainly British tourists? Is UK popular in Slovenia? Just wondering. Thanks in advance for explanation :)
ReplyDeleteTourists. Many also go skiing.
DeleteBA also delayed their return to ZAG. Flight are moved to 5th March
ReplyDeleteWonder if easy will increase its fares now?
ReplyDeleteWizz suspending routes, what a surprise...
ReplyDeleteIs there any ski tourism in Slovenia for Brits?
ReplyDeleteNot on a large scale
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