Ljubljana Airport mulls becoming hub for charter flights

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is recovering in line with global trends, with talks taking place over the introduction of new destinations and the possibility of turning the Slovenian capital into a charter flights hub. The General Manager of operator Fraport Slovenija, Babett Stapel, noted that while the war in Ukraine will have some impact on Ljubljana Airport’s performance this year, pre-Covid traffic levels should be reached in 2026. “We expect 880.000 passengers this year, which is only 15.000 less than last year's initial forecast. This year we will have 104% more passengers than last year, but still 49% less than in 2019. However, the number of travellers will double, so passenger traffic is recovering. We're going in the right direction. I do not expect for us to achieve the results from 2019 next year. I wish we could, but due to high fuel prices, war and uncertainty, I estimate that we will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2026, that is, we will handle 1.8 million or 1.9 million passengers”, Ms Stapel told the daily “Delo”. She added the airport was expecting to handle some 70.000 passengers from the Russian and Ukrainian markets this year, with the war also resulting in the suspension of Finnair’s seasonal service from Helsinki, which is likely to be restored in 2023. However, these losses should, for the most part, be substituted by an increase in frequencies by existing carriers maintaining flights to the Slovenian capital.

The airport is currently in talks with airlines already serving Ljubljana over the introduction of new routes. On the other hand, Iberia, which has suspended services to Slovenia this year, is expected to make a comeback next summer. Ms Stapel noted the Spanish carrier’s decision was made due to a shortage in available capacity. Furthermore, Fraport Slovenija is also considering turning the airport into a hub for charter flights. Charters accounted for over 20% of Ljubljana’s passenger traffic last year, with the share expected to grow in 2022. “I would like to review and evaluate with our employees some old ideas that have not been effective in the past. I have one specific thing in mind. I would like to create a hub for charters at Ljubljana Airport. We are already talking about it and this year we will analyse whether this is a potential that could differentiate us from others. Last year, we handled a fifth of all passengers on charters, compared to 11% the year before. This year we can further increase these numbers”.

For the time being, Ljubljana Airport’s primary goal remains to get the public flying again. “The first and most important thing is recovery and to get passengers back. The future challenge will be to deal with rising inflation, prices and costs. During the pandemic, we reduced variable costs as much as we could. We will have to go through a second and third crisis. I don't even count the crises anymore: the collapse of Adria Airways, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the fall in economic growth ... But we are moving forward”, the General Manager said. Commenting on the possibility of a new Slovenian government setting up a national carrier, Ms Stapel noted, “I cannot decide whether Slovenia or the state should establish a national carrier. However, I can say that if it is established, it will be more than welcome on our part. We support any development that is sustainable and increases connectivity”.

Responding to criticism that Ljubljana Airport’s recovery is lagging behind its regional rivals, Ms Stapel said, “We do not have mass tourism, diaspora travel and domestic flights, so we should not compare apples and pears. Our recovery is fully in line with the recovery in international traffic. If you compare apples to pears, you will say we are slow. If you liken us to comparable airports, and not, for example, airports in the Mediterranean that are tourist hotspots, we are doing pretty well”.