Pristina Airport is aiming for the resumption of long haul flights, having recently completed the extension of its runway and launching a new incentive program targeting services to far-away destinations, among others. “We are using every opportunity to expand our route network or even double or triple services to existing destinations. Surely, with the runway extension, we will have heavier aircraft landing at Pristina Airport. Each airport would like to have long haul flights. Our diaspora is not only based in Europe but also in the United States, Australia and other countries. By having this runway extension and upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS), we believe that we will possibly have long haul flights as well. We used to have services to JFK Airport years ago”, the airport said recently. Its runway has been extended by some 500 metres.
The airport has also launched a new incentive program between 2022 and 2024, which aims to encourage carriers to introduce long haul services to the city. “The purpose of the incentive program is to stimulate direct long haul routes from Pristina Airport, expanding connectivity, and providing more options for passengers”, it said. Long haul routes eligible for the financial stimulus are those operated by an aircraft with maximum take off weight equal to or more than 55.000 kilograms, as well as nonstop flights, operating at least twice per week and those running for at least two years. In return, the airport is offering a 100% landing discount, 50.000 euros for marketing and a 20% discount on handling fees.
During last year, which was still severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, New York was the most popular far away destination for travellers bound to and from Pristina. It was followed by Chicago, Washington and Toronto. Scanderbeg Air, a short-lived tour operator that contracted with Sky King Airlines, maintained two weekly flights between Pristina and New York with a Boeing 767-200ER aircraft from June to September in 2009. Ever since, there have been no long haul flights. Pristina Airport's General Manager, Haldun Firat Kokturk, previously said the US city continues to be a target destination.
Considering the size of the diaspora in the US it would make sense for some seasonal flights at least. Plus it could attract passengers from Macedonia and Albania.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to Scanderbeg Air, American Trans Airways (ATA) also operated 2 weakly seasonal flights between New York and Pristina. They had very good loads and planned to continue the flights but they went bankrupt. I think their is definitely potential for this route on a seasonal basis.
ReplyDeleteYes, those flights started in 2007. Aircraft was full with Albanian and Macedonian passengers and there were some from Montenegro too.
DeleteATA had a corporate agreement with the US Army, they didn't fly to PRN because of diaspora but rather because of Bondsteel. They also flew around the Middle East wherever US army decided to terrorize local populations.
DeleteThe routing was JFK-Pristina-Tirana-Pristina-JFK.
DeleteDidn't the Scanderbeg Air flights operate via Liege?
DeleteThey did. And they also continued on to Tirana after Pristina.
DeleteEverything about the trip was terrible except for the loads.
DeleteWhy did Scanderbeg Air stop flying JFK - Pristina?
DeleteThey went belly up
DeleteThose are some generous incentives.
ReplyDeleteEvery airport has incentives, except for LJU. Bravo Fraport!
DeleteAnd how do you know lju doesn't have this. Maybe they just don't want for public to know...
DeletePlus Babet is rather talking about charter base wich is immposible without Tui or condor, than talking about haveing national carrier.
So even if they have this, she won't talk about it :/
Unfortunately the BA flights don't offer connections to JFK in either direction.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming most of PRN traffic to the US handled by Turkish Airlines.
ReplyDeleteWhy not Paris Charles de Gaulle first? Or Amsterdam?
ReplyDeleteBecause they have fewer passengers than New York if it is the busiest unserved route.
DeleteBravo Rvacka! For another wasted opportunity and another lost transfer market. Big one.
ReplyDeleteThis will likely happen when A321XLR comes into operation as it's perfect for these type of markets. AA had previously expressed interest in expanding in the Balkans once A321XLR are certified (although I believe they will initially aim to serve Romania and Bulgaria).
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, United has the largest number of European destinations among all US carriers and they are still looking to expand in the coming years. Another alternative is if the carriers did a W pattern type of flight with a wide body. So there is definitely potential and delighted with PRN having invested in extending the runway.
I agree, Airbus A321XLR can make it fly nonstop JFK-PRN-JFK = 4022 nautical miles 👍
DeleteA321XLR can fly maximum = 4700 nautical miles.
Man, PRN is sure not joking eh. Those guys have serious plans similar to TIA and the effect is more than obvious. Now, imagine if Kosovars did not require visas for Europe and beyond.
ReplyDeleteMost traffic to PRN is gasto related.
DeleteIt's surprising that Lufthansa does not fly to Pristina. They could easily pack passengers to the US via Frankfurt.
ReplyDeleteLow yields.
DeleteLH has very high costs, that's why they don't fly to SKP either.
DeleteHello Anon 11:10 ! What do you mean by "LH has very high costs" ?
Delete11:10 - I dnk why you always think SKP must be included in every destination mentioned on this blog, dude....
DeleteTirana seems to be very good at attracting business. Amazed that they've kept reasonable figures even during covid times. Can really see long haul flights from Kosovo becoming a reality. A North American flight would be a good option for nearby cities too.
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me that the PRN Turkish Management has intentionally delayed JFK flights for years to feed Turkish Airlines and use IST as a transfer gate instead.
ReplyDeleteOr simply no one is interested to fly long haul towards destination like Prishtina?
DeleteAs the article clearly states, JFK is the first unserved destination out of PRN. Stasitically there are roughly 50.000 PAX to the U.S.
DeleteIt is only logical they would look into it.
So? You think any US airline will be interested when they hear for these poor numbers? Of course not.
DeleteGiven the catchment area and potential PRN has, I think they should and will give it a try, sooner or later.
DeleteNumber 1. there is no "potential". Having only 50.000 passengers towards all of US should not be considered as potential.
DeleteNumber 2. US airlines are going to give a chance to PRN same as they did to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Bucharest, Tirana, Sofia, Yerevan, Chisinau etc.
15:32 LJU has big chances for NYC route. Together with Croatia, they do not need visas to go to America. But, it seems Slovenes prefer London compared to Nueva York.
DeleteFingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteMost people from Kosovo/Albania living in the US fly once in every 3 or 4 years because prices are high. If there was a nonstop route prices would probably go down and there would be more visits.
ReplyDeleteAmerican Airlines or Delta Airlines definitely should open service round trip non-stop from JFK to PRN which also connects flights from/to other destinations in the the US to/from Pristina.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way they are coming to Pristina, reality check needed.
DeleteI'm surprised that there are quite a few people travelling between Pristina and Washington DC. Is there an Albanian population living there?
ReplyDeleteAll flights to US market are connected with Austrian Airlines or Turkish Airlines .There is no market for direct flights from Prishtina to US ,exempt maybe seasonal June-September/twice a week .
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteFairytales like SJJ and ''Eastern Airways'' or whatever it was called
ReplyDeleteEastern Airways had tickets on sale.
DeleteFantastic achievement
DeleteIf it was up to some commentators here, PRN should be allowed to have only a handful of flights not further than Istanbul or Zurich 😅
ReplyDeleteBut when they comment of their own cities and villages, Toronto, Johannesburg, Tokio and whatnot, are all viable options.
Lets make a disctinction between thinking that PRN should only be allowed to have flights towards few destinations (no one said that ever) and being realistic about potential for US airlines.
DeleteI think that there is a lot of cultural bias and xenophobia against the albanian people in these comments. 1/3 of all Albanians live in foreign states. New York has 60,000 Albanians living there. I do not understand what people mean when they say there is no potential.
DeleteBest option for JFK-TIA-PRN-TIA-JFK
ReplyDeleteYes, I also agree this route will be perfect.
DeleteEx-Yu airports should try and get linked to bigger hubs that can offer onward connections rather than chase these long haul routes. I remember reading last year a connectivity report here showing that ex-Yu cities have quite bad hub connectivity in comparison to the rest of Europe.
ReplyDeleteWho are they kidding? There is no market there.
ReplyDeleteKosovo. Same passengers are flying
ReplyDeleteWhat ever destination you add . Number will same and will be increased as population needs only .
Not surprised to see all these negative comments for direct flights to US from PRN. There is Kosovo diaspora in US, same as local passengers and flights can be used by Macedonian and Albanian passengers. Not to forget there is US military presence in Kosovo, who travels regularly via PRN. Two weekly flight I believe can operate very well.
ReplyDeleteEurowings based in Pristina should make agreement and start non-stop flights PRN-JFK-PRN as soon as possible and make money from US diaspora 2022. Don’t miss out, good luck 👍
ReplyDeletePo Kari Po
ReplyDeletehttps://indeksonline.net/ashna-ka-nje-njoftim-te-rendesishem-per-perdorimin-e-sistemit-navigacional-te-aterrimit/
ReplyDelete