The Slovenian government plans to maintain subsidies for airlines in order to improve the country’s air connectivity in 2023, however, it aims to introduce a number of changes to the scheme. So far, Slovenia has provided limited funds for airlines already flying to the country but now intends on encouraging the launch of new routes. The Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, said focus will be put on regional routes, as well as several others in Europe. Mr Han emphasised Skopje as one of the destinations the government will provide subsidies for. The Macedonian capital was one of Ljubljana’s busiest regional routes prior to the collapse of the former national carrier Adria Airways.
Commenting on the matter, Mr Han said during a visit to Skopje, "We know that with the bankruptcy of Adria Airways, we no longer have such connectivity with Skopje, despite the fact that it was one of the busier routes. Next year, the Ministry for Economy and the Ministry for Infrastructure will subsidise flights across Europe and also across the region. Skopje will be part of it, which is very important for our economy and tourism". Some of Ljubljana’s busiest unserved routes based on indirect traffic data include Bucharest, Copenhagen, Skopje, Helsinki, Berlin, Prague, Stockholm, Barcelona, Hamburg, Tirana and Sofia. Athens, which is also among them, will be introduced by Aegean Airlines next summer.
The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure recently noted, “It is of vital importance for Slovenia to be included in global trends. As an export-oriented economy, we can only compete by being physically present on global markets, which is precisely what regular and reliable airlines provide. Solid air connections are even more important for the tourism sector, as we want to attract as many foreign guests from more distant markets to Slovenia as possible. This segment is also of great importance for congress tourism". It added, “Additional short-term measures need to be implemented, namely subsidising additional new routes and incentivising an increase in frequencies to the most important destinations for our economy and tourism”.
Recent talks between the Slovenian government and several low cost carriers, which were seeking subsidies in order to introduce new routes from Ljubljana, have all ended without an agreement. Talks with Wizz Air were last held on September 28, easyJet on September 9 and with Ryanair on July 8.
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Pay JU to increase to 21.
ReplyDelete+100
Deletewith the current schedule? maybe okay for morning flights if good promo ... but flights are really not full enough to send anything larger than atr at the moment
DeleteMozda da uvesu jos po 1 iz ini i kvo
DeleteAnd the busiest unserved routes are mostly former Adria routes.
ReplyDeleteAlso dispels the myth that all regional routes were just feeders.
DeleteThis is a smart idea. Well smarter than the current subsidy model.
ReplyDeleteAko dobiju bar 5 novih bice dobro
DeleteMay I ask how come there is a KLM plane in the photo. As far as I know, they don't fly to Ljubljana.
ReplyDeleteAs for the subsidies, I guess when you reject Wizz, Ryan and easyJet it is the only way to go.
They were flying this year some days on behalf of Transavia.
DeleteBecause Transavia used KLM B737-700 once a week during the summer.
DeleteThanks. I hope we see KLM flying on its own behalf to LJU soon :)
DeleteI'm surprised with the demand from/to Helsinki.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Finnair left.
DeleteBasically nothing will change. They should have struck a deal with one of the LCCs.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily. Perhaps by targeting particular routes they will attract some of the LCCs.
DeleteI can only see Wizz Air as a potential operator on LJU-SKP route.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed
Delete+1
DeleteThe saga continues.
ReplyDeleteHope it helps with LJU's recovery.
ReplyDeleteGreat. This is much cheaper and more effective than setting up a new airline.
ReplyDeleteEffective? Are you serious?
DeleteIt's not even cheaper if you consider that we gave few millions for literally no improvement of LJU air connectivity in past two years. Not to mention what is the effect of poor connectivity to Slovenian economy.
DeleteI hope this finally means we could see more flights from easyjet and Wizz and maybe even Ryanair comes.
ReplyDeleteThey just rejected all three airlines and you think the peanuts they will offer (like in the existing subsidy program) will somehow attract all sorts of airlines.
Delete4 years too late.
ReplyDeleteThis is really becoming a joke.
ReplyDeleteGood. LJU will bounce back.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahaha
DeleteWell their numbers are improving. They will have almost 1 million passengers. Almost all P2P. That's not so bad considering the circumstances.
DeleteTK is increasing flights next year, Lufthansa too, Air Serbia, Aegean is starting flights... It's not all gloom and doom.
DeleteDid you guys checked figures for LJU and compared them to other airports in region? It's a disaster! Not to mention that for 3 years (since collapse of JP) there is always: "with summer schedule things will improve" and similar BS. If we are honest LJU has not recovered even one route in all those years (even FRA is not covered as it should be), but somehow you see that we are improving. I will say it again, it's a disaster!
DeleteAll this fuss for a route or two, meanwhile Ljubljana airport has entered some kind of Influencer era and is promoting their restaurant instead of the routes on their social media
ReplyDeleteI noticed that. They also haven't promotoed new Aegean route (haven't even announced it). Maybe you need to have a separate agreement with Fraport Slovenia for marketing?
Deleteprobably. they most often do TK and AF on insta ...
Deletethe influencer highlight of the month is probably the holiday video - boarding trade air, taking of with airfrance haha
Deletedo you think it would help if the strategic board consisted of Vegans???
Deletehahahaha anon 1653 sure, then not only marketing would boost, Slovenia would get a new airline because the PM would be so happy environmentally-conscious people run the airport... lmao I'll see myself out haha
DeleteFocus on LCC
ReplyDeleteTheir focus is on Cartel.
DeleteTrue
DeleteOf course, with no gastoz around the world and very limited tourist capacity! Smart move!
DeleteI don't know where you are getting this that Slovenia has limited tourist capacity. It has quite a lot of tourists. LCC presence would further develop that.
DeleteHave you even checked tourist segmentation in Slovenia? Nights of stay for example? It's very different to those who goes to Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Spain...That's why those countries are more interesting to LCC then Slovenia. We could have more flights of course, but to be dreaming that any LCC will place aircraft of two at LJU, no way...
DeleteBut we know now that both Wizz and Ryanair wanted to base aircraft in LJU in return for some subsidies. Both were rejected.
DeleteDo you know how much were they asking for? Because I know that they would base aircraft on the moon for right amount of money.
DeleteRiga as a gateway to Northern Europe? Please.
ReplyDeleteWho mentioned Riga?
DeleteNobody. This is a problem.
DeleteThey haven't even covered some major European capitals like Madrid, Copenhagen, Rome, Prague... Riga is probably not a priority at the moment.
DeleteAirBaltic - please
DeleteInstead of wasting so much money on subsidising foreign carriers, why not set up their own flag carrier, at least the money will be spent on themselves instead of lining the pockets of other countries!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAgree!
DeleteAbsolutely every airline has complained about Fraport's high fees at LJU. Why are they so big?
ReplyDeleteThat's what you get when you SELL the airport. Not give it up for concession like 99% of the world has done but actually sell it. Interestingly it is the same people who so successfully sold Adria. You really wonder why they are not in jail and instead they are in government.
Deletethey are having a great time flying falcon instead of Adria with the rest of the peasants
DeleteSupport domestic airline Amelia, for example route Faaa Tahiti International to Bora Bora they are operating. Prices on the route are astronomical and could use subsidies.
ReplyDeleteSolinair came with a very clear plan and vision to set up a national airline for Slovenia. They were also turned down by the brains trust at the ministries.
Deletemoney must go for rail not aviation mentality
DeleteOh wow mainly JP former routes that may be LCC routes. ZAG already took advantage. Obviously there is room for P2P traffic in LJU but LH won't allow it.
ReplyDeleteAnd more and more neighboring airports are taking advantage. Trieste, Klagenfurt, Graz...
DeleteStop with that LC bull…t, Low cost carriers need huge numbers of passengers or/and many routes/frequencies. Slovenia can’t provide neither. Customers pool is too small. Bedides, 150 km in any direction there are low cost airlines at every airport, so why bother. There are only two sulutions: streamlined and well run national carrier or heavy subsides to LCC mafia.
Deletelevels of understanding: LH cartel & LCC mafia
DeleteBut people on here said that getting rid of JP was the best thing to happen to the airport and that others would rush to step in.
ReplyDeleteLetting go of JP or not having an immediate alternative for it is one of the biggest mistakes in recent history in Slovenia.
Delete+1 Adria is surely missed @SKP believe me
DeleteStill hoping OU have not given up plans basing an aircraft in LJU.
ReplyDeleteForget it. The government rejected both OU and JU.
DeleteWhat I find most interesting in everything is Fraport. They are far from a poor operator and have done very well at other airports they manage. But in Slovenia they seem to be completely disinterested in developing traffic. I can't believe that the Slovenian market is of no interest to any airline considering the number of secondary nearby airports with almost the same or greater traffic. Adding one airline per year (last year Flydubai, this year none, next year Aegean) is far from enough especially when at the same time you loose airlines or routes (Iberia, Finnair, Charleroi...)
ReplyDeleteFair observation. Maybe because they own LJU compared to the other airports where they are concessionaires and have to answer to the government.
DeleteFraport got state financial assistance for new terminal, financial assistance in attracting airlines, is against national carrier... They have a great deal in Slovenia.
DeleteVery true yet very strange. They recently announced the expansion of VAR and especially BOJ that is already quite packed in summer,
Deletehttps://seenews.com/news/fraport-twin-star-to-invest-over-70-mln-euro-in-bulgarias-coastal-airports-805665
They managed to station 3 Wizzair aircraft in VAR and recently manged to resume BEG flights.
SKG is receiving lots of new destinations in 2023 and AYT is booming. The Greek airports are also growing all the time. It is only LJU that is stagnating in their entire group.
eh it's okay, there is not enough staff planned to hire for S23... who will handle more flights and airlines??
DeleteNo another JP please. Slovenia is not that rich to feed all the parasites that were putting big money in their pockets and left huge debts to be paid by others.
ReplyDeleteFind a solution for Skopje, few other destinations in the summer season and that's is.
Everything else, of interests, is already covered by low cost from nearby airports or demand is not that strong that is worth a hassle.
The idea is not to let nearby airports outside of your country profit. Instead you could be getting revenue from those tourists and passengers.
Delete@10:07:
DeleteThe parasites you are referring to are actually running the government now. Bostjancic was a former CEO of Adria. Don't worry, you'll be paying other debts now and Adria's will seem like a drop in the ocean. Hope you're still dancing.
Market will take of itself they said...
ReplyDeleteAnd it did.
DeleteI wonder if things would have been the same or different for LJU had covid not come along.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better but still wouldn't be anywhere near to pre-Adria bankruptcy traffic or connectivity.
DeleteWhich new airline could Ljubljana realistically get?
ReplyDeleteeurowings
DeleteGreat news for Ljubljana Airport.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is good news for Ljubljana Airport which needs more destinations and airlines.
DeleteI'm hoping Vueling will start flights from Spain if Iberia no longer plans on returning to LJU.
ReplyDeleteVueling already flew to Ljubljana, as well as Iberia, and it didn't work out.
DeleteAdria also failed on flights to Spain.
DeleteTrue, but times have changed a lot since then. Go on any Venice-Madrid flight in summer. It is filled with Slovenians.
DeleteI think Spain is underserved from Ljubljana and I also think there is potential for more flights to the Scandinavian market
ReplyDeleteIt's like we are being held hostage to the EU rules. Yes, they are applied equally but Slovenia does not have the deep pockets of France or Germany to bend the rules the way they do to support a national airline. On the other hand both JU and Turkish are able to provide assistance to their national carriers and flourish.
ReplyDeletelooks like Wizz is gonna get cash for SKP on both ends of the route
ReplyDeleteI noticed that Swiss is starting to send a320s instead of a220s so maybe 2x daily is coming soon?
ReplyDeleteit's already 2x daily on some days
DeleteLJU-SKP:
ReplyDeleteWizz and Croatia Airlines are candidates in that order
Manchester or Liverpool, please.
ReplyDeleteSlo govt should kick out fraport asap.
ReplyDeleteshould but no can do
DeleteExactly. They can't do it with the contract they have with them. If it were a concession agreement would have been a different story.
DeleteKLM for Amsterdam, SAS to Copenhagen and Stockholm, Vueling to Barcelona Croatian to Skopje, Eurowings to Hamburg, Easyjet to Berlin, Aer Lingus to Dublin, ITA to Rome, Jet2 to Manchester, Austrian to Vienna... if one of them happens I would be extreamly suprised
ReplyDelete