The Slovenian government has compiled a list of routes it plans to subsidise out of Ljubljana Airport in a bid to bolster connectivity. The list of destinations is to be revealed shortly, after which a public call will be issued to select airlines willing to operate the services. The country’s Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, said, “Next week we expect to adopt a program where these destinations will be determined. We are waiting and hoping that we will also get the consent of the European Commission as soon as possible, because according to European rules we need their approval". Since the subsidies will constitute state aid, the executive branch of the EU must give it the all-clear.
The Slovenian government has adopted a bill allocating 5.6 million euros per year for three years in subsidies for airlines to launch new routes and boost frequencies on existing services. The incentives will amount to up to 50% of the carrier’s airport fees in Slovenia. This is to address complaints, made primarily by budget airlines, that charges at Ljubljana Airport are too high. The government initially wanted to finalise the process by the start of the 2023 summer season, which begins on March 26, however, this now seems unlikely. “The objective of the proposed bill is to improve Slovenia’s air connectivity by preserving existing and promoting the establishment of new regular air routes to and from Slovenia”, Ms Bratušek said.
Commenting on the government’s ongoing study whether to establish a new national carrier, the Minister noted, “There is a lot of data and a lot of things that need to be checked because I think we have a duty to tell our citizens how much it will cost our country in the end if we decide to set up a new airline”. She added, “This study will also take into account the fact that Slovenia is poorly connected, its effects on the economy, tourism, etc. In short, we want to have very clear data in front of us before deciding, because we think this is the only way a responsible choice can be made”.
Is it known how many routes will be subsidised?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the airline interest, I assume not a lot. 50% of LJU airport fees is still marginal. But maximum is around 10, based on the budget available.
DeleteGiven the money available very few
DeleteFinally! Let's hope they chose wisely
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see which destinations they chose.
ReplyDeleteBrussels, Bruxelles, Bruselj, Brisel, ...
DeleteWhich routes are most needed?
ReplyDeleteAmsterdam, vienna, skopje, cph
DeleteFingers crossed or doigts croisés as the French say. Let's hope the new destinations not overlap with the neighbouring cities. Spain and UK should be an absolute must.
ReplyDeleteBarcelona /Madrid, UK connections, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Prague, Vienna, Bucharest, Skopje, Pristina, Sarajevo, Rome
ReplyDeleteThis is probably very accurate, plus more scandinavian destinations. (and minus UK - Brexit, state aid is not allowed)
DeleteAre flights to Skopje and Pristina really needed? I understand the logic of these routes when Adria was around carrying transfers but is there any poit to point interest?
Delete*point
DeleteThere should be P2P demand based on strong diaspora from Skopje and Pristina plus some business passengers.
DeleteFinally, and now we will see how Fraport is REALLY interested to encourage new airlines outside the LH group... If they keep the standard pricelist, it will still be probably too much for Ryanair and Wizzair even with 50% subsidy.
ReplyDeleteFinally
ReplyDeleteSo I would say that the list could have around 10 destinations including Brussels, Vienna, London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Madrid, Berlin, Sarajevo, Skopje, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. Barcelona, Valencia, Lyon/Strasbourg, Riga, Hamburg/Dusseldorf, Oslo, Manchester, Tirana, and Sofia could be a bit less probable but still possible.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention Rome, Prague, Bucharest and maybe even Pristina.
DeleteCan't wait to see which ones they chose. There are a few glaring gaps in Ljubljana's network. Namely Spain (Iberian peninsula), Italy, Scandinavia, Norther Germany.
ReplyDeleteIs there much demand for Italy flights considering its proximity to Slovenia?
DeleteYes, the figures are strong.
DeleteI wonder if these new routes will all be started by one airline. Like an LCC or will each route be taken by a different airline.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to see Ryanair, Wizz or Easyjet take on those subsidies and create a better network but I doubt that will happen this close to the start of the summer schedule so I think that each route will be taken by a different airline.
DeleteWell I hope the number of different airlines won't expand too much because how will you train ground staff to do their job as the airline requires when they already do all the airlines at LJU. It's too much, there is limit in knowledge capacity and there is limit with existing employees and new hires.
DeleteWill they include any routes from Maribor or Portoroz?
ReplyDeleteI understand that it's not limited to LJU. If there is an interest of the airliners - that's another question.
DeleteNo chance it will happen.
DeleteI mean they didn’t said that it is limited to Ljubljana but I will be extremly surprised if there will be any routes to MBX or POW
DeleteHow long would MBX-LJU take by plane?? 15 minutes?
DeleteNo one would take a flight for 100euros just to catch a FLIGHT from MBX to LJU
DeleteFinally some good news. This way they might be able to attract some airlines.
ReplyDeleteGood but I don't like that the government is picking out the destinations, knowing their track record on aviation.
ReplyDeleteThis could have been done years ago
ReplyDeleteAt least they should have done this in October last year so airlines could include Ljubljana in their summer plans. Now it's too late.
DeleteCompletely agree. By the time EU approves it and the government issues the call, the summer season will already begin.
DeleteMK Subsidies are peanuts compared to these 5.6 mil per year :D
ReplyDeleteLeftys destroyed Adria and now they're wasting people's money. And people keep voting for them. Go figure. Mr. Whiney and Ms. Black Mamba decided to sell LJU airport. If Fraport is unable to attract new airlines WITHOUT any subsidies, maybe they should consider selling it. But DON'T waste taxpayers money! It stopped being our problem when the government decided to sell it.
ReplyDeleteFraport income and balance sheet is not our problem, nor concern. But (potential) travelers not being able to get a flight to/from Slovenia at optimal timeslot and for normal price - this is something what is damaging Slovenian economy.
Deletelol and what did the righties in between???
DeleteNo need to lol. Apparently, leftys are Slovenia's rightful owners. It's a but difficult to do anything meaningful while being 6 years in power out of 33. So yes, current mess has been caused exclusively by left wing governments. Nothing funny about that.
DeleteIf we would let the “righties”, as you called them, run Slovenia, there wouldn’t even be a Slovenia to run.
Delete@22:59:
DeleteReally? And what makes you think that? You can't draw any conclusions given the short time right winged governments were in charge. But that would require some objectivity, which is a trait lefties lack.
People arguing this left/right approach to aviation in Slovenia please take into account that people still employed in slovenian aviation today and in charge of decision making got their jobs when LJU and JP were national not private. And those jobs were given "po vezah in poznanstvih". So until generations turn and actual skilled people take charge, LJU will stay as it is.
Deleteto be honest, it is really odd that list of routes and analysis for new national carrier will be ready almost at same time (one month difference). I think that those subsidies are mostly meant for new national carrier.
ReplyDeleteNever taken into account on establishing a joint-airline company with Croatia? Maybe not bad idea...
DeleteThey did in 2012. Idea failed because there wasn't enough political will from either side.
DeleteTaking into account that train Maribor-Ljubljana takes two hours, we can expect pso Mbx-lju :)
ReplyDeletewhat on earth are you talking about
Delete🙃🙃🙃
Delete🤣🤣 here we go again
ReplyDeleteWell, what do you think they will do? They will hand over cash to already existing routes, just to keep them. 3mio €/year can’t buy you no new routes
ReplyDeleteSo when is it realistic that the subsidies will start?
ReplyDeleteLooking more and more like winter 23/24
DeleteAnywhere north of London Luton would be better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need more UK routes.
DeleteWatch Swiss get subsidies for routes it won't operate. They did it before.
ReplyDeleteAs a Texan bouncing between DFW and LJU, connecting somewhere other than Istanbul would be nice.
ReplyDeleteIn a few years via Belgrade :)
Delete@5.17 are you for real? Theres also LH via FRA and AF via CDG
Delete10 Euros per passenger airport fee, 50% subsidy for 3 years, 1120000 passengers a year, 3100 passengers a day... 15 A320 flights a day.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a huge increase in a number of passengers without any additional action/subsidy for marketing.
The passenger airport fee is much higher. Also ground handling fee could be subsidies. I assume the budget will be enough for about 10 routes with moderate frequency.
DeleteHow much is it?
DeleteNa kraju ce biti nista, po obicaju
ReplyDelete