Ryanair will discontinue flights between Zagreb and Podgorica, as well as a further two routes from the Montenegrin capital amid a hike in airport fees. The budget airline has confirmed that services from Podgorica to Zagreb, Barcelona and Manchester will be cancelled from October 29. “Due to Podgorica Airport’s decision to increase their fees, we are forced to discontinue flights from Podgorica to Barcelona, Manchester and Zagreb this winter. The fee hike makes Podgorica Airport completely uncompetitive compared to other European airports which reduce their fees to stimulate recovery and traffic growth. This will have a detrimental impact on Montenegro’s connectivity, tourism and the economy”, the low cost airline said.
Ryanair is Montenegro’s busiest low cost carrier handling 249.959 passengers on flights to and from Podgorica last year. The figure represents an increase of over 200% on 2021 and up 30.8% on the pre-pandemic 2019. Its average annual cabin load factor in Podgorica last year stood at 82.3%. During 2022, the carrier handled 28.745 passengers on the Zagreb route, which was initially launched in 2021, as well as 12.626 travellers on the Barcelona service, which commenced operations in 2019. Flights to Manchester were inaugurated last October. As a result of these terminations, Montenegro will no longer have any scheduled nonstop flights to Croatia or Spain.
The no frills carrier will continue to operate year-round flights from Podgorica to Berlin, Charleroi, Gdansk, Krakow and London Stansted, as well as seasonal services to Wroclaw. Podgorica Airport increased its passenger fee this year from 1.75 euros per departing passenger to 3.25 euros. The development also impacts Ryanair’s Zagreb base where the airline has also warned that a “ridiculous” fee hike, introduced this year, should be scrapped. The carrier is still finalising its winter network out of the Croatian capital, however, several routes are in limbo for the coming winter, among which is Manchester for which Ryanair has not applied for slots for its Zagreb operations, although such a decision can still be modified.
And more to come
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteMaybe the route was profitable at the given cost level and increase in charges can lead to minus result...
DeleteTrue that. In the case of ZAG-TGD the tax is being increased on both ends.
DeleteWell, Mr. Bajic said that Ryanair paid 2 EUR in Zagreb, so I am not sure that the taxes have been increased on both sides.
Delete"Ryanair calls on Zagreb Airport to revoke its recent decision to increase airport charges by a ridiculous 12.4% which came into effect in April 2023. These increases only punish passengers and will have a detrimental impact on Zagreb and Croatia’s connectivity, tourism, traffic, jobs, and overall post-Covid recovery"
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/05/ryanair-scolds-ridiculous-zagreb.html
"“Ryanair has been a competitor of ours in the past in Split and Dubrovnik. However, over there we had the same commercial terms. In Zagreb they have been given privileges, so instead of eighteen euros they pay two euros tax per passenger. Competition is not the problem if you have the same conditions”, the CEO said."
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/06/croatia-airlines-plans-new-routes-and.html
Mr. Bajic is completely clueless.
DeleteI would not simply disregard what he said as it might be true.
DeleteIts Ryan Air: promise a small city a fortune in tax revenue, bring maybe half of that, and then threaten to take even that away when they dont get to decide your citys politics. Summary: only let Ryan Air into your city when there are other competitors.
DeleteThose taxes in Podorica are actually really low.
ReplyDelete* Podgorica
DeleteFR wants not only low or non existent airport taxes but "marketing" subsidies as well from certain airports.
DeleteYes, every one wants subsidies. From whom ever; the taxpayer, tourist boards, airport, or even better - all of them. In the end the whole shit show will end badly... It's unsustainable.
DeleteJust shows how an airport should not rely on airlines such as Ryanair. If a 1.5 EUR hike (which the passenger pays) is endangering their business model, well, let it be.
ReplyDeleteYou clearly don't understand why Ryanair is the largest airline in Europe and one of the most profitable in the world.
DeleteIt's because they hold hundreds of airports to ransom. If aviation subsidies were banned tomorrow across the EU for whatever reason, the business model of Ryanair would collapse overnight.
DeleteIf aviation subsidies were banned tomorrow across the EU for whatever reason, the business model of hundreds of REGIONAL AIRPORTS would collapse overnight. See something?
DeleteIf Ryanair wants to fly from Berane or Uzice and command these kinds of random conditions they should be perfectly welcome. But this is a route between two capital airports
DeleteThere is no demand.
DeleteThat's actually a good opportunity for YM to launch at least ZAG.
ReplyDeleteAnd possibly receive a subsidy for it.
Subsidy from who? I don't think it's a key route for either airport to give subsidies.
DeleteTIA is calling, many albanian's travelled to Podgorica to fly with Ryanair. Now no more. Ryanair will use TIA from 31st of October 2023
DeleteMaybe before the pandemic but since 3 years Wizz is flying to every village, no one was using TGD. Personally I used to fly from ZAG once but that's it.
DeleteIs this Ryanair's only intra-ex-Yu route?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteStill waiting for the day when it will be possible to have an LCC flying TGD-BEG.
DeleteUnless one of the two countries joins the E.U. that won't happen.
DeleteI am aware, but would love to fly between the two at a normal fare.
DeleteWell just like JU can't fly from PAR to BER or BCN so EU carriers shouldn't be allowed to fly between BEG and TGD/TIV.
DeleteI wasn't saying that they should or shouldn't.
DeleteThan, what is the point of you post?
DeleteDo some of you just come here to relieve frustrations from your everyday lives? A person simply expressed the desire to have a LCC operate BEG-TGD, a pretty reasonable thing to want may I add, and you come firing on all sides. Maybe lay off the internet a bit and go outside
DeleteAnonymous 12:03
Delete+1000
Otoh ju having the ability to make a pretty penny on the route (where it is perfectly possible to take a bus if you are price sensitive) is what allows ju to maintain Serbia's connectivity during the lean winter months without being held at Ryanair's gunpoint
Delete#Anonymous09:13. Not same.What you are talking about is the 5th freedom.
DeleteAt anonymous there complaining about the high fare...
DeleteThe fare is a reflection of demand or the lack thereof.
Not buying it. If they were making money on these then they would have kept them like the other ones. These were loss-making routes for them.
ReplyDeleteWhen i wrote the other day that they were cutting ZAG-TGD flights someone said they still didn't update their timetable. MAN, SOF and SKG from ZAG are next. Probably also caused by ZAG's increase in fees.
BCN and ZAG suspensions are very good news for JU.
Agree. Ryanair always blames someone else for their own underperformance.
DeleteExactly my thoughts.
DeleteFR's 737s are not the best aircraft for running TGD flights during the winter season.
DeleteFR using A320 on ZAG-TGD-ZAG route.(ex-AirMalta).For short flight,up to hour,hour and half max flight time, B737(any vers.) would be more suitable(optimized for that flight lenght-cycle/time ratio-design lifetime) i.e.cheaper.
DeleteSorry,Ex Lauda.
DeleteI was flying 2x last winter between tgd-zag and the flight was nearly full. i think they only have 2x per week. it was a combination of business people, young groups for a long weekend, and people visiting family and friends. I was surpriced myself
DeleteInteresting passenger numbers. Is 82% load factor good for Ryanair?
ReplyDeleteDepends on the average fare/yield. A load factor means nothing without additional metrics.
DeleteShould be kept in mind that Q1 2022 was really impacted by Covid on western markets.
DeleteObviously yield was bad.
DeleteSo MAN does not seem to be performing well from either Podgorica or Zagreb. This does not sound good. "The carrier is still finalising its winter network out of the Croatian capital, however, several routes are in limbo for the coming winter, among which is Manchester for which Ryanair has not applied for slots for its Zagreb operations, although such a decisions can still be modified."
ReplyDeleteStill performing well from Tivat it seems :D easyJet still flying the route.
DeleteThat is probably why they are terminating it from TGD. Passengers on this route are tourists so Tivat makes more sense to them.
DeleteFrom MAN to ZAG it makes sense in summer but not enough passengers in winter. Even this winter FR is cutting many routes from ZAG, by the looks of it they will have 2 planes stationed at their weekend base.
TIV has cca 29,000 pax from MAN, most of them flying with EasyJet. This year EasyJet has competition on the same route: Jet2.
DeleteReally unfortunate especially since Montenegro now losses two markets completely. Guess it will be back to flying via JU.
ReplyDeleteWith so many flights to TGD and BCN from BEG people have a lot of options. I think JU will increase BCN to 14 next summer.
DeleteNo, not Barcelona :(
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised this was the only route between Spain and Montenegro.
DeleteThose passenger numbers on ZAG-TGD-ZAG are not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteMost one way tickets were sold for like €7 so yield must have been trash.
DeleteEspecially on an A320
DeleteThe next three Podgorica-Zagreb flights are selling for more than 300 euros.
DeleteIs the Zagreb=Podgorica route operated by Zagreb-based plane?
ReplyDeleteYes
Deletemaybe zag can get a new destination now?? any chances??
ReplyDeleteThe last paragraph in the article indicates that Zagreb will loose several routes this winter.
DeleteIt will be good for them if they do not lose more FR destinations.
DeleteConsidering that Ryanair has already complained about Zagreb's taxes, I highly doubt it.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska?
ReplyDeleteHahahah, you are funny guy.
DeleteI am wondering what will you say when the rest of FR cancellations in ZAG are official
DeleteYou good poz iz Rijeke? I mean, your mood regarding RYR and CTN in ZAG swings back and forth just like Bura in Rijeka. Weren't you the one telling me that RYR is the savior of Croatian aviation and I was the one telling you that exactly this will happen bc RYR is a sh*tcarrier and that they won't care about connectivity but rather about reaching their 90%+ LF goal? Ha, funny story that is. I can't wait for RYR to do further damage to ZAG by pushing full-service carriers away, grabbing what there is to grab from subsidized routes, and then canceling their routes. But hey, as one irrelevant aviation "analyst" said once on the RYR press conference, with arms spread wide and directly to O'Larry's face, "Thank God that you came, we couldn't wait for you any longer.". Thank God indeed, bc with this pace ZAG is awaiting LJU's future. Cheers to you ;)
DeleteI never said Ryanair was savior of Croatian aviation. I was happy to finally see LCC in ZAG which meant the end of monopoly of shitty OU. And OK, FR cut one service from ZAG. Hey, ONE. And will probably introduce another one more profitable instead. That's how LCC function. This is no proof of anything, as you wish to present. And my post "Bravo Hrvatska?" has absolutely nothing to do with FR in ZAG but with one annoying Kradeze supporter which hails Bravo Hrvatska all the time. And the same Kradeze is guilty of destroying Croatia, which could be seen in ZAG as well. Sorry if you are not capable to understand that and cheers to you too!
DeleteThe goalposts keeps moving! From ''OU is pathetic feeder which cannot use the untapped potential of Hrvatska, you'll see when they let LCC open base'' to ''FR can't be successful in ZAG because Kradeze destroyed Hrvatska''. This guy never fails to entertain.
DeleteRyanair will cut even more in ZG. And many will remember the press conference when the base in Zagreb was announced. How fast and big Ryanair wanted to grow.
DeleteI wish Easyjet or similar LCCs would come. But Zagreb doesn't even manage to attract anyone to fly directly to Berlin.
Locals don't travel much by plane. FR can't rely just on tourists.
Delete@18.53
DeleteCroatia Airlines is pathetic feeder which is not using potentials of Hrvatska. And Kradeze destroyed Hrvatska. Both are not something I guess, suspect or think, both are the facts. If those facts and such sad truth I am saying entertains you, I have nothing further to add, you said everything.
Poz iz Rijeke, I admire your persistence, I mean, you come back here, and search for your own comments and answers so you can answer back (bc you are never wrong). And looking at your modus operandi, whenever your thesis is endangered, you pull out political agenda which is extremely against any party from the right political specter (just like any other person from Rijeka). Regarding that I can only say that your left political option has won elections 3 times if I am not mistaken, still, I didn't see CTN nor ZAG or anything actually to be better than is now. These are facts you like so much to talk about.
DeleteRegarding RYR, ok you say one route, let me remind you how many flights were canceled last summer. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. FR will eventually leave ZAG, hopefully before the collapse of CTN because, in that way, ZAG can only become a bus terminal. I frankly don't understand one thing - how all of you, including yourself, cannot understand that ZAG has a pool of roughly 800.000 people ergo individual passengers (with surrounding area + some number of tourists). And yet O'Larry had the wet dreams of bringing ZAG to 10 mio PAX? Using very rough and basic maths, that means that each person from the passenger pool should make, on average, at least 5 return flights to ZAG each year. How many of you peeps here made that last year? Regardless of RYR's low prices, last year they also had low prices. The economy is the main air traffic expansion engine, remember that. Also, remember the fact that Croatia has 8 international airports.
Mark my words: RYR is on the path to destroying ZAG. RYR had already destroyed air travel in Europe, and yet Croatia is too small and too insignificant to dodge the bullet. Ryanair will scare off any full-service carrier from ZAG excluding maybe(!) CTN, and then when the bowl of subsidies becomes empty leave. No one will return than in any foreseeable future.
The best option for ZAG would be to get rid of the RYR ASAP, and if they really want some LCC traffic, bring back Wizz or Easy. Did you know one thing: Easy began to introduce connections, even transatlantic ones with Air Transat. And RYR? Scratchcard isn't a transfer boarding pass :)
But also keep in mind that ZAG management does not want too many passengers, because that would lead to obligatory terminal expansion. They are and feel good right where they are. Their goal is maybe reaching 5 mio PAX together with returning EK and KE and maybe introducing some of the direct USA flights. Everything other than that is too expensive for them.
To conclude, ZAG cannot build their business on RYR passengers, especially taking into account that RYR passengers are cheap (in terms of not using any of the airport infrastructure and having very, very cheap fees).
Left political option didn't break Kradeze monopoly 3 times but two times. As a result, we had (false) "branitelji" sitting on the gas cylinders in the center of Zagreb, which basically is terrorist act, no one has ever been charged with. It's very difficult to make changes in such an environment, especially if you find totally ruined economy and debts which generations cannot pay off. I am not pulling out political agenda to prove my theses. I am pointing out all the time that situation in Croatia is as it is, in all fields of life, aviation included, because Croatia is not market economy and is not functional democracy. Croatia is partitocracy, organized to serve as Kradeze ATM even if they are temporarily out of power. Croatia is travesty of democracy where government is not reflecting election results and will of people, and where judiciary on all levels especially the highest one is totally under Kradeze influence. Croatia is stuck back in 1950's because Kradeze is part of former SKJSKH, unfortunatelly its unreformed and regressive bolyshevik wing. Result of all the above is only Bulgaria being poorer than Croatia in Europe, and exodus of people in their best age. Aviation is no exception here, Croatia Airlines as it is, is result of such politics, and stagnation of Ryanair in Zagreb instead faster growth. I am far far far away from being SDP member or even sympatizer. It just hurts me, and it hurts me a lot, how Kradeze is destroying my beautiful and potentially rich country, and its segment of my particular interest, civil aviation.
DeleteSo it's Kradeze's fault that FR is not succeeding in ZAG? This is what you're suggesting?
DeleteI am not suggesting it. It is the fact. They chased away people, those remaining they lowered living standard, they didn't develop national airline and made ZAG hub, they destroyed economy which increases volumes and yields in air traffic, so yes that's precisely what I am saying
DeleteWhy do you think that ZAG should be a hub? Hub for what? For who to be exact? ZAG serves as a hub for what it should be - the Croatian coast and some surrounding cities. Could there be more? Sure, but again, for who?
DeleteBelieve it my political friend or not, the greatest mistake made at ZAG was not political and has nothing to do (directly) with politics. The greatest mistake that ever happened to ZAG is CTN entering Star Alliance. Any other alliance would give ZAG the opportunity to become a somewhat greater hub than it is now. But we are running off the topic now.
You can dream that a better political situation would heal ZAG but it wouldn't. The number of inhabitants in Zagreb has grown, despite the bad demographical situation in the rest of the country. But try to understand - ZAG has a small pool of gravitating passengers. End of the discussion. The situation at ZAG could and should be better, but not with RYR's sponsorship, bc it will destroy it.
A bit of a stupid comparison but I will present it anyway: Is the political situation in Serbia better? President from the extreme right political option, people on the streets constantly, centralized country and politics, much lower wages, majority of the state is sold to foreign companies, BEG concession contract with Vinci is much worst than ZAG's - yet air traffic situation is better (mainly because of heavy state subsidies to the ASL and larger number of gravitating passengers but okay, I try to follow your mindflow).
I understand what you are trying to say but I strongly disagree with your viewpoint, rather than your conclusions. You somehow always forget to take into the equation a few facts: Croatia is highly seasonal, ZAG has a relatively small number of gravitating passengers, and the industry in ZAG is not sufficient to be the generator of air traffic expansion. Could any political option change that? I doubt. On top of that, try to understand that FR will leave as soon as they smell anything not in favor of their extreme money-saving policy, which will leave ZAG stranded.
FYI, CTN is (at least) trying to shift their business to good with a new fleet, one small sign of optimism could be that they are hiring a new route development management team. Will this work? Heaven knows, but hey, we haven't seen this since the early 2000s here.
Pleasure having civilized conversation, despite our totally different views. I definitely can't agree on Zagreb not strong enough economically to attract more business and high yielding passengers because more than 30 years ago it was no 1in economy in whole of Yugoslavia, economic and industrial capital, and Kradeze ruined it. Size and catchment aerea are again something I disagree, there are plenty of much smaller cities surrounded by big airports who manage to do much better than ZAG. Concerning the demand, you take it for granted, forgetting that demand can be created, and very simple answer to your question "for who" is "for the entire Balkans, coast included. One more thing I disagree is Star Alliance. It's not about Star Alliance
Delete, it's about Mafia politicians who sold the market to *. They would have done the same with the other two alliances. However, I tend to agree with you on some things until I reached the part where you see A220 as situation saviour. Of course it will improve nothing, it will only cause further expenses and losses. And finally, if new network development team is not meant to be only new position for new uhljebs it means I was hell right talking about their network insufficient and underdeveloped. But basing my opinion on 30 lost years, I doubt anything serious can happen and highly likely nothing will change. Nice talking to you and good night!
Seems like Ryanair is cutting a lot of routes from ex-Yu this year. It started with Tuzla a month ago.
ReplyDeleteI wrote months ago that we are going to experience economic decline caused by uncontrolled inflation. People were mocking me back then. This is it. People can not afford to fly as much as before especially ex YU people who are mostly lower paid people in the West.
DeleteRyan air cutting routes because they are just money grabbing and trying to steal government subsidies.
Deleteyou stop giving them government money and they will leave. Ryan air is the worst airline to deal with.
So good. let them leave and then gives opportunity for OU/ JU and MNE to work hard and grow
Every business should strive to be money grabbing so they can be successful.
DeleteGood riddance to Ryanair!
ReplyDeleteWhy?
DeleteThe exodus has started
ReplyDeleteWith such an airline I hope the exodus will accelerate. How they think people should be paid with their fee expectations.
Deletesome may love Ryanair for their fares, but other than that, this is shitty company, aggressively cutting costs regardless of the outcome.They are capable of planning ridiculous routes in order to save 1 € per particular flight. Flooding the airport with routes, followed by blackmail is their normal modus operandi.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe worst part about ryan air is that its all a con. they dont have low fares because we are paying the rest when the government gives them subsidies.
DeleteGDN is not seasonal from TGD.
ReplyDeleteRyanair flies whole winter TGD-GDN 2pw.
To be honest, I'm surprised TGD-ZAG lasted as long as it did.
ReplyDeleteMost people thought it wouldn't last.
DeleteI know several people who used to fly TGD-ZAG and then caught another Ryanair flights from ZAG. Kind of like connecting through ZAG. Shame.
ReplyDeleteIt is very risky.
DeleteIt was actually widespread though.
DeleteYes, the timings were excellent for that actually.
DeleteTypical Ryanair. They vanish as soon as things start not going their way and find another opportunity.
ReplyDeleteWe can expect the same from ZAG.
Deletei hope not, if that happens i think ZAG would be in problems... they can't let ryanair go. They should even try to boost Ryanair since they are making a lot of traffic.
DeleteYou are right.
DeleteMaybe that is a reason why Mr. Bajic was talking about Ryanair's 2 EUR tax in ZAG.
Jasmin Bajic warned about this last week.
DeleteJasmin speaks BS as always and this route is cut because taxes are increased and not 2 E
DeleteHopefully they bring these routes back next summer.
ReplyDeleteUnlikely if the tax is the problem.
DeleteGoodbye Ryanair
ReplyDeleteExcellent news for OU
ReplyDeleteOU flies ZAG-TGD?
DeleteYes, especially since they don't even fly to TGD.
DeleteGood in what sense? Will they introduce new routs? No. So this is ultimately not good for the citizens.
DeleteWho said it's good for citizens?
DeleteOne less flight for ZAG airport.
Deletenow we know why we are not seeing them at BEG, SKP and LJU. Its about fees
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't a secret really. They openly said for LJU and BEG that they are overpriced for them. It was published here over the years.
DeleteWhat are the fees like in Maribor?
DeleteOni sami prepustaju trziste u BEG konkurenciji.
DeleteKako cene nisu previsoke za Wizz, Norwegian, Pegasus, Eurowings, easyJet? Meni se cini da je FR na debelom gubitku jer ne pokriva BEG cak i bez popusta.
agree with @11.07
DeleteImagine if SKP lowered the fees to 3€ ...
DeleteIt would be like Tirana where LCCs don't pay anything.
DeleteTIA has incentives program but never given out money like SKP so I don't know about that
DeleteFor airlines it makes no difference whether they receive money (subs) or they dont have to pay taxes (incentives)
Deletethey have 5 A321 at the moment paying full fees. The money they have given out was peanuts compared to what we see elsewhere.
What we see where
DeleteZAG can't afford to lose FR, especially with the OU being in the state that they are.
ReplyDeleteit leaves SKP-LJU as the only intra exyu line by a foreign airline. Tbh i was surprised that ZAG-TGD will be (was) the first one
ReplyDeletei am not big fan of Ryanair (but have never had a bad or late flight with them - since they started!) but try to use EasyJet whenever possible. But it is worth remembering that most people who fly on Ryanair do not know the "back scenes" etc re the subsidies etc etc.. All they know is that they can afford to fly. Before Ryanait there were no LCC's.. from UK there were crazy rules about having to stay a Saturday night for a decent fare. London to Athens if not staying a saturday night was around 500 pounds 25/30 years ago unless you could find a charter. Charter flights from UK have almost disappeared now (other than TUI, Jet 2 whivh are vertically integrated our operators with their own airlines - yes, they sell seat only but TUI is very expensive). So, like it or not, Ryanair has enabled many many people all over - to fly to places - who never would have been able if LCC's had not happened.
ReplyDeleteThey can go now by bus or autostop.
ReplyDeleteThey can go with OU to DBV and then by car. Oh, wait,... it's 500 euro return
DeleteAir Montenegro flies from LJU directly to Podgorica, LJU is 1h30 from Zagreb.
DeleteThis is good gor Ljubljana
DeleteWhen ZAG, ZAD to SOF will be discontinued?
ReplyDeleteWill we have ZAG - SOF with the winter schedule?
Deleteno so far
DeletePegasus Airlines seems to have no problem at all with Podgorica fees ...
ReplyDeleteWhich is indication that Ryanair is talking bullsh*t..!
DeleteThe true reason is expansion of operations at Tirana airport, FR is shifting aircrafts there. Fee hike is just an excuse and a way of putting pressure on airports to keep taxes low
DeleteAnyone, is there original Ryanair's statement? According to different accounts, flight to/from TGD are cancelled/ suspended/ discontinued...?? What is the truth in the end?
ReplyDeleteIt is in the article.
DeleteReason for cancellation. Ryanair realised that Vračar is in Belgrade.
ReplyDelete