Ryanair, Air Serbia and Pegasus to add most capacity this summer

Ryanair, Air Serbia, Pegasus Airlines, easyJet and Wizz Air will add the most capacity among airlines operating across the markets of the former Yugoslavia this summer season when compared to last. With the 2024 summer season to commence in just over a month and a half, on March 30, many carriers are yet to finalise their networks. However, existing capacity levels and changes give a good indication on who will be adding the most seats and therefore offer the most capacity compared to last year.

Change in year-on-year summer seat capacity in former Yugoslav markets, summer 2024

Ryanair will be the fastest growing airline in the region by far this summer. The carrier will add a whopping 1.4 million seats, resulting in an almost 50% increase on the summer of 2023. It comes as the budget carrier prepares to open a new base in Dubrovnik, and launch new flights out of Zadar, Zagreb and Sarajevo this summer. During the upcoming summer season, Ryanair will have the most capacity available on the Zagreb - London Stansted service, followed by the Memmingen - Banja Luka route, then Dubrovnik - Stansted and Dubrovnik - Dublin.

Air Serbia will be adding almost 390.000 additional seats across its network this summer based on its existing schedule. The growth comes mainly from increased frequencies on a number of routes, as well as over a dozen destinations launched during the second half of last summer being in the network from the very start this season. Overall, capacity will grow 11.3% on last year. The airline has put up the most seats on flights between Belgrade and Tivat, followed by services from the Serbian capital to Podgorica, then Paris, as the host of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, and Zurich.

Pegasus Airlines will be adding 238.849 seats across the markets of the former Yugoslavia, as it continues to introduce new routes in the region. The carrier has already inaugurated flights this year from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Zagreb, as well as from Ankara and Izmir to Podgorica. It will be followed by the introduction of services from Antalya to Pristina, Sarajevo, and Skopje during the summer. The low cost airline is increasing its overall capacity in the region by 50.4% on last year. It will have the most available capacity on flights from its Istanbul hub to Sarajevo, followed by Pristina, Skopje, Podgorica and Belgrade.

easyJet comes close behind Pegasus, adding 238.718 seats. The airline has scheduled several new routes, including from London Luton and Bristol to Tivat, as well as from Glasgow to Pula, Basel to Rijeka, and Toulouse to Zadar. Its overall capacity growth will amount to 12.7% this summer. It will offer the most capacity between Geneva and Pristina, followed by London Gatwick to both Dubrovnik and Split, respectively, then between Basel and Pristina, as well as from London Luton to Split.

Wizz Air will come fifth in terms of added capacity across the former Yugoslav markets despite facing significant issues over grounded planes as a result of engine troubles, and downsizing frequencies compared to its original plan. However, the airline added a notable number of new routes during the second half of last summer, as well as this winter, which will boost its overall figures in the coming months. The carrier will add an extra 219.000 seats, representing an increase of 5% on summer 2023, which is one of the slowest growth rates it has seen in the region for years. It will boast the most capacity between Skopje and Basel, followed by the Skopje - Memmingen route, followed by flights from London Luton to Pristina and Split respectively.