Turkish Airlines maintained its position as Slovenian’s and Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport’s busiest carrier during the first quarter of the year, carrying 44.512 passengers. It improved its figures by 23.2% year-on-year on the back of a 19.8% capacity increase. It was proceeded by Lufthansa, which saw 20% passenger growth. Its subsidiary - Swiss - was one of the fastest growing airlines at the airport, with 24.095 travellers handled on its Ljubljana flights, up 49.3% on 2023. The carrier significantly increased its operations to the Slovenian capital with 31.4% more flights, resulting in a 55.9% increase in capacity.
Ljubljana Airport Q1 passenger performance by airline
* Service discontinued in February
Other strong performers included Flydubai and Air Serbia, both of which saw their passenger numbers grow over 10%. Low cost carrier Transavia registered triple digit growth, however, this was primarily the result of a lack of flights last year. The airline suspended services to Ljubljana during February and most of March in 2023. Wizz Air continued its strong performance on the Skopje service, launched last September, with an average cabin load factor of 92% for the duration of the first quarter. On the other hand, its figures on the London Luton route declined as the service was discontinued in February.
Air France recorded an 18% slump in its Ljubljana figures, on the back of reduced operations. Despite being one of Ljubljana’s busiest carriers during the pandemic, the French airline cut flights by 28% during the first quarter of this year along with a 16.3% reduction in capacity. This trend is expected to continue into the second and third quarters. LOT Polish Airlines saw a 13% reduction in passengers, along with a 6.3% cut in capacity. The Polish carrier faces increased competition for transfer passengers to the Baltics, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe from the second quarter onwards, following airBaltic’s arrival in Ljubljana late last month. New entrant Luxair handled 2.300 travellers in Q1 with an average load of 58.2% on its Dash 8 turboprops.
"Wizz Air continued its strong performance on the Skopje service, launched last September, with an average cabin load factor of 92% for the duration of the first quarter."
ReplyDeletewow that's very good, especially since they used A320s and A321s.
+1
DeleteLoad factor is really superb for such a new route.
DeleteJust shows that there should be daily flights to Skopje, 3x weekly to Sarajevo and Tirana and 2x weekly to Dubrovnik and Split in the summer
Delete5 times per week in 2025 is coming
DeleteEven wizz to belgrade would work
DeleteAnd people were claiming how this route only worked for Adria because of transfers...
DeleteWell back in the day, Skopje was twice daily.
DeleteYes, but with much smaller aircraft.
DeleteThe capacity has definitely dropped, but the current LF does show that the route could add 1 or 2 weekly rotations and it'd still be profitable
DeleteThis is really impressive and shows that also other top unserved routs from LJU would be successful.
DeleteWhat's going on with Air France? It seems they just gave up on LJU suddenly.
ReplyDeleteThey asked for subsidies at the end of last year from Slovenian government. They didn't get them and after that they cut flights.
DeleteThey held talks about them wanting money for flights, and gov said that they can apply for subsidies. After this conversation it all went downhill on the CDG route. I truly believe that the demand is there (all of my flights this year were 85%+ load factor)
DeleteAnd let's not forget that the olymics are nearby and they'll probably use spare capacity somewhere else with higher yields
They are increasing ZAG this summer...
DeleteI wonder if they go to other governments in Europe demanding subsidies.
DeleteI guess competition from LH and LX put pressure on their yields. That's why they asked for subsidies. Since they didn't get any they adjusted their timetable.
DeleteI'm surprised they can't make LJU work better.
DeleteIt clearly works well, the flights are all high LF. They've probably just reduced frequencies now that Olympics are happening and they need the capacity on other projects
DeleteLuxair breaking even in February wasn't on my list. Should be a great summer for them (even just judging by the prices of the tickets)
ReplyDeleteSkopje is healthy for a daily flight, Amsterdam likewise.
Swiss should have morning departure similar to LH, and AirFrance should be ashamed of themselves.
How do you mean breaking even?
DeleteDash break even point is at 60-65%, the costs of the airport is around 20%, so 10% for ljubljana, 50% of that is covered by gov, so the break even cost point for Lux-Lju route is at about 55-60%, which is what the load factor is.
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DeleteFrom SiStat:
January: 501 pax, 8 flights, 41% LF
February: 790 pax, 8 flights, 65% LF
March: 1009 pax, 9 flights, 74% LF
January is a slow month for aviation so no surprise
DeleteIf this trend will continue Luxair will be doing more than fine.
DeleteLOT has a battle ahead of them with airbaltic, especially in winter months. In summer I think they have more transfers to US and Canada. We will see.
ReplyDeleteLot should really think about those W flights they were planning in 2021
DeleteI think at the moment Swiss hurts them more than anyone else.
DeleteI'm very interested to see how Air Baltic will perform. I think there could be a good mix of point to point and transfer passengers.
DeleteWell they extended flights to year round and started them earlier than planned so...
DeleteSwiss also offers much cheaper transfers through Europe than Lot, at least from what i saw
DeleteReally depends on the route and time. I've seen LOT offer return flights LJU-JFK for less than 400€
DeleteLet's see how LOT will do during the summer. Next week a B38M is scheduled 3 times and all other flights with mixed E90/95.
DeleteLX is without doubt one of Europe's better airlines. Glad they are doing well in LJU.
ReplyDeleteCertainly the best airline in LH group.
DeleteEasy to be the best when the bar has been placed so low.
DeleteTrue haha
DeleteDidn't a self proclaimed analyst claim that no one will fly with Air Serbia after the delays last summer due to fleet shortage? Seems he was wrong.
ReplyDeleteJust read his blog from yesterday. He started a fight with this website out of the blue haha
DeleteHaha he has deeply rooted issues. What is he ranting about now?
DeleteI think the incoming Embraers make sense on this route and we will probably see them deployed in the future.
DeleteA319 is becoming more and more common, today evening rotation will be done by Ex Adria jet
DeleteIs it because of demamd or not enough ATRs?
DeleteThey have 9 ATRs. Not an equipment issue
DeleteLOT results are really bad. They usually perform well in the region and have excellent prices and transfers via WAW especially North America. Shocking that the Dubai new rout already surpassed Belgrade. Clearly, LJU needs more Eastern connections and guess that Abu Dhabi may work as a destination.
ReplyDeleteDo keep in mind that it is high season for DXB flights in January, February, and March. Numbers will go down in Q2 and Q3 but not denying their results are good.
DeleteMaybe winter seasonal x4 weekly Qatar Airways?
DeleteQR doesn't do seasonal routes. It will be either year round or not at all. Issue is, they have a shortage of single-aisle aircraft.
DeleteThe problem is that QR lack planes and their A320s are ageing, not because they can't launch LJU. But DOH-LJU should work perfectly. But hey man, those Flydubai figures are staggering!
DeleteAnon 10:27 How is it possible that Sarajevo is seasonal?
DeleteIt is true true they have very few seasonal routes and a lack of narrow bodies.
DeleteThey got the 737-8Max’s and could run this route with them
DeleteMAXs are used only on regional routes as they do not have QR hard product (no PTVs in any seat, smaller pitch). They are S7 Airlines cabins. And QR is about to lease out MAXs to Indigo.
DeleteFlydubai doing great actually. Fourth busiest airline. Ok, Q1 is their busiest period for these flights but still.
ReplyDeleteDeveloping nicely
DeleteGood to see most airlines growing
ReplyDeleteTurkish just keeps growing and growing. Well done!
ReplyDeleteTurkish is impressive as usual
DeleteIf Cyprus actually comes, the 2025 will be a great year for Lju!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a gamechanger for Ljubljana.
DeleteI hope they come in this winter season.
DeleteAny news about them?
DeleteMinistry still waiting for response of modified proposal
DeleteI wonder what they had an issue with in the original proposal
DeleteTime for third daily on some days for TK.
ReplyDeleteWhy not just fly with A330 instead at certain days?
DeleteTK has major fleet problems. Many grounded jets with engine issues.
DeleteAnon 10:56 it is better to have 3 daily flights with A321’s than two daily and one being A330. It offers more different connections
DeleteQuite a good result by Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteStar Alliance dominance
ReplyDeleteNot LJU's fault others are still trying to find this region on the map.
DeleteStill, it's good that LJU has both SkyTeam and Onewrld airlines flying.
Delete^ barely. One SkyTeam and 1 Oneworld airline.
Delete2 oneworld when Iberia starts flights
Delete3: BA, IB and AY
DeleteHow many weekly flights does GP Aviation have?
ReplyDeleteOnly one. Every Monday.
DeleteIf it was an established and not a no name carrier, it could easily work with better frequencies.
DeleteDo they even sell tickets online?
DeletePoor LOT, hope things work out for them.
ReplyDeleteThey'll be fine
DeleteFor anyone at Lju reading this; at least put Coredon Antalya flights on your schedule...they are (the airline) marketing it heavily and the airport isn't even bothered to put it on the schedule lol
ReplyDeleteThey can't even use the excuse of "scheduled charter" as Pristina operations are listed
DeleteI've just checked and they can't even add logos of Norwegian and Iberia to the schedule. Shame...
DeleteNew airlines for them :D
DeleteAtleast Babett Stapel can take selfies with all new airlines even tho she did nothing.
DeleteThanks for the data!!
ReplyDeleteI am certain Pegasus can't launch flights because of bureaucracy. I'm sure they would jump at the opportunity to fly to LJU. Probably can't get a permit like they couldn't to Zagreb for years.
ReplyDeleteSlovenia is not Serbia and does not have a home carrier to protect. Pegasus is free to open as many routes with as many frequencies to Turkey as they please.
DeleteAbsolutely not true (I don't know what Serbia has to do with it but says a lot about you). Turkey has very restrictive bilaterals with countries (and does not have one with EU as a whole but with each single country). Bilateral restricts Turkey-Slovenia flights to Turkish Airlines and single airline from Slovenia. Just like it took Pegasus 5 years to get a permit in Croatia. So before your nationalistic vile, educate yourself.
DeleteI like how he took Serbia as an example where Pegasus actually flies to but didn't take Croatia as an example where Pegasus confirmed it couldn't get a permit to start flights, or Montenegro where they were banned from a route because of too much competition. Some people really need help.
DeleteI was referring to the shenanigans Serbia and Turkey have gone through in regards to schedule and frequencies a few years ago trying to split the market between AirSerbia and Turkish/Pegasus. The statement from 13:11 is coming from an Ops guy from a Slovenian operator that has never needed a permit to arrange flights between Slovenia and Turkey.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if LH can catch up. I think they have more capacity than TK over the summer.
ReplyDeleteWell they have 3 daily flights
DeleteI mean the results are OK nothing more nothing less. But if Cyprus and Slovenian government will reach the agreement, they can base one or two A220’s which they are getting in Lju and that would be a big game changer.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAegean ?
ReplyDeleteThey were not flying in Q1.
DeleteGood job to most airlines
ReplyDeleteI have a funny feeling that the Cyprus airways situation will not work out/ they won’t reach an agreement with the government
ReplyDeleteAt least they might come later then expected, as they have only one A220 operational and deliveries are delayed. Let’s hope at least for summer 2025.
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