The Tourism Association of the Canton of Sarajevo has issued a public call to airlines for the introduction of new routes to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital in return for subsidies. The funds will be distributed to an airline or carriers willing to open a base in the city, those launching flights to an unserved destination from Sarajevo, those commencing operations to one or more routes deemed to be of strategic importance, that are either unserved or maintained five times per week or less, as well as those operating long-haul flights from Sarajevo, i.e., services of over six hours.
The airport is primarily targeting the introduction of thirty European destinations, some of which are already served. Cities deemed of strategic importance include Berlin, Memmingen, Malmo, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Paris, Basel, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, London, Brussels, Rome, Milan, Budapest, Prague, Barcelona, Girona, Madrid, Geneva, Stockholm, Oslo, Dusseldorf, Athens, Skopje, Izmir, Antalya, Warsaw, Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Baden Baden. Outside of Europe, the airport is targeting flights from Abu Dhabi, China (including Hong Kong), Singapore, Lebanon, Japan, Jordan, India, Israel, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as any destination in North America. Airlines that apply for the subsidy scheme must operate the new route(s) at least twice per week, while a charter service can be maintained once per week. Aircraft with the capacity to seat over fifty passengers must be used and both seasonal and year-round operations are eligible for the funds.
Interested carriers have until October 1 to apply. The exact value of the subsidies has not been publicly disclosed. The Tourism Association has already held three previous public calls, which saw subsidies awarded to Ryanair, Wizz Air, Aegean Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, TUI Airways, SunExpress, and Norwegian Air Shuttle. “Following record numbers that are being registered at Sarajevo Airport, as well as a 50% increase in the number of tourists, we are continuing to open new routes that will connect Sarajevo with European metropolises and strategic destinations”, the Tourism Association said in a statement.
Good luck
ReplyDeleteThe fact that there are no flights to most of the those 30 cities, or that they can't be sustained without state support is problematic.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet they will have close to 2 mil pax this year, respect!
DeleteEvery airport including ZAG, SKP, TIA pays subsidies to LCCs, Sarajevo has a third of those routes already operating atm, they just copy the same ones
DeleteBEG pays subsidies to no one.
DeleteMy guess is Ryanair will apply with more routes.
ReplyDeleteHope so
DeleteHaving to subsidise a route shows there is no need for it to operate.
ReplyDeleteI guess the Airport knows more than us here visiting the site. Many of the routes are aimed clearly for tourism and that sector is booming in bosnia.
DeleteWho is going to pay for all this if it happens?
ReplyDeleteDid you bother to read the article? Turisticko Udruzenje Sarajevskog Kantona, so it is Sarajevski Kanton forking out the money, as it benefits from ever increasing number of tourists. Sarajevo still has a massive potential for further development as a major tourist destination in the region, some people have finally realised it. And Bosnians are increasingly discovering there are other holiday destinations from Croatia.
Delete+1 last Anon
DeleteYeah because paying less than 500k euros is gonna hurt a Canton with a budget of 600 million.
DeleteHalf of those cities are gasto routes.
ReplyDeleteBecause they obviously want Ryanair or Wizz to either apply or open a base
DeleteSome of the routes are rather questionable and makes me think it is tailored towards some airline.
ReplyDeleteUsually such tenders are everywhere in the region.
DeleteGirona, BadenBaden and Malmo are definitely tailored for Wizz and Ryan
DeleteRotterdam is a weird one, if they're hoping for Transavia
Memmingen also
DeleteThese have had a rather good outcome every time so expect more new routes for Sarajevo.
ReplyDeleteDa.
DeleteI assume this will be primarily for summer 2025?
ReplyDeleteWell it closes on 1 October so it can also include winter season ops.
DeleteI would love to see BiH get a flag carrier.
ReplyDeleteNo thanks, Tried several times and failed. I would rather get more routes by FR.
DeleteOvo place za onom kompanijom sto hoce prag I kroejsu s USA da poveze lepo otvore letove za Japan.
DeleteNo
DeleteWouldn't it be smarter to establish a national airline initially with 1 or 2 aircraft and launch most important routes?
DeleteYou can't make a profit with 1 or 2 aircraft.
DeleteWould love to see easyJet in Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteMe too,
Delete+1
DeleteUnfortunately, in smaller markets easy only comes if they get big subsidies. That is the modus operandi. I don't think the subsidies are so large with these SJJ flights that they would bother.
DeleteMight be getting a bit ahead of themselves with long haul.
ReplyDeleteDoes not hurt to try.
DeleteWhy not
DeleteI am glad to see Berlin being first on the list. After the closure of the routes to Tuzla and Banja Luka, it has been really difficult to travel to BiH from Berlin and the surroundings.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo is doing extremely good these years, well done SJJ!
ReplyDeleteAegean to Apple for Skopje and Athens ?
ReplyDeleteApply*
DeleteAegean was already selected on last tender for Athens-Sarajevo.
DeleteHOP to CDG?
ReplyDeleteHOP is AF so no way.
DeleteMaybe transavia in orly
DeleteGreat! :)
ReplyDeleteLove to see it! Sarajevo really seems to be putting in the effort!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteeasyJet, Transavia and Volotea would be massive as Madrid, Berlin and Amsterdam/Rotterdam are key.
ReplyDeleteA bit odd of them to put Rotterdam. My guess is they are going after Transavia with that one.
DeleteHoping Vueling finally applies with Barcelona flights.
ReplyDelete