Slovenia has issued a fifth tender call for airlines to introduce new routes to the country as it attempts to improve its air connectivity, which was recently ranked as the second-worst in Europe by Airports Council International Europe. The Ministry for Infrastructure previously allocated a total of 16.8 million euros in funds for airlines between 2023, when the first public call was made, and 2026, when the last call is expected, although it can be extended if funds are left over. So far, just 1.1 million euros have been used up. The funds equate to covering 50% of the carrier’s fees on the new route.
The previous four public calls garnered mixed results. Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, and Cyprus Airways have applied over the four previous tenders, although the latter did not submit complete documentation. Luxair (Luxembourg) has been granted 257.960 euros for operations between September 14, 2023, and May 31, 2025. airBaltic (Riga) will receive 284.408 euros for operations between May 2, 2024, and October 31, 2025. Norwegian Air Shuttle (Copenhagen) has been granted 557.518 euros between April 29, 2024 and October 31, 2025, while Iberia (Madrid) will be the recipient of 18.774 euros between July 29, 2024, and September 5, 2024. So far, all of the newly launched routes are seasonal, with exception to airBaltic, which will maintain year-round services, and Luxair, which operated throughout last winter and this summer, but will only run a handful of flights during the upcoming winter.
Only airlines registered and based in the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) are eligible for the subsidies. The ECAA is made up of states that are part of the European Union, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Kosovo, and Montenegro. The Slovenian government is primarily targeting the introduction of flights from Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, and Lisbon, although all destinations within the ECAA are eligible. Interested carriers have until September 16, just before midnight, to submit their applications. Their opening will not be public and will be carried out by the Aid Granting Commission within fifteen days of the tender deadline.
So Cyprus Airlines bid fell through?
ReplyDeleteYep, paperwork wasn't submitted properly, hence no dice. And now they're having fleet issues
Deleterip
DeleteBravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteSecond worst in Europe, ahead only of Belarus! Bravo!
DeleteFraport is doing its best to develop Slovenian aviation market at LJU. Best airport managers in EU, definitely! Slovenia should be proud!
DeleteShhh be quiet before you make their fanboys angry :)
DeleteSpecially its CEO and her idea of charter hub, right? The first and only airport which bases its CONNECTIVITY on charter ops. What a refined business strategy!
DeleteThey can keep trying, but there's just not enough demand. When will people realize? It's a small and relatively unknown country. Unless the country makes a brilliant mass tourism strategy there's not really going to be new connections. Whow wants to fly half empty planes?
ReplyDeleteExactly, it's the reality of the market.
DeleteLF LJU - RIX in June was 77,5 % and this is not bad.
DeleteThe problem isn't summer. The problem is winter.
DeleteSlovenia had more visitors in 2023 than Bosnia, Macedonia and Serbia combined
DeleteAnd how many came by car?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhy does it have to be mass turism, we ar esmall country, we don’t have the capacity to hold mass turism etc. we shall focus on bussines traveles and more butic turism…
DeleteBut who I am to speak
Fully agree! Mass tourism kills quality tourism.
Deletetotally tend to agree...not many people live there, market is small, maybe focus on lots of flights with smaller planes to nearby larger airports to connect further...
DeleteHas anyone ever heard a European from a non ExYu country to say "I want to visit Ljubljana"???
ReplyDeleteTHAT is the major issue that plagues LJU.
Actually yes, Slovenia is perceived as clean and relatively affordable.
DeleteAnonymous 9:03, well, yes. The country is known and people go on vacation there, believe it or not.
DeleteSome complain there is zero tourism, some complain we have too much, decide already.
DeleteThis year will be the best in Slovenia's tourism ever. As of august the 10th, there is almost a 10 % increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to last year, which already was a record year for tourism. So demand definitely is there and will keep growing. With the introduction of low cost flights Ljubljana would probably become interesting even for tourists, which cannot afford to spend 300 euros for a flight. (Younger people and people from poorer countries)
DeleteAnd its mostly, Germans, Dutches, Italians and French people who are coming, not only the people from ExYu, as the commentator suggests. :)
DeleteBut people are coming by car, not by plane. Because it's in their nature and because of Slovenia's location. It's close to big population centers, such as North Italy, Germany. Those people just drive to Slovenia. If Slovenia would be located further away, I think it would also have more people flying there, as it's inconvenient to drive 3 days to reach. The problem is there's no mass tourism, and the biggest countries per visiting tourist are the ones who can reach the country in less than a day driving.
DeleteTrue every single tourist came by car and not a single one by plane.
DeleteActually, yes. That's why Slovenia had around 2-3 times more tourists in 2019 and over 3 times more in 2023 than Serbia. The market is obviously there
DeleteAnon 10:04 you can't take constructive criticism..
DeleteIf that is constructive criticism then I'm a pope.
DeletePeople also come to Dalmatia and Istria by car. In Zadar, it's easier to see Austrian and Czech carplates than Croatian ones during peak season. Yet ZAD will have far more pax than LJU this year
DeleteI totally agree with anon 10:02, the country is really accessible by car, but with the growth of tourism there, some air traffic growth has to happen as well, not everyone is close enough to drive there by car. IF some low cost flights would be established, I think it would create even more demand and IF the airport would become better connected to the capital (train connection - wild dreams I know), the demand would also improve, since when I travel, a big factor for deciding the destination is how easy is it to get to the capital from the airport, and I surely am not the only one.
DeleteSlovenia has an officially adopted tourism strategy that is not based on mass tourism. It does not need this for sustainable development either. In short, yes, air tourism products are also necessary and better air connections for them, but not for mass tourism.
DeleteYes, ZAD will have more passenger but also most of the tourism (around 70 %) just in 3 month. If you like that type of tourism, go for it. It is not just the number pf passengers that counts in a tourism section development.
DeleteSlovenia is beautiful.
DeleteZAD will have equal or higher numbers than LJU in 7/8 months of this year.
DeleteAnd what does the anti-Fraport police say?
DeleteAgain, I will blindly hope that LCC will apply, base an aircraft or two in Lju and start something good. But as we all now that is about as possible as the flights between Slovenia and Mars
ReplyDeleteWhat is "something good"?
DeleteIts a frase.
DeleteNow we got the clear answer why Air Baltic is operating flights to LJU
ReplyDeleteEnlighten us please.
DeleteIs that gate A1 still without jetbridge, unbelievable
ReplyDeleteWhy?
DeleteYes it is
DeleteWhy is this so unbelievable and why it does matter?
DeleteThere are never 3 schengen departures that would require a jet bridge at the same time, hence it's not needed yet. A1 is mostly used by Lufthansa's CRJs which are not equipped to connect to a jet bridge anyway.
DeleteThere are 3 Schengen departures at the same time (within 30-45min) and why on earth should you not have a jetbridge installed if there is a jetbridge gate. Also A1 is closest gate to Business Lounge and closest to the Duty Free after u passed Security. So logical that this gate MUST have a jetbridge
DeleteRegarding SLO: It's a car destination since public transportation to places outside LJU, Bled etc is rather weak, especially if u are going hiking
Re LCC
If KLU and TRS can manage to hve LCC to Spain, I do not see a reason why LJU can not have it. BCN VLC or PMI 2-3 weekly during SUTT should be doable
The whole airport is mostly used by Lufthansa, not just A1. Fraport loves Lufthansa and Lufthansa loves Fraport.
DeleteAnd the GOV is standing still waiting for the market to become better served and competitive. It hasnt become and it wont. Fraport needs to leave. Until then no change in air connectivity will be possible.
Fraport will stay, they are owners and not concessionaires, weather you like it or not. And LJU has never had such a diverse range of different airlines as it does now, especially not at the time when Adria dominated.
DeleteThey are the owners, but that does not mean they will stay. The GOV should expropriate them and take control of the airport. Something similar has recently happened in neighbouring countries. Enough is enough.
DeleteSuch a diverse number of carriers, yet less flights, less capacity, worse schedules, less pax, worse connectivity, bigger spill over.
Delete@11:53 are you one of those delusionals who claim Fraport attracted 6 airlines and not government because those subsidies are "insignificant"?
Delete@12:07 don't forget that in June outside of Cartel just Finnair and Air Serbia had growth, all others had less passengers. Lufthansa jumped from 15k to almost 22k.
DeleteAnon 12:07: I have already said several times: there will never be the same level of connectivity as there was during the time of Adria, because it simply isn't sustainable, even if we happen to get a new domestic carrier. This could improve the timetable, but no more flying half-empty planes just for better air connectivity will be possible.
DeleteWhat are you trying to tell with june numbers?
DeleteJust one comment regarding the connectivity and its correlation with a national carrier. slovenia could have a better connectivity than it was provided by JP. Why? Because the new national carrier shouldn’t be just a feeder to LHG (*A) but its business model should be based on something similar like JU or BT - no membership in alliance but a broad range of CS/interline agreements with partners.
Delete@11:42 Most Slovenians travel to Croatia by car for their vacation while most Austrians travel to Italy/Spain/Greece/Croatia for their holidays. Northern Italy and Croatia, most travels are done by car while Spain and Greece are accessible by plane. Just because something works in Austria, it does not mean it will in Slovenia. National habits are different and you cannot simply equate the markets. Don't beat yourself too much for it, this is something that most "Fraport should be expropriated" commentators here do not understand.
Deleteso the only tourism that generates air traffic is a 2 week summer tourists and not city break tourists? Business (also congress tourists) pax? We are not talking about mass tourism network with 8 flights per day to one destination (like PMI for almost every german airport), yet slovenia (and demand for slovenia) has enough demand to feed a network which covers majority of EU countries. Its unreasonable to think BCN cant be served at least in SUTT. Same with Rome and Canary islands in winter.
DeleteRome makes no sense. Not when there are multiple daily flights to nearby Trieste with large aircraft.
DeleteFlights to IST, DXB make no sense as there are multiple daily flights with different carriers from ZAG, VCE, VIE, yet both routes are operating successfully.
DeleteEspecially London with VCE, TRS, TSF, ZAG, PUY, RJK, KLU.. those BA and Easyjet flights to LJU make no sense. Should discontinue immediately!
Delete@13:19 Why exactly BCN? Why not MAD for example with a larger catchment area and better connections for possible transfers? Why not AGP, VLC or ALC that have many beaches and are very enjoyable cities. I'm really curious why BCN exactly has to work. If that was the case, wouldn't you think that someone would have already started to fly that route? Btw, Adria, as the home carrier, tried the route, even with special promotions and sub 250€ return tickets and the route failed.
DeleteBtw you should know this was 15 years ago.
DeleteOk, let me rephrase myself. If any spanish city should work then its BCN, with saying that i dont mean MAD wouldnt, but MAD makes sense only if you can connect on IB flights, on the other side BCN can sustain on P2P traffic.
DeleteAnonymous 13:39, were you trying to respond to my comment about Rome not making sense? You seem to have missed my point. Sorry, let me be more clear.
DeleteTrieste is in Italy. Rome is the capital city. So many people travel between Trieste and Rome that there are several flights a day, offering a choice of timetables, with large aircraft that have a low cost per seat and therefore reasonably low fares.
Ljubljana is not very far from TRS. The demand between Ljubljana and Rome is much, much lower. If an airline would be reckless enough to start FCO-LJU, they can't fly as often or with aircraft as big. They would either use smaller aircraft with higher seat cost, meaning they would need to charge higher fares (that would struggle competing with the lower fares at TRS), and/or operate with lower frequency (that would struggle competing with the wide range of departures at TRS).
Would some people prefer paying more for an inferior timetable out of their local airport LJU? Yes. Are they sufficiently many? No. Not when TRS is so close and the offering on this route is so much better.
The same argument could be applied on Dubrovnik. LJU-DBV will never work because of ZAG-DBV.
I could partly agree with you and they and came to the point where you compare Rome with Dubrovnik.
DeleteFor all "NO DEMAND" guys and you can fly from VIE, VCE and ZAG:
DeletePlanning and Booking
Passengers want convenience when they plan their travel and when choosing from where to depart. Their preference is to fly from an airport close to home, have all booking options and services available in one single place and pay with their preferred payment method.
Proximity to the airport was passengers’ main priority when choosing their departure point (71%). This was more important than ticket price (31%).
IATA data 2023
Sure, everyone prefers to use their local airport, but that's not always enough to make the economics work.
DeleteWe can look at examples elsewhere in Europe. The state of Saxony in Germany has four million inhabitants, yet the airports in Leipzig and Dresden don't have very impressive route networks. Berlin and Prague are simply too close with their wide range of non-stop and lower cost options.
But it's great when people are loyal to their local airport and support the hub carriers there to show the airlines to which destinations there is demand. One day, with a bit of luck, that might build up to a direct route.
Slovene should use Zagreb airport and it’s benefits. Actually, great grand master of aviation proclaimed that Zagreb is far the best indirectly connected airport in ExYu, which means from there you can fly to everywhere in the world. Luckily, Slovenia is in the proximity to Zagreb airport, which means no need to waste money on some subsidies and public calls.
ReplyDeleteThese are EU funds lol
DeleteThese subsidies are really not attractive. In reality they are even lower than described in the article, because these values assume full flights, which they never are. The government should instead focus on promoting Slovenia as a destination, especially during the low season, to make sure that the planes are full. Good load factors would be a much better incentive for airlines to start new flights instead of reducing them as we see now.
ReplyDeleteYou dont know how the mechanism work but you still think your opinion is relevant?
DeleteNo need to be disrespectful. I know exactly how the subsidies work. Airlines get 50% of their LJU airport taxes refunded. If the load factor is lower then the airport taxes are lower and therefore the refund in the end is lower.
DeleteThats the EU legal framework. The GOV did what the rules permit and Fraport? Nothing. Zero. They keep telling us how we can all fly via FRA and MUC.
DeleteBut fanboys will tell you how Fraport brought us 6 airlines because of their huge discounts and that govt subsidies are insignificant.
DeleteHaha the Fraport hater guy is working overtime again. Already 20+ spam comments, I'm sure a lot more are comming.
ReplyDeleteI see more "no demand" from fanboys.
DeleteI know a lot of people how are unsatisfied with Fraport’s business performance as the airport’s operator, on the other hand i know NONE who praises it to the sky. NONE. Slovenia is very divided about everything, however people agree on one thing. Air connectivity is abysmal!
DeleteEveryone thinks Fraport is amazing company! All those haters how dare they criticise best company in the world!
DeleteMost of the people even these that are flying don’t even know what Fraport is.
DeleteMost of the relevant population knows what Fraport is and where Fraport fell.
DeleteIt's only the three couch commanders here who drag Fraport under every news about LJU and do not understand that the issues are deeper than just Fraport management.
DeleteThere is always one guy praising Cartel.
DeleteGlory to the Lufthansa Cartel! Huzzah
DeleteUniversal Air to apply
ReplyDeleteCan someone from the fanboys club explain to me how "charter hub" idea is successful? Best CEO in the world didn't explain it.
ReplyDeleteSlovenia and Macedonia - every news is about subsidies.
ReplyDeleteKakšni so LF za ATH, DXB, CPH, RIX, LUX, ZRH?
ReplyDeleteDXB slabih 70%, ATH 74,5%, RIX 77.5%, CPH, 75%, LUX 80,4% ZRH dobrih 80% Ti je za junij 2024
DeleteSe pravi 3.6. Not great not terrible.
DeleteThat's not bad, but I expected better. I flew LJU-RIX twice and both flights were almost completely full
DeleteConnectivity is very bed! Feeding just LH Group .... with very high prices.
ReplyDeleteIf they opened the subsidies to airlines based in the UK too, they may get some results - given easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Ryanair UK and Wizz Air UK are all within nearby cities
ReplyDeleteWould give a better chance to connect Slovenia with Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and increase London connections
Read the EU framework first…
DeleteKakšni pa so LF za FRA, CDG, BEG, MAD, SKP, MUC, WAW in IST?
ReplyDelete