Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is likely to see an end to its passenger growth streak in November, continuing into the rest of winter after several carriers announced plans to cut back operations to the Slovenian capital over the coming months. Although airlines are still likely to make adjustments to their winter networks, Ljubljana Airport is expected to see its capacity levels on scheduled services drop by 9.5% in November and 7% in December. The rate of decline will slow in January to 1.8% but will fall 7.6% in February and 2.1% in March. The airport does see a notable number of charter flights throughout the winter, which may soften the probable passenger decline.
During this winter season, which begins on Sunday and runs until late March of next year, British Airways will suspend its flights between London Heathrow and Ljubljana. The airline plans to resume seasonal summer operations next April. The development comes after Wizz Air discontinued its service between London Luton and Ljubljana in February, which will also impact figures this coming fourth quarter when compared to last year. Air Baltic, which initially scheduled operations between Riga and the Slovenian capital throughout the winter, has now reduced services and will not operate between January and March.
Air France will reduce its operations between Paris Charles de Gaulle and the Slovenian capital, from eight ans nine weekly last winter to daily. The Pristina-based GP Aviation is suspending its flights to Ljubljana until mid-December, while Luxembourg’s flag carrier Luxair will also reduce operations on its flights from the Grand Duchy. The airline will suspend services on the route between November 3 and December 19 after which they will operate twice per week until January 5. Operations will then be suspended again until February 16 when they will be restored twice per week. On the other hand, carriers with the largest amount of added capacity will include Lufthansa, with over 6.200 additional seats, Turkish Airlines with an extra 4.364 seats, and Transavia with an added 4.364 seats
The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has acknowledged the challenging winter ahead for Ljubljana Airport. In a statement issued this week it said, “In 2019, the frequency of flights was 49% better than it is today. This means a significantly reduced choice for travellers. And the forecast for the future is not the best either, mainly due to the cancellation of some already established services. We expect a decline in the number of flights and passengers between November and March". Capacity levels on Ljubljana flights will decline 5.8% for the duration of the winter season.
Network changes for the upcoming winter season are still likely and may impact overall capacity levels. The information in the article is correct at the time of publication.
Considering passengers have not recovered to pre Covid levels yet, this is bad.
ReplyDeletePre Covid numbers were also pre Adria numbers which equals in connecting passengers. And those passengers are counted twice (arrival, departure).
DeleteI think comparisons like this aren't valid.
In other words - things are not so bad as numbers show.
In any possible words the situation is very bad. It was said many times (and ignored by Fraport fanboys) that Adria moved cca 200k passengers annually as transfers - this was up to 15% of LJU traffic. This winter the decline will be at least 30% compared to 2019 (and 2019 was not the best year at all).
DeleteThe situation is only bad if you put yourself into a mindset that passenger numbers must be higher than pre-Covid and pre-Adria bankruptcy time. Could it be better? Yes, absolutely, but you also need to consider all the factors that brought the airport into such situation and Fraport here plays a minor role.
DeleteSorry but Fraport has been running Ljubljana Airport since 2014! It most certainly had a major role. One thing is that they seemed to have been the only ones that could not predict Adria's bankruptcy.
DeleteFor Fraport, the most important thing is that Lufthansa has increased capacity. Nothing else matters.
DeleteActually this is not true. It's also important that there is not too much LCC presence in LJU which might impact LH yields. But this is called business model, not conspiracy.
DeleteYes, all of this is proven by the "trust me bro" guys.
DeleteAnd neglected by "conspiracy" guys. :-)
DeleteNot good
ReplyDeleteLjubljana cant catch a break from bad news :(
ReplyDeleteHow come there are so many reduction this winter?
DeleteThe airport is too expensive to operate and it's difficult to make profit in low season.
DeleteThese cancellations literally happen every winter.
DeleteTrue, but not so much. Nobody expected decline in relative terms.
Delete@9.37 Not really considering BA was flying last winter and this winter they are not, Wizz had flights to London until February, now they don't. Air France has less flights than last winter, Luxair has less flights than last winter...
DeleteThat's a lot of airlines reducing flights.
ReplyDeleteHope things improve from next summer.
ReplyDeleteHow come there are such big variations in capacity between December and January?
ReplyDeleteBecause some airlines are not flying until late December and then resume flights.
DeleteFor now... further cancelations are expected in Q1.
DeleteI'm not surprised. The only new airlines that have come in the last 2 years were due to government subsidies. Airport management could not care less.
ReplyDelete@9.17And who do you think was the initiator of the subsidies, if not Fraport? Bratušek? LOL They wouldn't have done anything if Fraport had not put pressure on them to do something, when they had so successfully managed to destroy Adria! And she, the most incompetent of them all, is now the great saviour of Slovenian aviation??myass, so please all of you, switch the brain on a bit next time, before you comment on things you have absolutely no idea about
DeleteWell I am very familiar with the situation and those subsidies were pushed by the state and not at all by Fraport, who is extremely passive.
DeleteIf Fraport 'initiated' the subsidies, why are they launched and paid for by the Government? Lol
DeleteFraport couldn't care lees as long as their *A partners grow while having fees higher than airports 4 times their size
Ljubljana goes into hibernation.
ReplyDeleteMaribor and Portoroz too.
DeleteHow many passengers will LJU have this year?
ReplyDeleteI think 1.3 million.
DeleteMy forecast is 1,42 million.
DeletePity
ReplyDeleteAs someone who travels frequently from Ljubljana, this is disappointing news. The cuts from British Airways and Air France will be felt. I hope the airport can bounce back in the future, but this winter will be challenging for sure.
ReplyDeleteSad to see these cuts! Ljubljana is such a beautiful city, and it deserves better connectivity.
ReplyDeleteThank Fraport
DeleteI thought that Slovenia is recognized as a popular winter destination. I would expect an increase in winter, rather than decline
ReplyDeletePeople are flying to neighboring airports instead.
DeleteCan't wait to see who Fraport will blame now.
ReplyDeleteLow demand, as usual... "We are not Greek island"
DeleteAh yes. They will also say something about "mass tourism" in other countries.
DeleteOh wait... winter is coming. They will say "We are like Greek island, no demand in winter"
DeleteOnly thing that can help is Ryanair or a new national airline.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Fraport is spending money on LinkedIn to promote LJU as a great place for team buildings, celebrations, gatherings and other business events. So smart.
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly going to start believing some comments I read here that their only aim with LJU was the property around the airport.
DeleteAnd offering terminal for filming... But have you noticed that they don't promote airport as such, neither informing about government incentives etc..? Why? It looks they transformed to real estate company and air transport is only a burden for them.
Delete^ sad
DeleteLjubljana is a beautiful city and Slovenia is a beautiful country surrounded by beautiful Croatia, Italy, Austria and Hungary.
ReplyDeleteBut that just means the airport needs to work harder to attract airlines. There is no reason LJU shouldn't be the airport people who are travelling to those surrounding country use.
DeleteI wonder how much money is being lost on a state level due to this poor connectivity.
ReplyDeleteUsually airports have incentives in place to boost traffic during winter months. Not sure if LJU has them.
ReplyDeleteThey have some incentive scheme, but it's not significant and it's time limited.
DeleteWhat a surprise
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes 'winter is coming' .
DeleteIt's time for a joint venture to establish a national airline.
ReplyDeleteIt was long time ago, but now it's proven by performance and traffic figures that this is the only option.
DeleteCrazy that not a single winter month will have capacity growth
ReplyDelete`Poor selection of destinations this winter. Just a few hubs offered and that's it.
ReplyDeleteThat's the reality of the market unfortunately.
DeletePay SkyAlps or UniversalAir to fly a few routes and that's it, LJU needs Dash or ATR operator
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIf Sky Alps can do it from Mostar, they can do it from Ljubljana.
DeleteLet's not forget that FlyDubai had 2nd daily flights in October, December and February last year, and now they are gone beacause Fraport won't give them discounts
ReplyDeleteDamn :(
DeleteWhere did you see FlyDubai is gone. The have daily flight at Dec 16 to end winter season. And I think they add second daily flight same as last winter did. When are Holidays in Slovenia.
DeleteThey have removed every 2nd daily flights this winter - which they operated for the past 2 years
DeleteTo be honest, I really wasn't expecting LJU to be struggling AGAIN so soon.
ReplyDeleteAny idea what the charter traffic volume will be this winter? It will help soften the blow.
ReplyDeleteLess then last year due to KOMPAS problems.
DeleteHow does TK keep adding seats when it has the same number of flights?
ReplyDeleteThey are using more A321s compared to previous years. The difference per flight of using an A321 is actually not small.
DeleteA330-200
DeleteThey rarely use A330s and they have no A330 lights scheduled this winter so far. But it is true they are using more A321s.
DeleteAnd they are more consistently flying double daily, with less operational cancelations. Next summer third daily is expected.
DeleteIt will be worse than this. More cuts are coming.
ReplyDeleteWell u all saying that SKP should rely on a single carrier. Well look at the situation here, LJU is not relaing on a single carrier and yet many of them will reduce their winter operations, but not because of the engine problems with the NEO, because there is simply no demand.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Ljubljana doesn't even list Pristina in their timetable... Not to mention them still having White, WizzAir UK and FlyEgypt listed as operators - one of them is bankrupt, one of them stoped flying 9 months ago and one of them never even touched down in LJU...
ReplyDeleteThey still have Air Malta listed, altough it's not even an airline too...what a joke
Delete