Low cost carrier Ryanair has halted sales on its seasonal flights between Zagreb and Podgorica. The route, which was initially due to increase from three to four weekly rotations this coming summer, is now expected to be discontinued following the carrier’s latest network revisions this week, although changes remain possible. Services between the two capitals were due to resume on April 2 and run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with the 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft operated by Ryanair’s subsidiary Lauda Air. The airline launched operations between the two in September 2021. Last year, the route was downgraded to summer seasonal, with the budget carrier blaming Podgorica’s fee hike for the decision, labelling the airport as “completely uncompetitive compared to others in Europe”.
The Montenegrin government, in partnership with the country’s airport operator, has since sought to reduce fees for low cost carriers. This September, the country’s Minister for Transport said the decision by the airport’s former management to raise charges had a “highly negative impact”. Ryanair suspended all but its London Stansted route to Podgorica this winter season but was due to restore all flights in the summer of 2025 and increase operations on select routes. While it will still boost frequencies on services to Charleroi and Krakow, each up by two weekly on 2024, it will discontinue Zagreb and has reduced planned summer operations on the Stansted service from five to three weekly.
Ryanair handled a total of 26.835 passengers on its Zagreb - Podgorica service last year for an average cabin load factor of 89.1%. From April this year until the end of August, for which the latest data is available, the budget airline welcomed 23.551 travellers on the route, for an average cabin load factor of 87.2%. During the April - August period of this year, the airline operated 62 additional movements on the route compared to the same timeframe in 2023. This coming summer, Ryanair has scheduled a new service from Zagreb to Palermo and will increase frequencies on a number of other routes from its base in the Croatian capital.
That's an oportunity for ewither 4O or OU to start flights with an Embraer or a Q400,
ReplyDeleteThe 186 seat 737 was always too big for this route.
😂
DeleteThe route was operated by Lauda's A320.
DeleteWhich also has around 180 seats
Delete@9.03 it literally says which aircraft type and with how many seats operated this route. You didn't even read the article but were first to comment.
DeleteIt still doesn't change the fact that there was simply too much capacity on the route. There is a reason why OU terminated this route and never considered bringing it back.
DeleteFR wanted to reinvent the wheel and it seems like they are not doing their best.
They had 90% LF. Reading the article would really help.
DeleteIt was 90% because you could buy one way tickets for €10.
DeleteYes, they can do it because their costs and cost per passenger is low. They sell 10 pound tickets from the UK to many destinations in western europe.
DeleteAnd do you really think they make a profit selling £10 seats?
DeleteSome people here can not understand that airport taxes alone are more than 10 Euros for almost all airports in Europe!
DeleteRyanair make their profits on selling extras and add ons, not on the actual ticket itself.
Delete.
11:51 only 😂😂😂 you are our allknown and wellknown Profi
DeleteIf this route is indeed terminated than it will be third route to be closed from ZAG for next year:
ReplyDeleteDUS-ZAG
ICN-ZAG
TGD-ZAG
Fares to TGD were dirt cheap, you could fly for as little as €20. Even with a 90% LF I doubt they were making crazy money. I think they will just send this capacity elsewhere.
Bad news for ZAG
DeleteWell DUS-ZAG is the result of FR and worsening economy in Germany. Ryanair is cheaper, flies from a cheaper airport etc.
DeleteEW is not very competitive in general.
FR opako porezao ZAG. Opako. Nije dobro. Kajgot.
DeleteThe kajgot gets me every time lol
DeletePuno previse.
DeleteFR opako porezao OU. Opako. Nije dobro. Kajgot. Puno Previše.
DeleteThis route always seemed unstable for FR.
ReplyDeleteRyanair said ealier this week they are going to have to make cuts across network due to aircraft delivery delays.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we will see more FR cuts in the region then.
DeleteOf course. Can see them leaving Banja Luka soon.
DeleteGood riddance to Ryanair!
Delete^^ Why?
DeletePity about London being reduced from TGD too.
ReplyDeleteOpens up opportunity for new route to be launched from ZAG.
ReplyDeleteThey are launching Palermo. And with the frequency increases it means they won't add extra planes to the base.
DeleteI'm shocked at how many passengers they had tbh.
ReplyDeleteSame. And these are all P2P.
DeleteI know at least 3 people who used to catch this flight so they could fly from ZAG onwards with FR.
Delete40 should really get some E75s for local routes
ReplyDeleteThey are unable to sign a codeshare agreeement for 4 years or grow their fleet but you expect them to acquire E175s...
DeleteIt's most likely a blackmail tactic aimed at TGD. If they lower their fees they will resume flights. If not, it will be discontinued.
ReplyDeleteTypical FR.
DeleteThose taxes in Podgorica are actually really low.
DeleteDemand is also low, so taxes are not low enough.
DeleteThat's actually a good opportunity for Air Montenegro to launch at least ZAG.
ReplyDeleteIs this Ryanair's only intra-ex-Yu route?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteSo, no more connecting families, I guess?
ReplyDeleteThe only families are on TGD-BEG route
Deletethat leaves SKP-LJU the only exyu route flown by a foreign carrier?
ReplyDeleteCorrect
DeleteIs Ryanair still set to announce 4 new routes out of Sarajevo this month?
ReplyDeleteI don't see why not
DeleteTGD - MAN also closed reservations.
ReplyDeleteThose passenger numbers on ZAG-TGD-ZAG are not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteManchester definitely cancelled, got an email stating "Your flight has been cancelled due to commercial reasons"
ReplyDeleteThe tickets can be still purchased on FR site.
DeleteNope, they are not available on the site anymore
DeleteJU likes this
ReplyDelete