Turkish considering B&H exit

Turkish Airlines blames government for B&H problems
Local media have tipped that Turkish Airlines, which owns a 49% stake in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national carrier B&H Airlines, could soon relinquish its shares. The Turkish carrier accuses the Bosnian government and its lack of cooperation for the current state the airline is in. “The partnership started off well. We wanted to export our know-how to the airline. However, the CEO of B&H had to wait three months to get an appointment at the Ministry of Transport. Our ideas were not met with understanding and the ministry did nothing to secure licenses to other countries. This caught us by surprise”, Hamdi Topcu, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines told the “Oslobodjenje” daily.

B&H Airlines is today operating with one ATR72 since another has been undergoing maintenance for over a month. Turkish Airlines’ Airbus A319, which operated for B&H has returned to its owner’s fleet and will not be returning to Sarajevo. The airline has been forced to cancel numerous destinations and many are beginning to avoid the national carrier due to uncertainty. In 2010, B&H Airlines recorded a loss of 10.230.000 euros. The airline is yet to publish its 2011 financial report although the Ministry of Transport warns that substantial losses were also recorded last year. “Bosnia does not care for B&H Airlines. This was a big disappointment for us. The main reason for the current state of the airline is a complete lack of interest and understanding”, Topcu concludes.

Enver Bijedić from the Ministry of Transport says Bosnia needs a national carrier. “It is our aim to survive with these two aircraft. We have to keep the airline and keep flying until there are better conditions on the market”. Earlier in the month the ministry accused Turkish for not adhering to its purchasing contract. B&H Airlines was set up on the back of the bankrupt former national carrier Air Bosna. The Bosnian government subsidises its national carrier with 3.4 million euros on an annual basis. B&H carried 129.435 passengers in 2011, a decrease of 6.7% compared to the year before.

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:43

    I thought it was obvious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:22

    What a pity! I am a satisfied customer of theirs. The biggest problem is the lack of code share agreements. ZRH without LX, VIE without OS, Prague without OK, CPH without SK simply doesn't make any sense. Period.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous14:00

    The airline, just like the country, is falling apart.

    ReplyDelete
  4. JU520 BEGLAX19:37

    OT:

    Today celebrations for 20 years Adria flying to ZRH.
    1 hour sightseeing flight over Swiss Alps with A319 S5-AAR and as a special surprise escorted by 2 Swiss Airforce F18s for apx 30 minutes.
    Director of Tourism Board of St. Moritz Dr. Hans Peter Danuser was playing the traditional alphorn during the flight and the ceremonies. Currently ongoing reception at the airport with Zurich Airport Vice President Conrad, Adria CEO Bostjancic, Swiss Ambassador to Slovenia Robert Reich and apx 80 guests from local and Slovenian travel industry. Airbus Fleet Chef Kaucic was piloting the flight. JP transported in 2011 on the ZRH route 74000 passengers, which means top 3 best and most financially Adria lines.
    20% of the passengers are beyond LJU passengers to the Balkans. Close to 50% are point to point passengers and a good share of it includes passengers from Kärnten, Istria, and the Friuli Region.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous19:47

    OT:

    No Zagreb in QR destinations guides.

    A quick look at the following site will show you that Zagreb is completely absent from Qatar's destinations guide display, unlike others, perfectly describing the level of importance the city has for the company; a convenient and cheap BUD-DOH on the way filler.

    http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/destinations/guides/arrival-guides.page

    ReplyDelete
  6. JU520 BEGLAX20:26

    Well, we all know why they launched flights to Zagreb anyway, they're soon to be cancelled, right after the season. They consider replacing it with Ljubljana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JU520 BEGLAX22:15

      JU520 BEGLAX ??

      hehe that s my user name..... I didn t write that....

      rgds the real JU520

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:46

      It won't be LJU!It is highly probable it will be SKP.Next month QR representatives are visiting SKP to make it real

      Delete
  7. Anonymous21:22

    Doha - Qatar is still bookable via Qatar Airline's website.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous23:15

    Croatia Airlines would be the perfect partner for BiH Airlines. I am sure Croatia Airlines would be able to send 2-3 Q-400's to replace those two ATR's and possibly at least 1 A320 once they begin to exit the Croatia Airlines fleet. Croatia Airlines should have the majority stake since the Bosnian government seems not to have the focus necessary needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Observer23:34

      A loss making airline buying another loss making airline? Yes, it would truly be a match made in heaven.

      Delete
    2. Tupolev16000:02

      I would really like to see that...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous05:53

      Tupko grade 160, CRO hater

      Delete
  9. Anonymous00:19

    Somebody needs to put this airline out of its misery!

    Shut it down.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous01:15

    Did anyone notice CSA started ATR Cargo flights to BEG extending sometimes to Skopje and Sofia?
    Someone even mentioned Lufthansa starting all-cargo flights to Vienna. Any real info about that?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous01:28

    Yeah, CSA is operating 2 weekly cargo flight to BEG.
    As for Lufthansa i dont know anything about it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous02:10

    Qatar have 5th freedom on BUD-ZAG-BUD route, and they sell tickets on that lages for just 200 EUR.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous03:03

      Hmmm.."Just" 200 Euros for a 30min. hop?!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:44

      I've just checked some dates and can't find anything under 300€, which is ridiculous for a return flight of less than 90 minutes in total.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous08:56

    It is not 30 minutes, but 2 hours there and back

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12:00

    The poor BUD airport now had to accept everything, after Malev left. Let's see what happens on BEG-ESB leg, that will be very interesting to watch.

    ReplyDelete

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