Skopje surges as Dubrovnik overtakes Pristina

Growth for Skopje, Dubrovnik and Split airports as Pristina tumbles

Skopje Alexander the Great Airport saw another strong month in August as its passenger numbers continued to record double digit growth. Macedonia’s busiest airport welcomed 143.424 travellers, an increase of 25.4% compared to the same month last year. It marks the airport’s seventh consecutive month of passenger growth. Skopje is now on course to handle over one million passengers this year and break its all time record set in 2000. So far in 2014, the airport has welcomed 810.701 travellers, up 20.9%. Meanwhile, the country’s second international airport, Ohrid, saw 15.729 passengers this August. Overall, Ohrid Airport, which has no scheduled year-round flights, welcomed 51.422 travellers during the first eight months of the year.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN62.362 1.4
FEB65.22320.4
MAR76.58912.3
APR105.59642.0
MAY109.02924.3
JUN116.35220.8
JUL132.22717.5
AUG143.42425.4

Over on the Croatian coast, Dubrovnik Airport did good business once again, registering growth of 7.9% in August. It saw an impressive 317.184 passengers pass through its doors during the month. Following in the footsteps of its coastal counterpart Split, Dubrovnik Airport has now also surpassed Pristina Airport and positioned itself as the fourth busiest in the former Yugoslavia. Pristina has meanwhile slipped into fifth place, down from third last year. Pristina’s decline, which is expected to continue until December, is comparable to that of Ljubljana Airport in 2012, when it was badly affected by Adria Airways’ network reductions. Dubrovnik Airport handled 1.178.072 passengers during the first eight months of the year. On the other hand, Pristina is yet to break the million mark. The airport saw an 18% passenger decline in August and has now welcomed just over 960.000 travellers during the year.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN15.950 15.5
FEB14.423 15.9
MAR21.963 29.6
APR87.774 12.7
MAY181.898 2.3
JUN234.887 4.9
JUL303.993 9.7
AUG317.184 7.9

For its part, Split Airport saw a record August by handling 392.075 passengers, making it the second busiest in the former Yugoslavia during the month, behind only Belgrade. The figure represents an increase of 13.8% on last year. So far in 2014, the coastal airport has welcomed 1.332.289 passengers through its doors, up 11.2%. As a result, Split Airport maintains its position as the third busiest in the former Yugoslavia.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN26.0444.2
FEB21.5304.4
MAR27.580 16.8
APR79.284 19.6
MAY159.485 14.2
JUN236.921 3.5
JUL388.899 15.8
AUG392.075 13.8

With the end of the third quarter approaching this month, Belgrade, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and Pristina continue to make up the top five busiest airports in the former Yugoslavia, as was the case last year.

AirportPAXChange (%)
Belgrade3.104.84830.4
Zagreb1.613.9833.8
Split1.332.289 11.2
Dubrovnik1.178.072 5.3
Prstina967.879 17.6

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:06

    Number talks, BS walks. Good bye Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      The comment makes no sense.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:09

      Well, Anonymous 9:06 AM, since you have Arabs behind your back, national carrier with numerous discounts for fuel and towards the airport, state (Vucic) giving taxpayers' money, only one functional airport in the country, great results are not questionable! Congratulations!

      Delete
    3. Aэrologic10:29

      Can say the same about Qatar.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:37

      Go Croatia, another record year!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:30

      @ 10:09 AM

      What if the guy is a local-patriot from Dubrovnik?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:50

      +1 @12.30PM

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:19

      Hardly, we don't have those problems in Croatia. It is just another provocation.

      Go Split
      Go Dubrovnik
      Go Zadar
      Go Pula
      Go Zagreb
      Go Osijek...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous13:23

      Well, he can be DBV fan, why not...but all HR airports are gaining growth. And percentage wise it is easier for smaller volume airports to gain higher, even double digit growth. However, not sure why bye bye Zagreb when now it is peak period for DBV (or SPU) and I could understand the comment if on yearly basis DBV or SPU overtake ZAG. Otherwise, comment really doesnt make too much sense...

      Delete
  2. I can't believe that at the end of 2013 I thought that BEG breaking 4 million was optimistic!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:07

    Since Croatia Airlines is doing really bad, Croatian airports have excellent results! Congrats to all the other airports as well, but Split is a true hit this year, Zagreb will have great results next year with new carriers and new routes coming, hopefully OU will perform better!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous11:15

    Congratulations to SPU, SPK and DBV on the results above!

    Biggest winner this year is BEG, and after that SPU, and on the losing side - PRN.

    Good luck to all exYu airports for the rest of the year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JU520 BEGLAX11:28

    So actually a nice stats who should also make the 2 squabblers from the region happy: BEG is the Nr 1 airport in ex YU and Croatia has the most passengers from the ex YU
    COOL so for once almost everybody is happy

    for CH spotters: yestday inaugural flight of RU in BSL with 74N. From now each Friday 74Y will operate 2250h to SVO

    Tomorrow inaugural flight BSL-DWC with EK 77X
    after that each Sunday to Dubai World Cargo Airport
    dont forget each Sunday there is also a KE 77X in BSL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:14

      @JU520 BEGLAXSeptember 20, 2014 at 11:28 AM

      Its a marathon not a sprint ;)


      Croatia, or Zagreb is jet to be awarded an major EU agency, also Zagreb is becoming very popular city brake destination now with million visitors expected this year and 1.75 million nights, 2015 is looks even more promising, 20% growth is expected on 2014 figures in number of visitors, and Zagreb once again is attracting the right sorts of companies. Croatia's exports are up by 17% on first half of 2013, with strong growth predicted for the rest of the year and city is organizing major events in 2015, major international sporting/congress/events will be held in Zagreb in 2015.

      Although these aren't the guarantors of major passenger growths, but scores of new airlines that have started to fly to Zagreb are, and with OU exiting its self imposed recession in April 2015, things look promising.

      Longer term Zagreb has superb prospects as an regional airport, as most airports of any independent nation.

      Zagreb had recession due to OU, but thins are chaneging fast, Zagreb has managed to attract major airlines back and score of new airlines are yet to come, 2015 looks very promising, but 2016 and 2017 will be even more promising with more new carriers coming and new route as well as new terminal going up,





      Delete
    2. JU520 BEGLAX14:52

      I m looking with excitement to the challenge :-)
      And you re right Zagreb is a nice city to visit, it has been now 4 years since i hve been there last time and i can t wait to be back again.an EU agency that s cool and important. Does LJU has one, not sure and if rather small one, right?

      Greets fm Zurich. End of Oct I ll be in Buje, Istria, Trieste and end year in Slo and Montenegro

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:52

      You might be right, but in the meantime asl is eating the whole cake. Zagreb needs a strong national carrier, and the 3 mil of bg seem to be far beyond zg actual possibilities. We have just to aknoledge bg and asl success. Easy.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:54

      Ju520 don't forget to eat truffles in Buje, they are delicious :-)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:51

      @JU520 BEGLAXSeptember 20, 2014 at 2:52 PM

      Yes it does, http://www.slovenia.si/slovenia/country/environment/acer-the-first-eu-agency-based-in-slovenia/

      its a big one too, Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), Energy regulatory agency/body, it'll grow as EU is more federalized.

      Zagreb might be home to Trade or a Travel and Tourism agency, not sure yet, we'll see there are 3-4 agencies that still need to be awarded their seats, Zagreb is a prime location for one of them. trade authority would be a massive one, Trade and Tourism with in the EU is one large segment of Economy so if Zagreb gets this agency in future, numbers will go up dramatically for Agency will need at least 3-5000 permanent staff and you can imagine maximum 20% can be domestic staff, rest must be from across the EU.

      EU Environmental Agency in Copenhagen has around 8000 staff, 80% non Danes, and its one of the busier agencies out there, for Environmental protection and policy is a cornerstone of the EU.

      New Agency in Ljubljana just stared with operations, they still need to get new offices and new staff, but when this is running Agency will have around 2000 staff at least, it won't happen before 2017, when new offices should be all set up, it can grow in to full Regulatory body for the entire EU, if that happens that number of stuff might go up to 10-12000 staff, however that won't happen before 2020.

      European Food Safety Authority in Parma Italy has 8000 staff so this should be an indicator how big these agencies can get if they're major regulatory bodies with in the EU.






      Delete
    6. JU520 BEGLAX16:50

      I m always at the Casa Parenzana, the owner Mr Schwengersbauer fm Austria lives since 1972 in Istria, he basically knows each and everbody there. Only his Fuži with Tartufi are a trip worth :-)

      Do u know the girls from the stara mlina. U feel like god in heaven.... Istria is jusr marvelhous

      Delete
    7. JU520 BEGLAX16:56

      Sounds good anonymous 0351h. Actually very interesting and it will be exciting to have all these foreigners working around in ZAG and LJU.
      Definitely good perspectives! I hve the feeling the bottom of the crisis has been hit and slowly there is an upwards trends to notice :-)

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:12

      Are there plans for EU Bureaucracy Busting Agency?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:50

      "Zagreb has superb prospects as an regional airport, as most airports of any independent nation." - LMAO.

      Delete
  6. Aэrologic11:42

    I am making a brief comeback to comment on the experience i recently had travelling through Budapest airport to/from Kiev.

    I found a great deal on the BUD-IEV route so i decided to try out the airport and visit Budapest along the way (for the 10th time probably). My overall impression can be labelled as 'surprise' and that given a number of reasons, one of them being the almost mythical place that BUD airport enjoys in the mind of many people in Serbia and beyond. First of all, the airport is very small and cramped. The Terminal 2 is basically the size of BEG but divided in two parts making it really small and uncomfortable. Talking of queues at BEG? Queues at BUD are huge, both at check-in and security. If not for the Skycourt you reach only once passed the security and the maze-like duty-free, it would really be claustrophobic with the lack of daylight being a real nuisance. The link to the city is very poor, going through a Batajnica-like road, with no highway to the city-center whatsoever. The bus+metro combination is both uncomfortable and expensive, making it impossible for you to reach the city center without a transfer. Another appalling fact were the exchange offices or the lack of them. The entire terminal has only one exchange booth belonging to some exclusive chain of exchange offices operating around Budapest at traffic hotspots, Inter-exchange or smth. But the most appalling wasn't their scarcity but the rate they're charging which was nothing short of a scam - welcome to Europe. Coming from Ukraine (IEV) the contrast was even more evident. Toilets weren't clean, broken faucets, soap lacking in many. Next - the Wi-Fi: BUD supposedly offers 2 hours of free Wi-Fi that become available only once get passed a lengthy security/rules agreement check-page that directs you then onto another useless page, that given the speed takes ages to load, the BUD.hu portal. Even once passed those mandatory and nerve-wrecking checkpoints (the last thing you feel like doing when got off from a flight or are short in time running for a transfer) the internet was still being very slow and almost completely useless, didn't manage to do a thing or to send a mail to Nemjee (cheers :)

    Basically, nothing good and i won't be looking forward of going back to the airport in the future. If not for the occasional offers to some places unserved from Belgrade (such as Kiev), it's really not worth the hassle.

    On a second note, my experience of Wizz Air was quite positive since i got acquainted with the airline only this year. On the way there the plane was very comfortable, good legroom with leather seats. Besides the military-type tent used for boarding at BUD the experience was very fine. In Kiev W6 flies to Zhuliany airport which would - by Belgrade coordinates - be located somewhere in Zemun, making it a really easy and painless transfer unlike KBP which is a lot more remote. On the way back, plane 100% full (wonder how Air Serbia deemed it unprofitable, tickets for less than 100-150 Eur. one-way from Kiev are hard to find - yet they rely on O&D only, prices now hovering around 400-500$ there and back on legacy carriers) despite 5-6 weekly flights, the pilot seemed in a bit of a haste, rough braking after landing that broke the jubilant applause, not a single announcement during the flight, FA's (or at least one of them) very charming, got offered the exit-seat despite being one of the last to board.

    All in all, Belgrade currently offers a far superior customer experience both in terms of efficiency and space comfort/organization, yet, the scarcity of destinations one can reach directly from Belgrade to places outside the EU and the Mediterranean (especially CIS, Caucasus, Central Asia...) leaves it a lot to be desired. Thanks for the read.

    - aэrologic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:27

      Хвала за детаљан извештај. Кијев - Београд би био добра прилика за Ер Србију од следеће летње сезоне!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:47

      The SkyCourt is nice but it is only a small part of the airport. I paricularly hate the check in area!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:12

      The resson for the queus might be the number of the passengers which is 3 times more than in BEG (943.000 pax in August, 9,2% up from last year) which will be boosted even more with the daily Emirates A-330 flight starting in October and Wizz basing another (9th) aircraft.
      SkyCourt only a small part of the terminal? You'd better check Google Maps it you did not see it yourself. It's double the size of the whole BEG building.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:29

      Interesting to read your maths, how in the world 943.000 is "triple" from 576.000?! From what i see, it's 38% more, which is not even double and very far from triple.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:44

      The guy referred to SkyCourt as a terminal which it is not. It's an extension/addition to the already existing terminal.
      I was there so I know what I am talking about. No need to pay a visit to Google Maps.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous17:06

      Sorry, it is not 3x but only 2,48x indeed (8.5 million BUD vs. 3.5 million BEG full year 2013).
      Besides BUD still have a full low-cost terminal refurbished recently on standby which can be be reponeped in days should the traffic goes up further. What BEG will do if they run out capacity?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous17:22

      You are comparing old data. Air Serbia, ever heard about it? You talk about 9% growth at BUD, well, it's over 30% at Belgrade this year and ongoing, so already by the next year the figures are gonna be pretty close, mind you if the 2.48x went to x0.38 in only one year...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:30

      I guess in Zagreb you weren't that lucky.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:46

      You can have all the Air Serbias you want, but there will be no country in the region that will have as many plane passengers as Croatia does, mark my words!

      Delete
    10. Anonymous17:48

      Greece has, Romania has...

      Delete
    11. Anonymous17:52

      2014 Jan-Aug data is 6,1 million BUD vs. 3,1 million BEG. However you squeeze it and dream about it it will never be 0,38x. What do you think will happen to Air Serbia next year? Will they get 10 aircraft from the arabs each year to keep this year growth (which is btw compared to the previous bad year when they nearly got bankrupt hence the "fantastic" figures)??
      Well, i have a bad news fo you: Wizz is booming a lot quicker than Air Serbia for 10 years coninuously and they will be able to put more an more aircraft to BUD as long as it's necessary.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous17:56

      "However you squeeze it and dream about it it will never be 0,38x." - So how come it happened in August, my dream? o<O

      Delete
    13. Anonymous18:00

      Well, actually they are getting 10 more aircrafts with larger capacity (not from the Arabs but from the French, check your facts - AirBus has got nothing to do with AraBs) in a few years so that should do. Besides i doubt AirSerbia is gonna retire the A319 model while those arrive. On the other hand, A330 and even (though less likely) A321 might join the fleet as soon as next year.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous18:08

      0,38x? Sure, in your dreams as even August was 1,38x.
      "In a few years"? 2018 is far far away.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous18:09

      Wizz Air is funded by a US investment fund, their top priority is not to be profitable but to increase their brand awareness and to capture a market. Oh wait, isn't Air Serbia doing the same?

      Delete
    16. Anonymous18:15

      2018 is far far away. - I guess Zagreb will have to wait long for its new terminal...

      Delete
    17. Anonymous18:15

      Yes, that's why their net profit was 89 million EUR last year.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous18:18

      How many years did it take them to become profitable? ;)

      Also, what do you think, how much longer can Budapest grow without a prober hub system set up? Not much longer, let me tell you that.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous18:22

      I am sure his perfect dream would be Wizz Air booming at Zagreb with 50% growth :D

      Delete
    20. Anonymous18:25

      Most probably forever while all the airlines around operating the adored hub system (LOT, Malev, Tarom, Balkan, JAT, Adria, Croatian, the ukraines etc.) failed or failing.

      Delete
    21. Anonymous18:30

      Hey bud, Lot reported a profit so their hub system seems to be working. The same can be said for Aegean and airBaltic. I won't even mention airlines like Pegasus. :/

      I guess that's why B&H Airlines is refusing to develop the hub system. Good for them.

      I am sorry. *hug*

      Delete
    22. Anonymous18:32

      He forgot to include Air Serbia :D

      Delete
    23. Anonymous18:35

      Hmm, Ukraine is actually working (largest % of transfer pax in Europe).

      Delete
    24. Anonymous18:45

      LOT: losses reported in all years leading to 2013. They are only hoping for a small profit this year.
      Ukraine: that's why Aerosveet went bust and Ukraine International is dramatically downsizing ops/fleet?
      Air Baltic: loss in 2011, loss on 2012, huge profit of 1 million EUR in 2013. All are nice examples for a working hub system.
      Pegasus? Is that Central/Eastern-Europe?

      Delete
    25. Anonymous18:51

      Anonymous 6:18 PM, How many years did it take Wizz to become profitable? Well, judging by Vucic almighty, it took them much longer than Air Serbia, the most successful carrier ever!

      How much longer can Budapest grow without a prober hub system set up? Who knows, you should teach them a lesson, you are the region leaders, right?

      Delete
    26. Anonymous18:52

      So wait, when it comes to Wizz Air it's ok that they reported their first profit in years but it's not ok for the others? Aren't those double standards?

      You also forgot Aegean buddy. What dirt have you got on them?

      Delete
    27. Anonymous18:52

      If you are unaware, the atmosphere really isn't too good to do business in Ukraine nowadays. Emirates pulled-out recently while others are downsizing operations. Since you seem extremely unfamiliar with Ukraine, let me inform you that both Aerosvit (not Aerosveet) had the same owner who artificially bankrupted VV while transferring all the assets without the liabilities to PS.

      Delete
    28. Anonymous18:52

      Who said that we are not teaching them a lesson?

      Delete
    29. Anonymous18:53

      Zagreb terminal will be finished in 2016, just like Beograd na vodi, 300 km/h railway speed to Budapest, Tesla city, Belgrade metro ;)

      Delete
    30. Anonymous18:54

      You are teaching them, but they're not listening to you, actually, no one does!

      Delete
    31. Anonymous19:23

      If they bothered to listen then they wouldn't be forced to reduce their Belgrade fleet to just one aircraft. :/

      Delete
    32. Anonymous19:40

      ...and their Zagreb base to zero aircraft LOL.

      Delete
    33. Anonymous19:56

      Who needs Wizz if you have British, Air France, Iberia, TAP, KLM, Korean Air... I know you guys need low cost carriers, not many people in Serbia can afford to fly anywhere these days ;)

      Delete
    34. Anonymous20:12

      Right, Korean Air full of Croatian people aboard :D I am sure that Hungarians have even less capacity than Serbs to fly since they've got a LCC as a national carrier, not talking about the Irish people...the facts are simple - Zagreb market is dead and 1/2 the Belgrade one.

      Delete
    35. Anonymous20:12

      Od svih Aviokompanija u ovom delu komunisticke Evrope jedino LOT-ASL-THY-AFL-AUI-AHY-BTI-SBI ove druge su propale nisam namerno hteo da nabrajam LCC iz ovog dela =D
      INN-NS

      Delete
    36. Anonymous20:18

      Who needs Wizz if you have a national carrier offering superior product than BA/AF not even talking about Iberia, flying mostly double-daily to those destinations? So you're prouding yourself that your money is going to foreign companies? Pathetic.

      Delete
    37. Anonymous20:21

      Anonymous at 7:56 PM
      Zato su sve novine u EU pisale evo jos jedne crne rupe za nase pare kad je Hrvatska ulazila ;)
      KLM-AF nema potrebe da leti kad je ASL sposoban da leti prema tim Destinacijama i ima codeshare.
      A to za KAL pa naravno kad 20 miliona Hrvatskih turista leti za RKSI pa ce biti 4 dnevna leta sa A388 =DD

      Delete
    38. Anonymous20:22

      INN-NS

      Delete
    39. Anonymous20:29

      I will give my money to foreign companies if I want to, even Air Serbia if it's good, that's not your problem, should I be flying with OU just because it's Croatian? Seriously? And where is your money going, since Arabs own 49% of Air Serbia?

      Delete
    40. Anonymous20:33

      INN, zanima me koliko ti pridonosiš BDP-u Austrije, čudi me da znaš čitati i to sve europske novine, sjeti se da su Austrijanci bili za ulazak HR, ali ne i Srbije ;)

      I bez uvrede, ali tvoje djetinjaste komentare ljudi komentiraju samo kad ti se rugaju, ako već voliš Srbiju (što smatram izvrsnim), onda se vrati i živi kao i drugi, nemoj komentirati iz druge države, vrlo licemjerno!

      Delete
    41. Anonymous20:53

      A sta Srbiju briga sta misli Austrija kada srpski narod ne podrzava pristup Srbije u EU?

      Delete
    42. Anonymous21:51

      Austrija takodje podrzava Srbiju imate pogresne
      informacije.
      Mnoge novine su to pisale mi smo u Skoli citali. i nemacke novine.
      A to sto se rugaju boli me uvo, a neke stvari znam bolje od njih.
      A sto mnogi hrvati ovde svaki dan blate ASL sto vam smeta ako nista neplacaju ali vi to govorite iz ljubomore sto je ASL bolja od CTN:
      INN-NS

      Delete
    43. Anonymous22:36

      Yes, you might have a lesson or two to teach to Dubai or Doha.

      Delete
    44. Anonymous22:38

      Comment misplaced, delete please.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous13:13

    OT: Anyone knows what happened to ASL flight from AUH to BEG today? Its heavily delayed...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:21

      Nothing new... everyday situation

      Delete
  8. Anonymous13:16

    ... where is LJU here? weren't they always in top 5?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous16:42

    YU-APD flew as JU 208 this afternoon to London!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous20:48

    Gone tech, and yes it can happen to any airline. Not defending JU or protecting their tardiness, but planes can and do break down unfortunately, even new ones!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:54

      The funny thing is that it was happening less to the old 737 than to these Airbuses.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:06

      Not really, it's just that now people are paying closer attention to the fleet performance.
      Also, of course it seemed that Jat had less of a problem when they were down to 4 aircraft.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous22:20

    I know many may not like what I have to say. How many passengers using Belgrade Airport actually stay in Belgrade and spend some needed currency in the country. It would be interesting to see how many are transfer passenger. Meanwhile you many of the passengers who travel to the Croatian Airports, stay in Croatia and yes I know they are tourists. The money which is spent by these tourists is more valuable than passengers just transferring through one airport.. Think about it.We can argue all we want, but if passengers are just transferring through an airport, they are actually less valuable than the ones staying a night or two at a destination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:39

      Yes, you might have a lesson or two to teach to Dubai or Doha.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:44

      Znaci EGLL-OMDB-OMAA-EHAM-EDDF-LFPG-LOWW znaci ti aerodromi su 0 posto je vecina tranfer aerodrom =DD
      INN-NS

      Delete
    3. Anonymous23:06

      ZAGY fortunately is neither transit neither low-cost LOL.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23:11

      So this is the new tune the hates will sing to now?

      It's nice to see how long we've come since the days of the virgins and the cheap agricultural land.

      Delete