Adria outlines future growth plans


Adria Airways, which has added seven new routes to its network this summer season, plans to continue growing and has set the foundations for its future development. Speaking to the "Uporabna Stran" portal, the carrier's Chief Commercial Officer, Christian Schneider, noted that the new year-round flights from Ljubljana to Sofia, Geneva, Bucharest, Hamburg and Dusseldorf, as well as seasonal services to Dubrovnik and Brač, are performing well, with the carrier recording double digit passenger growth so far this year. "The positive trends continue but there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially in new markets where we have just established flights. Ticket sales on these routes are developing well, but we are not yet where we want it to be. However, I can disclose that the star performer among these new destinations is certainly Sofia. There is a lot of demand on both sides, which is extremely important for the development of a new route", Mr Schneider said. He added, "The percentage growth in the number of handled passengers is in the double digits when compared to last year. Figures show we are on the right track, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us".

The CCO noted that Adria will be focusing on three areas in its future. "Adria Airways has three key pillars in the long-term. The first, which will always remain the most important, is the addition of new routes from Ljubljana. Here, we primarily want to connect Western and Central Europe with the Balkans through Ljubljana. The second is the provision of flights for other carriers through ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance lease). This year, we are doing so for Austrian Airlines and Luxair and last year we also had Swiss. Other European carriers are also extremely interested in us operating flights on their behalf. Finally, the third pillar are charter flights", Mr Schneider said.

Commenting on future network development, the Chief Commercial Officer noted there is potential for new destinations in Italy, Spain and Portugal. "The search for new potential routes is a continuous process. At the moment, we have decided to first focus on the seven new destinations we have recently launched and transfers between the Balkans and Western Europe through Ljubljana. In any case, I believe that the growth of the company shows that we are heading in a direction that opens doors to these new destinations", he said.

Adria's latest fleet addition, S5-AFC, photo by Milan Korbar

This week, Adria will add the ninth Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to its fleet (pictured), while four out of six Saab 2000 turboprops, which have been grounded at Ljubljana Airport for the past several months, performed test flights yesterday and are expected to be integrated into the carrier's fleet. "Our desire was to add the Saab 2000 aircraft to the fleet, but unfortunately, circumstances have led us to postpone this. However, I am convinced that in the near future we will find a solution because I believe that such aircraft would be of strategic interest for Adria Airways. The Saab 2000s, with a seating capacity of fifty, are excellent for the development of new routes and there is demand for the aircraft on the ACMI market. Large European carriers have come to us with the desire to lease this aircraft type", Mr Schneider said. The airline has scheduled the turboprops entry into service in September, however, Adria's CEO, Holger Kowarsch, recently said he expects for the aircraft to begin operations much sooner.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:05

    Promising news coming from Adria with some clear strategy. Good news.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:06

    Interesting that Sofia is best performing for them out of the new routes. Missed opportunity for Croatia Airlines right there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      +1000

      Delete
    2. Which aircraft they could actually use? They would probably need to lease another one.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:01

      CRJ900

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:06

      Could the demand to Sofia be fuelled by the fact that Bulgaria is currently presiding over the EU?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:14

      it defo helps.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:38

      Don't forget that also the Bulgarian economy is developing really fast in the recent years. The level of unemployment in Sofia is under 2%. There are a lot of business travelers

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:44

      ma kakvi 2%. med i mledo. svasta

      Delete
    8. If SOF is the best performed new route, what is the average LF? More than 80% or other routes performance is so low that 60% makes it the best. Numbers help :)

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:47

      @Anonymous May 1, 2018 at 10:44 AM
      You can see it in the link below. Unemployment rate for the "Stolitsa" e.g. Capital - 2.8%
      http://www.nsi.bg/en/content/6503/unemployed-and-unemployment-rates-national-level-statistical-regions-districts

      Delete
    10. Anonymous11:57

      Why is 2.8% surprising? Anyone who was unemployed emigrated to one of the western European countries. That's where all this demand for air travel came from.

      Delete
    11. Unemployment rate means nothing, because ppl get kicked out of the statistics for various reasons, the only real info is the EMPLOYMENT rate among 15-65yrs old citizens.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous12:49

      I don't like when people are unemployed. It makes me sad.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:07

    Bravo Slovenija!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:08

    I hope they keep all the new routes during the winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      With the Saabs coming these routes can be downgraded to them during the winter. Easier to fill the 50 seaters.

      Delete
    2. Hopefully they keep all or at least most of them and eventually add some new :) i think there are more options in Russia (beside LED).

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:09

    Which airlines could be interested in Saab planes for leasing? o.O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      Swiss? :))))

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:38

      BA leases Saabs.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:49

      Those with high yielding routes. Luxair quite expected.

      Delete
  6. Nemjee09:13

    What's interesting is that Sofia has been one of the few destinations to remain unchanged within the JU network. Nice to see both JP and JU do well there.

    If they keep on experiencing double digit growth, could we see LJU reach 2 million this year? If I remember correctly they were at 1.8 last year? Or was 1.8 their previous record?

    Would be nice to have them back in Belgrade. They could launch flights for transfer passengers as JU's flights don't really offer convenient connections through the code-share.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:33

      Sorry. Slim chance for that. 1.9 would be above expectations if you ask me.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:38

      They could reach 1.9 if they keep on growing at a 14% rate for the rest of the year. It's not impossible especially if they keep all those new flights throughout the year.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:38

      I suppose JP is very happy with the deal they have with JU… as many others that code share on their flights.

      Delete
    4. Nemjee09:58

      Air Serbia has ideal times for two kinds of passengers:

      1. O&D flying between BEG and LJU.
      2. Those connecting onto JU's network.

      Adria is making the most of these two but I could see them eventually launch Belgrade in order to feed their own network.

      Maybe something like this:

      LJU-BEG 12.30-13.30
      BEG-LJU 14.00-15.00

      Actually this schedule would make sense and it would complement JU's.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:49

      Makes sense. Maybe next summer.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:18

    well lets wait for April statistics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      From who? LJU?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:41

      Da

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:16

      Should be very strong with all these new routes.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:25

      I think it will be between 15% and 20%.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:30

    I'm happy for Adria. The airline is expanding routes and fleet. Finances seem to have stabilized. For now looking like a successful privatization. Fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:20

      Finances have stabilised in which way? They would have made loss in 2016 if it wasn't for selling the brand and with all the ad-hoc wet leases this year it doesn't look very profitable.

      Delete
    2. Anon@11:20 +1

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:39

    Any chance they will go back to being a full service airline?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      Price wise they never stopped being one ;)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:11

      haha good one

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:21

      Full service airlines are history. If you think an average passengers wants a hot meal on LJU-VIE flight, you are wrong.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:37

      It doesn't have to be a hot meal, it can be a bottle of water or juice plus a snack.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:43

    so is it Rome the italian destination they' re talking about?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:46

      My guess is Rome and Milan in Italy, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain and Lisbon in Portugal.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:52

      I think that in interview with Sierra5, he said that, for the moment, they have an issue with Barcelona flights to LJU, which would arive to late for connections forward to the Balkans. So maybe they are searching for a better slot at BCN.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:03

      i understand its one in Italy and one in Spain not two in each

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:07

      Italy is unfortunately a problem, since Ryan flies out of Trieste to Rome and Bari, Alitalia flies to Rome and Milan. Plus fast trains from Trieste to Rome and Milan. It would be great though.

      Delete
    5. Stop spreading fake news about fast train from Trieste, there is no such thing as fast train in trieste. Fast train rails start in venice.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:53

      Depends what you mean by fast trains. Indeed trains in North East part of Italy have 160 km/h speed, so even fast track compositions have to go slower than their maximum.

      Delete
    7. There is no fast train, not even 160.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous20:44

      There is. From Trieste you can get frecciarossa. At least once a day. So stop spreading false info, dear Sloavio.

      Delete
    9. I went n checked all available trains between trieste and venice on a random day (14.5.) - none of the trains can be called a fast one, coz they all need approx 2h+ for cca 160km... fast?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous08:56

      Well, I normally use that trains from Ts to Rome. Frecciarossa starts from Ts.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:48

    I'm really interested to see if there is any prospect of them integrating with Croatia Airlines. There are so many rumors that this will happen, well that 4K will move to purchase OU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      How would an integration even work?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:10

      haha dual hub init

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:13

      I believe they would both retain separate brands but would be able to create synergies at the same airports they serve through same handlers and what not. I also think it would mean Adria would get a slice of the Croatian coastal market and they would try to do much more with it. At the same time maybe some routes that are performing poorly from Ljubljana could be cut and served by Croatia Airlines from Zagreb. A Adria bus or train line could be established to shuttle passengers between the two cities like JAT had back in the day.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:48

      Agree with above anon. Both could keep separate brands and similar networks to the one they have now but Adria could have gone back to its old roots and done charters from the Croatian coast during the summer. Both of them have similar fleets, are part of Star. Would be a nifty airline group in my opinion that could have complemented each other perfectly and responded to competition much better.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:50

      And Croats would accept for the HQ to be in Slovenia? Somehow I doubt that.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:51

      HQ is in Munich ;)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:02

      It would be a stronger and more competitive company.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:06

      HQ will be in Ljubljana for sure, IATA code will be JP and they are still negoting ICAO call sign, first idea is Adria ... but Croatia should ask for something which can link new entity to Zagreb

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:03

      Haha of course it would be in Ljubljana.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:04

      No issues with Adria buying Croatia Airlines, much better that they pay for uhljebs than a regular Croatian citizen.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:18

    I don't know what to think. I would be inclined to say congrats had they not bankrupted Darwin in record time.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10:37

    It's an exotic day at LJU today. TK with A321, YM with B735, Carpatair F100, charter flight to KEF ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50

      Can a F100 do LJU - KEF direct?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:07

      It's on an A319. F100 is flying around continental Europe.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:30

      Special day also for Pula:
      Just 1st landing of a Dreamliner as TUI G-TUIK arriving from London.
      1st landing of a 787-9 in CRO, too (I think).

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:40

    Can someone tell me how many planes they are wet leasing at the moment?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:41

      And also is Adria still leasing Carpatairs F100 and other planes like that to cover the lack of equipment?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:45

      It says in the article that's linked to the bottom of this article

      "Out of those, Adria operates two CRJs for Austrian Airlines and one CRJ for Luxair under ACMI long-term contracts."

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:03

      They currently operate about 2-3 flights daily with Carpatair's F100. Though after S5-AFC is added to the fleet (in the next few weeks) they'll have enough equipment to cover all scheduled flights.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:23

      This is if they get enough pilots to fly their aircraft, otherwise the wet leases are to stay for a while.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:51

    How are loads at Adria's flights? I am a bit doubtful about SOF and PRG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52

      Why are you doubtful about Sofia if their CCO just said it's their best performing new route?

      Delete
    2. PRG is probably not the best performing route. But we dont have any numbers so just guessing

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:14

      ceo is there to say only positive things

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:17

      Well I doubt he would lie about their best performing new route. Why Wouldn't he just say the truth if it was another one.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:55

      no doubts that sof is the uhm star performer but as sloavio said.. how much is the lf

      Delete
  16. Would be great to get some fresh info from the guy working at LJU how the new routes perform? Specially GVA, DUB?

    I think JP should try St Petersburg as well.
    BCN would be great, 3x/week at least in the summer season. Even if Saabs :)))) MAD has less chance though connections from MAD are awesome (specially to south america), but none of the big players in MAD is part of star alliance. LIS i doubt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:25

      Very unlikely BCN would allow Saabs to operate there. It's not a TP airport, and it's busy enough without these small airplanes wasting valuable apron and runway space.

      Delete
    2. So if they send crj700 does it make a difference? 🙄

      Delete
  17. Anonymous12:02

    Are those Saabs fitted with a full blown autopilot, because sure as hell there are no pilots on the market to fly them. Can someone ask one of the managers at Adria, who is going to fly them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:25

      Yesterday 4 of them simultaneously flew a test flight. So I guess they do have some crew who can operate them...

      Delete
    2. Anon@12:25 +1!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:06

      Saabs flew because the official announcement regarding the buyer will be announced next week, on the 9th. They were not flown by Adria crew.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous12:08

    We all know that JP is part of Star Alliance and that they don't do anything without LH blessing/command. Therefore we should see the transformation of LJU into a "hub" for the Balkans in a much wider context. VIE is already the Star Alliance dedicated hub for the Balkans and there is ZRH or MUC where you have more than enough connections to western Europe. I personally think the LJU hub is preparation for the Etihad exit from ASL where LJU should take over the role of BEG.....Look at the new routes OTP, SOF etc....ring a bell???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:29

      Because OTP and SOF are not served from MUC, FRA, ZRH, VIE...? Only from Belgrade?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:53

      koja nebuloza @12.08

      Delete
    3. LJU take over the role of BEG? Hahahahha! Specially with its terminal size:)))

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:40

      and the Saabs ;)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:43

      You are right. JP is preparing. However Serbian government will probably manage to keep JU with its transit concept alive. It is their most successful project.

      Delete
    6. Bahah i dont mind saabs at all, interior is nice n comfortable, but i dont know much about their profitability/rentability factors.

      Air serbia is the most succesfull proejct of serbian gov??? Hahahha how can a project which every yr needs a few 10milionneuros of help be the most succesful project of ANY gov (even if serbian!)? Pls. Its like saying that agrokor is the most succesful croatian storty or NLB slovenian.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous14:59

      @Sloavio
      I did not say anything about the profitability of AirSerbia project. Budget wise it is a pure disaster. However, it is the government marketing tool and they are very proud of Air Serbia. They must not let it fail.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous13:02

    Don't you understand JP has a different fare structure and approach, on behalf of LH it's targeting ASL. There is absolutely no sense to develop a fourth hub in a triangle MUC/VIE/ZRH. JP job is to attack OU and JU and to be the platform for the future LH expansion into the balkans. The name and brand is neutral and we will be the umbrella for OU, JU and YM. Just read what Alen Scuric wrote...........

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee13:36

      LH Group already has a Balkan hub and it's called Vienna.

      It's nice to see LJU growing but they are in no way capable of competing and/or outperforming BEG or ZAG.
      Furthermore, JU sees a lot of O&D demand on its regional flights, Tirana included. JP expanding throughout the Balkans can't harm JU in any way.
      Finally, what will happen if one day Adria ends up getting a FR/W6 base at LJU? They would collapse in a matter of months.

      If LH Group is betting on JP then they are in for a treat.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:37

      This actually makes sense. Adria brand would be the only one acceptable to all.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:38

      Adria as a brand is virtually unknown in Serbia.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:40

      @Nemjee
      Actually the only one likely to colappse is JU. That is unfortunate but without public money they are gone.

      Delete
    5. I think there is not much chance to get a FR/W6 base at LJU - market is not big enough to sustain 3-4 rotations per day with a320 even if fares would be very low. Of course there are individual routes that can work out (london, obviously ams, but on the other side i would expect berlin as well, but easy didnt schedule winter flights to LJU yet - as i said a few days ago, i cant imagine any other route that could work through the whole yr - summer routes could work if they manage to push the demand from abroad, but slovenian market cant feed a320 on a daily basis to any destination). JP is kinda save.

      Delete
    6. Nemjee13:52

      Anon 13.40

      All ex-YU airlines are likely to collapse if they are left on their own. Luckily Serbia is not in the EU so the government can keep JU alive for as long as it wishes.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:06

      @Nemjee
      Actually no, as we have obligations under Stabilisation and Association treaty regarding state aid rules i.e. we are already obliged to be completely harmonised with EU legislation. Air Serbia is already under the scrutiny of the European Commission but it is a complex political issue.

      @Sloavio
      FR creates/opens completely new markets when it arrives. Ljubljana and Slovenia are nice so there is so much room to grow and attract visitors who otherwise did not consider coming.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous15:09

      You missed the commission's conclusion from last year that Air serbia operates in line with eu legislation and state aid rules.

      Delete
    9. Nemjee15:22

      That same EC applies EU laws as it pleases. If that wasn't the case then JP and BT would have ended up like MA and CY.
      Anyway, it's in Serbia's interest to keep JU alive until someone more competent than EY comes along.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous17:20

      @anon 3:09
      I did not miss it. :)

      Delete
    11. Anonymous17:30

      LCCs create demand due to low prices and tend to be successful on routes traditional airlines won't even consider. Add on top the already proven routes (London, etc.), there is enough market to base on or two 180-ish seat aircraft at LJU.

      With Fraport moving to LCCs (FRA, BOJ, VAR, etc.), I wouldn't be surprised if we'd see opening an LCC base in LJU with the new terminal.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous13:51

    I read a lot of egocentric stereotipes. We should wait and see. My opinion is that Ljubljana airposrt will evlove in the same way as Port of Koper did. Now we can see where Port of RIjeka is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:58

      And what exactly are you trying to say with your snarky comment on Rijeka?!

      Delete
    2. I didnt get this. Can u eleborate pls?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:08

      I am trying to say that a lot of comments refer to Ljubljana airport as not relevant because of the size. I was reading the same opinions for the port of Koper commpared to port of Rijeka. Now we can see, that port of Koper is twice as bigg as Port of Rijeka. The same can happen to Ljubljana airport and to Adria Airways.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:14

      So are you saying LJU will grow to like 3.2 million passengers? :D

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14:15

      Yes!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:23

      With all these new flights they could easily handle 2.4 next year.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous20:51

      And you are not egocentric? Ahahaha Actually ethnocentric ahahah

      Delete
    8. Anonymous20:53

      How the hell can you compare Koper and Rijeka, to Ljubljana and Zagreb? Dream on.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:21

      Why is that so strange? Both entities deal in logistic sector.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous16:44

    There was a complete media silence from Adria for the past year and now we have a 'feel good' interview almost every other day. And why always so much emphasis on saabs, that they will not get or will not be able to operate due to the lack of crews?

    ReplyDelete
  22. JU520 BEGLAX00:05

    As a passenger I dont like these ACMI deals. Adria is leasing their newer aircraft to Western Europe and for Slovenians old Fokker 100 are good enough. Thats racism. Just imagine LH would lease some of its A359 to EK and QR and fly some longhauls with Boeing 747-300 from an unknown airlines. German passengers would freak out. Adria is exactly doing this. They had negative media coverage about this in Slovenian Journal 24 and last week in Switzerland as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:10

      Yes yes, this is true racism :):):) sorry dude but it’s just called business!
      Instead of whining people can see it from another perspective too:
      https://youtu.be/ipgyDsv_18k

      Delete
    2. JU520 BEGLAX09:43

      Of course its racism. Pure racism of the German mgt who judges Slovene passengers as less important as for example LH would consider its own passengers. Again do this biz model in Germany and u will see what happens. If u weigh anything against profits, u will not get far.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous02:16

    SOF definitely is a big surprise! I suppose there is major transfer traffic on the outbound flights as JP flights act as feeder Star Alliance ones and more O&D on the inbound ones.
    LH/OS have up to 10 daily connections from SOF, which I think is why JP is probably doing so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous08:21

      Are you suggesting people would fly LJU-SOF-MUC/FRA/VIE or SOF-LJU-MUC/FRA/VIE instead of direct flights?

      Delete
    2. Hahahhhahhh

      Delete

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