Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport anticipates moderate but consistent growth in passenger numbers, a trend expected to continue in the coming years, driven primarily by increased frequencies to key hubs and added capacity. “We are pleased with how passenger traffic is recovering in line with expectations”, airport operator Fraport Slovenija told the “Večer” daily. “If we exclude transfer passengers, which amounted to approximately 200.000 and 300.000 travellers annually, who passed through our airport without entering Slovenia thanks to the now-defunct national carrier, we will reach our 2019 passenger levels this year”. The operator added that regaining those transfer passengers is unlikely, as more nonstop flights have since been established between Western Europe and the Balkans.
Government incentives have played a significant role in network expansion, enabling the launch of routes to Luxembourg, Riga, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf. “We hope the latest incentive tender will further improve Slovenia’s air connectivity”, the airport operator noted. The Slovenian government has received two applications in its eighth round of subsidies designed to boost the country’s air connectivity. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, both bidders have been asked to revise their proposals, which are expected to be made public in June. Local media suggest that Wizz Air and airBaltic may be among the applicants, possibly proposing routes to Tirana and Las Palmas. None of the involved parties have officially confirmed the reports. Meanwhile, the government has also held separate discussions with Croatia Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines regarding their potential expansion into the Slovenian market.
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| Ljubljana Airport's scheduled 2025 summer netowrk |
Fraport Slovenija emphasised that it continues to actively support airlines through a comprehensive marketing strategy and a competitive incentive program. One recent success story is the arrival of KLM, whose extensive network via Amsterdam significantly enhances Ljubljana’s global connectivity. Despite a weaker first quarter, Fraport Slovenija anticipates handling around 1.5 million passengers by year’s end. “We’re now entering the height of the season, with a record 24 airlines offering more than 170 weekly departures to 26 destinations”, the operator concluded.
During the first half of the year, Ljubljana’s largest carrier based on capacity is Lufthansa with 145.840 seats, followed by Turkish Airlines, Swiss and Air Serbia. Its largest airline based on the number of operated flights is also the German flag carrier with 1.473 services, followed by Air Serbia, Turkish Airlines and Swiss. While Istanbul has the most available capacity during the January - June period, Frankfurt has the most flights. On the other hand, easyJet is the largest low cost carrier by seat capacity at Ljubljana Airport, followed by Transavia and Wizz Air.
Very modest growth unfrotunately.
ReplyDeleteAnd very modest route network when you look at the map.
DeleteThe growth might be moderate, but it’s sustainable. Better to build slowly with quality carriers like Lufthansa and KLM than chase low cost volume that comes and goes.
DeleteI mean even the big airports are growing over 10% atm so 5% for a recovering one is pretty bad
Delete^ especially for an airport so far away from 2019 numbers.
DeleteAnd even further away from 2018 numbers....
Deletesome very ambitious poster I see: LJU network is not so modest for a country of 2 million. Makes little sense to compare it to bigger countries
DeleteWell it is modest. A few years back I remember Eindhoven having the same numbers as LJU. Now look at their difference. Plus NL isn’t big either and they already have a mega-hub. Even before the AMS cutbacks Eindhoven grew. LUX a few years back had the same numbers, now they’re far ahead. Verona, too and there are other examples. A national carrier wouldn’t add anything to LJU’s numbers IMHO, just probably replace some carriers, as was the case before. So SLO is doing something wrong, some place else.
DeletePlus NL isn’t big either - u must be kidding?? please check their population and GDP
DeleteChatGPT comparison on NL and SI: Economic Impact: The Netherlands' extensive air connectivity supports its role as a global trade and logistics hub, contributing significantly to its GDP.
DeleteSlovenia's Challenges: Limited air connectivity may hinder economic growth and tourism. The government's initiatives aim to address these challenges and enhance Slovenia's position in the European air network.
Improving air connectivity is crucial for Slovenia to stimulate economic development and better integrate into the European and global markets.
I will just write what ChatGPT says about itself: "ChatGPT is not a resource but a tool. As a large language model (LLM), it can provide excellent solutions for certain tasks, but it is not reliable for real-time fact-checking."
Deleteyou got a point last anon, it's just like quoting Wikipedia to confirm a point. But it is still funny to compare NL with a population of 15 million to SLO with 2 million and argue that because a certain airport in NL has more flights than LJU, LJU is not performing well
DeleteBravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteGetting KLM was their biggest succsess.
DeleteBravos Bravos bravos 👏🏻 🤩 🙌 🎊🎈🎉🍾
DeleteTheir only success story.
DeleteKL indeed is a success for LJU
Delete@10:20 Did we forget about FlyDubai as well?
DeleteSo what is the airport doing so next winter is not the same as this one?
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the government to do their job for them.
Delete@9:02 stop with conspiracies.
DeleteIts hardly a conspiracy is it? You can see how ineffective they are
DeleteHow dare you say that!
DeleteThis winter was a good one, just wait for the upcoming...
DeleteThis winter was good??
DeleteThey are doing nothing. We saw the announcment about Lufthansa cutting flights. And this is Fraport's favourite airline so we will see what happens with the rest.
DeleteStop with the conspiracies?!
DeleteMy God. No wonder SLO is where it is.
Well they do have a radio ad going on so at least something 🙂
Delete"Fraport Slovenija emphasised that it continues to actively support airlines through a comprehensive marketing strategy and a competitive incentive program. One recent success story is the arrival of KLM, whose extensive network via Amsterdam significantly enhances Ljubljana’s global connectivity. "
ReplyDeleteYou are fighting them off with not offering what they are asking for the 2md daily flights...
Interesting. What is KLM asking for?
DeletePas laje, vetar nosi.
DeleteMany of the comments regarding Ljubljana are rumors that have nothing to do with reality, and also show complete unfamiliarity with the situation, just like what happened not long ago regarding Croatia Airlines as a "done deal". Look at what has been happening with the OU over the last few days.
DeleteThis sounds like more of the same. Minor progress but no breakthrough. Ljubljana desperately needs a base airline or stronger strategic partnerships to compete regionally.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt needed Ryanair. But that ship’s sailed now with all nearby airports having it: TRS, ZAG and even KLU. But LJU was too fancy for it. Sure FR is good enough for Vienna? But for LJU? Only the best! Give me a break, Slovenia.
DeleteIt's not about whether Ryanair is good enough for LJU or not, it's about LJU not agreeing to Ryanair's terms. That's a big difference.
DeleteCompete with whom?
DeleteWhy is it always a mystery who applied for these tenders?
ReplyDeleteWell it is a business secret. If the airline does not manage to reach an agreement with the government, it most likely would not like for that to be known publcially.
DeleteairBaltic and Wizz Air would be welcome additions. Las Palmas in particular is a great idea. Slovenia needs more winter sun options.
ReplyDeleteHoping Las Palmas happens!
DeleteFully agree although Tenerife would be even better but if they could cover both it would be perfect
DeleteThey should start scheduling the Tirana flights. There's a demand! I hope Fraport or Kastrati Group do something about it !
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like they have no strategy whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteWell they do: whoever wants to fly had better pay big time for them to get their initial investment back (buying the airport and building the terminal). The discounts can always be footed by the taxpayer. Otherwise, it’s bye-bye birdie. Germany was never good to us an people still think so highly of it. They will want every cent they paid for the airport back, and then some. That’s all they’re here for. Not to develop, but to squeeze.
DeleteSlovenia needs a small Flag carrier with maybe 2-3 Aircraft to feed Lufthansa group hubs and maybe a few direct routes such as London Heathrow and Paris CDG. This would significantly grow the passenger numbers at Ljubljana.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteDisagree
DeleteSince this is such a profitable business idea, you can always be the first and create a flag carrier yourself.
DeleteYou have flights to big centers of LH group what more you want?
DeleteHow would this grow the numbers “significantly”? I don’t see it. You already have flights to these destinations and if more were needed, there would be more already. So this flag carrier would only take a small share of the existing passengers - perhaps a very small share because it wouldn’t be as well known or connected as the big players already flying. Or if it were successful, LH would probably just let them do the job and move planes elsewhere - as was the case with JP. So, again, no new passengers. Please substantiate this “significant growth” you envision with this type of business model?
DeleteIt is exactly what Slovenia must avoid, fully agree with the comment above
DeleteProbably 2/3 of the passengers are connecting passengers. So a ticket LJU-FRA-USA or via ZRH in average 1000 EUR return. You would get apx. 100 EUR for the ZRH-FRA-ZRH segment. Not interesting to survive. OU is best evidence, how they have to feed LH Group airports and make losses. AMS CDG ZRH FRA MUC IST BEG are not the problem. They are well connected and through this you have several options to worldwide destinations. The issue is more with some LCC destinations in the South of Europe or other destinations which could be of benefit for LJU, such as PRG, BER, HAM, MAN, DUB, ARN. AZ to FCO would definitely also be interesting.
DeleteI completely understand that LJU lost transfer passengers. What I don't understand that it has done next to nithing to find a viable repalcement. An LCC opening a base in LJU (and there was interest) would not only make up for those transfer passenger but would surpass all previous passenger numbers.
ReplyDeleteI agree. But like many had pointed out - SLO has a “hohštapler” mindset and it always thought that LCCs were “not good enough”. Sure they were good for global destinations in richer cities, but not here! Here we’re too good for that! Now that everyone’s got them, LJU kinda fell off the map. And it’s probably going to stay there indefinitely.
DeleteWould that LCC not risk cannibalising existing airlines? I don't think that you can just expect network carriers to continue flying as much when their transfer destinations start being served non-stop.
DeleteEven airports in smaller markets have better UK and Spanish coverage. Where’s the ambition?
ReplyDeleteThe Spain flights are laughable with 2 weekly Iberia flights for a couple of weeks a year.
DeleteFraports ambition for Spain and UK coverage is flying via FRA.
DeleteUnder Fraport's leadership, traffic from UK has completely collapsed. Once the biggest market from LJU. And no, it has nothing to do with Adria bankrutpcy.
DeleteThere is no ambition in Slovenia, unfortunately. That’s why GDP fell the most in the Eurozone (could be in the EU) in the last quarter.
DeleteAh yes, Slovenia, the country where the drop in economic activity could have been prevented with a few more flights to Spain.
Delete@9:33 Most Slovenians drive to Croatia for their summer holidays, not fly to Spain or Greece.
DeleteDuring summer perhaps but throuout the rest of the year its flying destinations ahead by far
DeleteIf Slovenia really wants to improve air travel, it needs to stop relying on incentives and actually create a long term aviation development plan.
ReplyDeleteAnd how it should look like?
DeleteI think Slovenia has been doing too much planning, and projections, and thinking, and having too many work groups, and project teams. This gov. especially loves these!
DeleteLjubljana could become a great weekend city-break destination if more low-cost routes open up. Cities like Hamburg, Manchester or Valencia would be great adds.
ReplyDeleteBefore Valencia we need flights to Barcelona.
DeleteAnd Madrid with more than 15 flights per year.
DeleteValencia is served from TRS, BCN from TRS and ZAG. LJU is a goner.
DeleteDo you realize that most Britons, Germans and even Italians and Austrians don't even know where Slovenia is let alone what it offers?
Delete14:52 that is nonsense. They knew where it was before 1991, and certainly do now.
Delete@14:52 that's their problem if they are that uneducated.
DeleteIt's obviously not their problem if you want more of them (and their money) in Slovenia.
DeleteIt’s almost 2026 and we’re still talking about reaching 2019 levels. Other airports moved on. We should be aiming higher.
ReplyDeleteIf this government wins another election, we’ll be lucky to have 2019 levels GDP, too. Not only passenger numbers. But I agree with you completely.
DeleteAnother round of tenders and discussions. Sounds like business as usual with little real progress for passengers on the ground.
ReplyDeleteThis is all of Slovenia for the past few years, unfortunately. It’s a hell hole in terms of progress.
DeleteThe EU has reminded Slovenia several times that EU subsidies intended for Slovenia have not been fully paid out due to a lack of infrastructure projects. The money is there, but the Slovenians are rather weak in this area. The rail network infrastructure in particular needs to be developed much further. Bratusek is now talking about a one-hour journey time to Koper and Trieste by 2030, but the reality is likely to be 2035 or even later. I also don't understand why there are still no plans for trams in Ljubljana in “green” Slovenia, let alone an S-Bahn network around Ljubljana. It remains to be seen whether the new Emonika main station will finally bring an S-Bahn with it.
DeleteIn a way, we can be satisfied that LJU has a considerable number of carriers for the size of the airport, but on the other hand, there is a clear lack of destinations in southern Europe, especially Spain. (MAD for just under five weeks cannot really be counted). However, given Brnik's geographical location and the proximity of TRS and ZAG to Slovenia, it is also clear that hundreds of thousands of people fly to and from Slovenia via these two destinations every year.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the south, SK to CPH would certainly be desirable, with Norwegian perhaps then flying to ARN twice a week. MAN or DUB would also be good. Hopefully, SU will return at some point.
Whether we will ever see OS in LJU again, I doubt it.
Agree with these. SAS would be a very nice addition. ITA could also work.
DeleteBut now Norwegian has started flying CPH, so I don't think SAS will happen. SAS has a good connecting network, though, so they would have been better.
DeleteRegarding Austrian, they are now wetleasing ATR aircraft, so maybe not impossible if they lease in more of those?
Not from Slovenia and I understand people's frustrations with the airport but on paper LJU has a LOT of airlines serving it.
ReplyDeleteEspecially for the city's/country's size.
DeleteI agree that the portfolio of airlines is quite good. But they most fly 1 route and the LJU lacks flights to some major European capotals.
DeleteWill there be a ninth tender for air connecitivyt?
ReplyDeleteMost probably. They still haven't didn't 80% of the subsidy money.
DeleteYes
DeleteWondering how many years it will still take, until gate A1 finally will become a jetbridge. Jeez, how can anyone be so petty? 😱
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't they intall it when they built the new terminal?
DeleteOnly the gods know
DeleteThey've said it many times it is because of cost optimization.
DeleteMaybe Gate A1 is reserved from widebody planes in future. Who knows, or maybe Fraport don't want to invest in gate A1 to finished them.
DeleteGood job LJU!
ReplyDeleteThe worst airport i have visited...i am slovenian from maribor....i ask all my customer who are buying me international business tickets, to go from either vienna or graz because of how horible the experiances were in ljubljana airport...all of the staff i have meet...just amazingly bad....no wonder it at the state where it is and nobody wants to visit it .....just sad....hr people should be fired, probably .....
ReplyDeleteInteresting. My experience is quite the opposite. Really nice. OK - the ticket prices could be lower.
DeleteAirport need one Terminal more + direct train connection to Ljubljana..... We are living 50 years behind..... Please hurry up with these plans 🚀🙏🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteLJU-SJJ is a route that should be there, but unfortunately it's not realistic that it will be launched soon.
ReplyDeleteWizz Air would be most likely but without base in either SJJ or LJU it is unlikely as you say.
DeleteWhy „thank you FRAPORT“? Why did Slovenia approved this concession? So, it’s a Slovenian problem: stop blaming FRAPORT! Slovenia decided to do this! Not FRAPORT!
ReplyDelete