Priština on the up

Numbers surge at Priština Airport

Following a record breaking 2011, numbers at Priština Airport have continued to surge into the new year. In the first quarter the airport welcomed 292.697 passengers through its doors, an increase of 6% compared to the same period last year. In March, the airport welcomed 99.540 passengers, up 9.9% on 2011. Its best month so far was January when it welcomed 112.961 passengers. However, in February the airport saw a slide in numbers, which was echoed across Europe. Due to heavy snow fall and freezing weather flights across the continent were disrupted. During that month, Priština saw a decline of 2%.

With passenger growth continuing in 2012, Priština Airport is highly likely to keep its position as the third busiest airport in the former Yugoslavia, a title it took over last year when it handled 1.422.302 passengers, which was an increase of 9% on 2010. Its closest rival, Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, has seen a 3.7% passenger decrease in the first three months of the year, which is less than originally expected.

The only two other capital city airports in the former Yugoslavia recording growth in the first quarter are Belgrade and Skopje. Podgorica has seen a big tumble in passenger numbers, although Tivat Airport has recorded impressive growth so far in the year. Ljubljana and Zagreb have also experienced a modest decline while Sarajevo has been hit hard by bad weather and B&H Airlines’ woes. On the other hand, Mostar Airport in Bosnia has seen record traffic over this weekend thanks to a large number of charter flights.