Ljubljana Airport to be sold by mid 2014

Ljubljana plans for the future and possible Adria exit

The CEO of Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Zmago Skobir, says he expects the airport to be privatised by the summer of 2014, adding that many investors have expressed interest in the 75% stake the government intends to sell. Speaking to Slovenia’s national press agency “STA”, Skobir declined to comment on the names of potential new owners but adds most are from Europe. “They include airport operators, pension funds and others looking for an opportunity for long term return on investment, as well as investment groups specialising in restructuring companies for further sale”, Mr. Skobir says. He adds, “We are also selling infrastructure and we still have to sort out land ownership issues. I expect this to be resolved before a call for bids is issued. I hope the company will get a development oriented owner”.

Ljubljana Airport relies heavily on Adria Airways and its performance is directly linked to the Slovenian national carrier. Adria carried a whopping 69.5% of all passengers using Ljubljana Airport this year. Currently, the European Commission is investigating Adria over alleged state aid which it could be ordered to repay. Mr. Skobir admits that if Adria is ordered to pay back millions it would signal a major blow for the airport. "A flag carrier is above all a big advantage for an airport operator but at the same time it is also an obstacle. Adria is a member of Star Alliance and is the only member of the alliance flying to and from Ljubljana. Therefore, we cannot attract other alliance members like for instance Austrian or Swiss. However, if the worst case scenario happens with Adria, other members would start flying to Slovenia”, Mr. Skobir says, adding that, if Adria was to go bust, the airport would see a decline in passenger numbers of up to a year and a half.

Ljubljana Airport is expected to see an 8% passenger increase in 2013 compared to last year. It estimates numbers will improve by a further 7% in 2014. However, the airport's CEO believes it will take a few more years until numbers reach pre crisis levels. Ljubljana Airport saw record passenger numbers in 2008 when it handled 1.630.050 passengers. Since then, figures have been declining each year. Following four years of continual passenger decline, the trend will be overturned in 2013.

Comments

  1. OT: Why did TK1021 fly from Belgrade to Sarajevo yesterday with A319? Can Turkish schedule flights between those cities? Was it because BH Airlines cancelled their flight to Belgrade?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      FOG had to wait for right time

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:14

    to CEO : TK is a Star Alliance member , rest my case !

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Ljubljana and Tivat airports have the best scenery in all ex-Yugoslav region.
    Though landing in Tivat is quite entertaining when on board an Atr.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nikola14:40

      it was very entertaining on board of a DC-10

      Delete
  4. JU520 BEGLAX13:26

    Hi Nemjee, LJU indeed can be a very nice landing, especially if mountains are covered with snow and on a sunny day. I personally also liked the landing in Split with the Q400 of OU. Or in general if u fly ZRH-TLV and u seat on board the LX A340 and u fly towards St. Moritz, Venice, Istria and than all along the adriatic coast with the Kornati Islands, Dubrovnik, Kotor. Very scenic.....


    I think we can start bets here what all and if at all Slovenia will sell it's assets that soon. LJU Airport might really find a buyer, but not sure about JP..... lets wait and see

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  5. Anonymous13:51

    Sorry for OT but does anyone know when will the 5 new JU routes be available and in the reservation systems?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:11

      By mid-January 2014.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:16

      ...or by present practice, even later...

      Announcement was for a week ago, and now it is almost month later.

      What is such a big deal to put routes for sale in reservation system? Sloppy!

      Mid January is definitely much too late. And than they are surprise why LF is so low?!?!?!?!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:22

      Couldn't you have posted your OT in yesterday's news so it wouldn't be OT? This is about LJU

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:06

      It's not sloppy, it's just that they do not have the people to do it so they have to drag them over from Abu Dhabi. Some people constantly ignore the fact how useless the old Jat staff is.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:30

      Guys, it's not just about putting new routes into the reservation system. Each one of those new routes has to be properly promoted in order to take maximum from it. We have been flooded and overwhelmed with 5 promotional periods IN A ROW, plus those "happy fridays", desktop posters, now they even made a voting about what kind of color combination will the logo have -.- . They even almost celebrated the increase for the flights to Tel Aviv.

      So if they want us to spot the difference, they would have to make a smaller break of promoting all kinds of crap like it is a big deal and carefully choose the right moment. Like for example not promote Varna while you have cold days outside. Just an example.

      To sum up, people wont notice the difference if they keep on like this nor if they start promoting new routes immidiatelly.

      Now we still have the "holidays period" and what we need the most are people from diaspora (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia) and maybe those transit pax. New customers (from Beirut, Budapest, Warsaw, Sofia) are not in the plan till they finish with the diaspora ones.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous15:17

    OT
    How real are the rumours that Emirates might be launching Belgrade flights in August 2014?
    Also, I remember that at some point they showed interest in flying to Dubrovnik. How realistic are those flights? Maybe they could link BEG and DBV?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe insted of fly dubai.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:33

      Of course, it would be too much capacity if both are to remain on the market. However, I see Belgrade being connected to another destination in the region.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous15:52

    OT: http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/13/Ekonomija/1482865/Rekordna+godina+aerodroma+%22Nikola+Tesla%22.html

    So 2-3 days before the end of the year, we have 3.54. Hope we make it till 3.55 :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:13

      CEO of BEG is such a moron, I can't stand him. Political trash.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:22

      BEG November increase 23%.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:46

      If you are not trolling us then it means Belgrade will handle 276.588 passengers in December 2013 or 3.552.485 in 2013.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous19:09

    Good luck, Ljubljana!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous23:28

    OT Aeroflot's A320 has been circling over BEG for like an hour now. Does anyone know what's happening with it? The weather here is fine so it must be something else.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:40

      Ok, seems that fog is the problem.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:00

      but BRU, LJU, ZRH, VIE, TGD, FCO... arrive on time

      Delete
    3. Landed at 23.49

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    4. Anonymous09:50

      Well, the fog was very dense later on in the evening. West of the airport all arriving aircraft was made to circle in rings at various altitude. Then once it cleared a little bit one by landed at intervals of about 10 minutes.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous15:15

    typically....serbian visitors can't restrain themselves from hijacking each and every article....article is about LJU, not about BEG, AS, or anything else....jeeez....

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think Ljubljana and Tivat airports have the best scenery in all ex-Yugoslav region.
    Though landing in Tivat is quite entertaining when on board an Atr.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think Ljubljana and Tivat airports have the best scenery in all ex-Yugoslav region.
    Though landing in Tivat is quite entertaining when on board an Atr. meet and greet gatwick

    ReplyDelete

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