Busy February for Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo

Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo airports see double digit growth

The airports in Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo have all recorded double digit passenger growth during, what is traditionally, the slowest month in the aviation industry. Belgrade Airport led the growth with 264.816 passengers handled last month, an increase of 14.1% compared to February 2014. The number of operated flights also grew, from 3.701 last year to 3.924. In addition, the airport reported a record net profit amounting to 27.034.163 euros in 2014 while the value of its shares grew over 92% on the Belgrade Stock Exchange. The figure represents the airport’s most profitable year in its 52-year existence. During the first two months, Serbia’s main airport welcomed 573.197 travellers, up 14% on the same period last year. In a statement, the airport said, “We anticipate for growth trends in 2015 to exceed the European average”.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN308.381 13.8
FEB264.816 14.1

Zagreb Airport continued on from its sound performance in January, by recording 10.5% passenger growth last month. Croatia’s busiest airport welcomed 141.833 passengers through its doors. Similarly, the number of operated flights also grew, from 2.496 last year to 2.676 this February. So far in 2015, Zagreb has handled 292.500 travellers, an increase of 10.7%. Commenting on the positive trends, Zagreb Airport’s CEO, Bruno Mazurkiewicz, said, “I am delighted that our efforts to attract new carriers have payed off and new destinations have been launched. It can be expected that the number of new airlines and destinations will continue to grow in the coming months and assist in positioning Zagreb as a regional hub”.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN150.667 11.0
FEB141.833 10.5

Finally, Sarajevo Airport also saw its passenger numbers grow in February. The airport handled 39.908 passengers, up 12.6% on the same month last year. Growth came despite a number of flight cancelations and diversions during the month due to poor weather conditions in the capital. Overall, Sarajevo Airport has welcomed 83.608 travellers, increasing a notable 16.8% on last year. In a statement, the airport said it anticipates for figures to improve further in the months to come. Meanwhile, the Ambassador of France to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Claire Bodonyi, toured the airport recently where she discussed the possibility for Air France to introduce services to Sarajevo.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN43.700 21.0
FEB39.908 12.6

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:05

    Well, I think it's safe to say that BEG can come close to 5.5 million passengers this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      I can see that ZAG handled in two months as much as BEG in January. However, that will change in 2015 as ZAG keeps on reporting growth and as new airlines launch flights, especially the Toronto one. ZAG will be the only airport to have intercontinental flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:14

      5.5 million will only be possible if ASL opens new routes. If things stay as they are now, 5.1-5.2 million would be much more realistic.

      Delete
    3. Purger10:32

      New routes with
      - Swiss (7 per week all year),
      - Brussels (6 per week all year),
      - Air Europa to Zaragoza (seasonal)
      - European Coastal Airlines to Novalja

      Routes that were not here last year
      - LOT (5 per week),
      - flyDubai (4 per week),
      - Air Serbia (14 per week)
      - European Coastal Airlines to Rab and Split (7 per week)
      - KLM (7 per week)

      Almost 50% more capacity of Qatar, and earlier beginning of El Al and Iberia

      for sure will generate much more passengers than one seasonal flight to Toronto per week.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:35

      Has OU published its January and February numbers? Would be interesting to see how they are dealing with increased competition.

      Delete
    5. Croatia Airlines publishes its numbers on a quarterly basis.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:44

      But do they break it down or do they just present the quarterly numbers?

      So we can expect them at the end of April?

      Delete
    7. Only quarterly numbers. Yes, in April/

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:44

    The airport is very generous towards air serbia and still made a good profit......please use the money next time to refurbish and expand T1.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      It is not the airport who is generous. It is its owner - the government of Serbia. And that 'generosity' is in fact fulfillment of obligations taken under the agreement with Etihad. Serbia has the contractual obligation to invest in ASL which she owns, and since she has no money she invests revenues from BEG which she also owns.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:24

      Or invest in some deicing equipment.. Three hour delays due to light snow and deicings are just not acceptable.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:36

      I see nothing wrong that BEG is writing off debts to JU, after all, it's BEG who will profit the most from JU's success.
      Anyway, we can see how much they are ripping airlines off so...

      Delete
    4. One thing to consider is that BEG is not fully owned by the government. I think about 17% of owned by minority owner. If I was one of them I wouldn't be happy that they are taking money from my pocket to fulfill their contractual obligations towards JU. Unless I get compensated for that somehow.

      Delete
    5. These are individual shareholders, that is, citizens who were given 16% of shares by the government (along with NIS shares etc.) Most of us who visit this blog from Serbia own these shares but I doubt we have any right to influence the airport's strategy or decisions.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:53

      Why would BEG invest millions in new de-iceing equipment when we have six days of snow each year. No logic there.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous12:29

    wow super, znači ove godine mogu još više novca da oproste air serbiji.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:17

      Oprostit če im točno onoliko novca koliko Srbija mora uložiti u ASL prema ugovoru koji je sklopila sa Etihadom. Iznos tog oprosta ne ovisi o profitu ZLB več o investicijskom planu koji je preciziran ugovorom i koji se odavno može pronači na internetu.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:05

      Has anyone seen the contract? Under which link can I find it?

      Delete
  4. Anonymous12:50

    Guys don't turn this into some slinging match. These results are great for all airports.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous13:41

    OT. AirCroatia delays launch

    http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/35616-air-croatia-delays-launch-for-a-fifth-time

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:20

      Each time i look at the new route list on this blog, I think how better it would look once Air Croatia routes are removed from it. Not because it is Croatia but because it is a kangaroo airline that will never launch anything. It only disrupts what is otherwise a very good 2015 outlook for commercial air traffic in Croatia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:45

      Air Croatia Fail

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:38

      @AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 2:20 PM

      Indeed, the whole operation stinks to high haven, nobody in Croatia knows about Air Croatia and they don't even have licence to operate out of Zagreb from what I've heard.

      Strange goings on.

      Why has this blog posted news about this failed/fake airline so many times is beyond comprehension or ulterior motives perhaps.

      Delete
    4. "Ulterior motives", please...

      Delete
  6. Anonymous14:29

    Ne znam samo da li su najave desno samo visegodisnje sezonske linije ili nove sezonske linije?
    AirCroatia je na teretu exYu, on mora da odluci sta da radi sa njima, dok i drugi sajtovi pisu o njima mozda da ih ostavi inace izgledaju kao uobicajeni luzeri na inace sezonski punom hrvatskom nebu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:42

      To su samo nove sezonske i redovne linije. Pa zamisli listu da pisu svaku sezonsku.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous15:10

    ОT: Wizz Air start Luton - Ohrid from 14 June.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous16:09

    Ako se desi da se YM preseli u BEG onda ce mozda na kraju imati 5,7 - 5,9 Mil putnika BEG.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:20

      Gospodine INN-NS ne lupajte.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous19:10

    Zagreb's new terminal is coming along nicely

    http://i.imgur.com/yGKGG4p.jpg

    level 3 is all done, now roof supporting columns are being put in their place, 4 of them can be seen here, i think there are 10 in total, so almost halfway there, four future PBBs are clearly seen with 3 more to be built by mid May, 8th temporary bridge will be added towards the end, and terminal should be water tight by end of September and being habitable by mid to late October, architectural terms meaning having full roof, walls and some degree of protection from the elements as well as electricity, water connected.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:01

      Looking great so far, thanks for the info! Congrats to Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo for great results this year!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous00:48

    Ex-Yu admin you said a week ago that you will post an article about Qatar in BEG? Are you planing on posting it now that Qatar might not get the fifth freedom. is there any news in regards to those flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:07

      Good question.

      Delete
    2. Originally, the airline’s Belgrade office said to me that it is only a “matter of days” before the airline receives fifth freedom rights and I was waiting to publish the article once these rights were given. However, the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate still hasn’t made a decision even though Qatar has already started flying to Belgrade via Sofia. Since it was previously published that Qatar Airways has not been issued fifth freedom flights, in an article from December 2, 2014, I will publish any changes to this status once and if it occurs.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous02:14

      Thank you for quick response!

      Delete

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