Banja Luka Airport in talks with low cost airlines

Banja Luka Airport eyes low cost flights

Banja Luka Airport is in talks with several low cost airlines over the launch of potential flights to the city. The head of the Aerodromi Republike Srpske airport operator, Miroslav Janjić, says, “We are in talks. At the moment we can not speculate on whether they will result in an agreement but we will continue to hold talks and offer necessary economic and financial support”. Mr. Janjić notes that discussions with low cost airlines are much more “complicated, difficult and will last longer” than those with traditional full fare carriers. The head of the operator did not wish to specify the names of the no frills companies which are currently negotiating with the airport but added, “Talks are being held and we will look to finalise them soon”.

Banja Luka Airport has struggled to attract airlines and sustainable routes for years. It is currently served only by B&H Airlines, which maintains flights to Zurich, and Air Serbia, which runs services from Belgrade, although the number of flights have been reduced from daily last summer to five services per week this year. Since 2013, the airport has been in drawn out negotiations with Wizz Air. Two years ago, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure of the Entity of Republika Srpska, Nedeljko Čubrilović, commented on the talks with Wizz Air by saying, “Unfortunately we were unable to agree to the terms set by the airline. It’s not as it looks. They aren’t coming here to give us anything, they want to come here to take something. During the talks they were very difficult over handling prices so we would not benefit from them in any single way”. On this occasion, Wizz Air did not wish to confirm whether they have again entered talks with Banja Luka Airport. However, the low cost airline, which will open a base in Tuzla this June, recently told EX-YU Aviation News, “Wizz Air is very well suited for that environment. The country [Bosnia and Herzegovina] is absolutely right for our business plan. We are highly excited for Bosnia and Herzegovina and hope to replicate the success in Tuzla across the country”.

Over the past few years, Banja Luka Airport has been in talks with several other airlines, such as Aegean from Greece and Austrian over potential flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city. Late last year, the Austrian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina said, "We will try to connect airports from Austria with Banja Luka. We have indentified that Banja Luka Airport has the potential to develop and serve the entire region”. Austrian ran services to Banja Luka during the 1990s. Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air initially announced flights to the city from July this year but then suspended ticket sales only two months later. Edelweiss was to operate services from Zurich with an Airbus A320, each Monday and Friday.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:07

    Serbia and Srpska were wise to suspend some of the national taxes which enabled JU to drop the fare from €80 to just €54.
    During the slow months, Banja Luka's average load factor was 42%.
    I was on the flight yesterday and there were 38 passengers onboard which is fantastic.

    Mind you, the number of frequencies was reduced due to a shortage of aircraft.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:04

      I hope reaching the same agreement with Montenegro. Current fates are around EUR 110 but with that they should fall low to EUR 70 or less. That would be "just" double the price of bus or train ticket (Podgorica) and would justify 15 to 20 daily roundtrips by both JU and YM instead of todays 8-10

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:39

    Hahahahaha.... this is my only comment on this article. These people are unable to set up a bus line from BL to Gradiska. Remember airport Trebinje!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:11

    "They aren’t coming here to give us anything, they want to come here to take something. During the talks they were very difficult over handling prices so we would not benefit from them in any single way"

    Agree with this completely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:42

      Former Minister Cubrilović has destroyed airport Banja Luka.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous11:11

    Does anyone know why Edelweiss officially gave up on Banja Luka. Was it poor loads or they couldn't make an agreement with the airport?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My guess is that the route failed because they planned to operate an A320. I don't understand why they didn't go for the Q400 or the E-195. Would have made so much more sense.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:18

      Yes it seems completely bizarre that they chose an A320. At least B&H can breath a sigh of relief. SJJ-BNX-ZRH is their only route at the moment, and even that is questionable how long it will last.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:26

      Yep and from 1 MAY Swiss starts flying Zurich - Sarajevo so BH's route will probably depend highly on BNX passengers. I hear Swiss is doing amazingly well on their new GVA-SJJ route.

      Delete
    4. Talking of JA, does anyone have any more information regarding their status? Have they received the necessary funds from the government?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:05

      A new government has been formed but I'm not sure they received any funds. I think they just managed to delay their debt pay. They are flying only to ZRH with one plane 4 times a week. The rest of the rime they are flying charters (and that's how they are surviving) from Mostar to Italy. From what I know they won't be flying Banja Luka - Tivat this year. It's touch and go at the moment. Wouldn't like to be in their shoes. They have no plans to resume Copenhagen and Belgrade at the moment.

      Delete
    6. Thank you for the update. I do hope they manage to pull through.
      It's such a shame that SJJ doesn't open at 05.00. JA's 06.45 arrival into BEG made little sense.

      Delete
    7. ...I am sure more than one airline would depart at 05.00 if they had the option to do so.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous18:25

      Nemjee would you happen to know why JU flight to Moscow on Wednesday made a landing in Minsk thus being delayed almost 5 hours? Interesting no one made any comments on that event!?!? ...JU650 April 15th...

      Delete
    9. Sorry, I was not even aware it diverted to Minsk. :)

      Delete
    10. Anonymous23:54

      How do you know it landed in Minsk anyway?

      Delete
    11. Anonymous07:17

      It was a bit of exercise trying to find what happened... seeing that it left BEG on time and arrived in SVO about 5 hours later than scheduled. FL24 helped :)))

      Delete
  5. Anonymous11:27

    Aerodromi Repulbike Srpske? o.O they have like 1 airport

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TUrbo20:39

      You forgot Trebinje Airport ;)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous11:46

    I like their control tower. Looks cool. Are there any plans to upgrade the terminal in a simmilar style? No offence but it looks like a barn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:02

      Does anyone have any pictures on what this terminal looks like inside?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:28

      I am from Banja Luka originally and live in the UK now. I have flown to/from BNX "a few times", with JA, JU, even Austrojet to Salzburg, with JP,.... and no offence regarding the statement "a barn" whatsoever as that is exactly what it is. "terminal" is ridicilous, needs some kind of upgrade.


      LCC (Wizzair for example) would do amazingly well at BNX. Diaspora in germany, sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway, even UK, Switzerland, Austria from this region is enormous, huge, therefore, if they start even one route (to anywhere really) would be a success ( I am VERY confident!).


      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:47

      The "terminal", I would rather call a shed.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:07

      Tower and the new terminal share the design, the TWR is part of the building planned to be constructed towards the terminal. When? Dunno, probably not soon...

      As for the "barn", I've been at much bigger cities, in much richer countries that had comparable terminal buildings. On the flipside, there are poorer cities and countries with better looking terminal buildings...Iz Tuzla better? Still, it is doing well at the moment...

      Delete
  7. Anonymous11:47

    Can't Air Serbia start some direct flights from BNX?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:04

      They already are ... they fly directly to Belgrade ...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:06

      I meant from Banja Luka to other places. Like say Vienna.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:15

      Not going to happen, they don't even have enough Atrs for their Belgrade flights, even less for BNX.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:52

      Bolje da otvore ponovo R6 sa 2 E175 i 1 E195.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    5. Anonymous19:29

      Even if it was possible, I would prefer JU flying from Niš than from Banja Luka..

      Čak i da je to moguće, više bih voleo da lete iz Niša nego iz Banja Luke. Nekako mi je to mnogo logičnije..

      Delete
    6. JATBEGMEL04:04

      Air Serbia should fix its operations from its only hub.

      Air Serbia uses its ATR7's for up to 3 rotations per day. What 3 rotations a day will it do from BNX?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous12:45

    Nedeljko Čubrilović je 100% upravu sta ce im nesto gde nema ni malo zarade.
    Najveci dobitak bi bio da dovedu FR ili DS ali ja u njih i ne sumnjam.
    Nebi bilo ni lose da dodje : ST, OS ili DP-SU.
    Iskreno se nadam da nece doci W6.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:50

      Anonymous April 17, 2015 at 12:45 PM,
      nemaš pojma o ovom poslu. Šupalj si kao i Čubrilović.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:47

      Иако није више министар, Чубриловић и даље има контролу над тим предузећем јер има своје људе и у министарству, и у назорном одбору и у управи.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous13:14

    OT: Pics form Zagreb Airport's new terminal

    http://www.jutarnji.hr/gradiliste-novog-terminala-na-plesu/1332477/?foto=1

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sorry for the OT. Yesterday I watched the show on RTS that featured former JAT pilot Steva Popov and famous “Kikas” B707. If you didn’t know, this confiscated cargo plane was used to airlift almost 40K people out of Sarajevo in April and early May of 1992. Being one of those who boarded this plane as a 14 year old on May 2I’d like to express my gratitude to this gentleman and his colleagues. Now retired and living in Ruma , Stevo if you are reading this, thank you very much.

    Funny thing, I also found a book about these days written by the gentleman who was airport director at the time. Like myself and many other Sarajevo Serbs, he calls Toronto his home since 1993.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:22

      @ SM. Where did you find the book? What is the title?

      Delete
    2. Two Days Till Peace: A Sarajevo Airport Story

      Delete
    3. You can buy the English version at Amazon.ca or Serbianat DSSound. It's called "Dva dana do mira", autior's name is Mile Jovicic.

      I found a copy in the Toronto Public Library as well if you are in these areas.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous05:45

      Just watched the interview; read the book also... flew with Kikas on April 15-th, last flight of the evening, aircraft full to maximum (I even heard that plane had some technical issues on that flight, but these things were not confirmed). Regards to the crew, RV i PVO who made these flights possible, and all fellow "passengers" who shared same journey.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous14:09

    Two years ago, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure of the Entity of Republika Srpska, Nedeljko Čubrilović, commented on the talks with Wizz Air by saying, “Unfortunately we were unable to agree to the terms set by the airline. It’s not as it looks. They aren’t coming here to give us anything, they want to come here to take something. During the talks they were very difficult over handling prices so we would not benefit from them in any single way”. Klasicno razmisljanje retarda, mozes uzeti bar deo novca od putnika kroz razne usluge a ne od Wizz bitangi. I pored toga mogu da privuku posle i neke druge kompanije samo ne sa Erbasovima a3XX..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:14

      Ko vama daje za pravo nazivate nekog retardom a pogotovu Ministra.
      Sta to Hvali avionima Airbusa.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:48

      U svakom slučaju aerodrom u Banja Luci radi 100 na sat vodili ga retardi ili ne! Možda je ponekada bolje ne gledati usku korist samog aerodroma nego šire slike, a ne imati valjda 10-15 letova tjedno. Ne znam da li (sada ne mogu reći da li su oni koji sada lete za BNX subvencionirani ili ne) su ti skromni letovi uopće dovoljni da aerodrom radi na nuli ili gubi novce i sam po sebi. Jer ako je tako, možda nije loše još malo povećati gubitak aerodroma ali dopustiti bolje povezivanje te regije te korist nekim drugim djelatnostima; u konačnici sama regija ima veću korist?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:50

      Preveliki su za Banja Luku. Vidim sto ti jak ministar ima saobracaj. JA i JU.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:01

      Ja ne znam dali vi zapamtite nesto kad procitate gde sam ja rekao da je jak nigde .
      Bolje da ima JA i JU nego W6 a i ima jake Aerodrome u okruzenju.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:30

      Svakako bi BNX s obzirom na tako kizeran promet možda trebali biti otvoreniji prema suradnji sa drugim projevoznicima, ponajprije LCC zbog tipa prometa (gastarbajteri) i siromaštva regije. Kako god, možda bi se trebali više staviti u funkciju regije te proširiti portfolio destinacija/kompanija.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:34

      To ste dobro rekli samo da ne dodje W6 .
      INN-NS

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:37

      Misliš da bi FR npr bio bolje rješenje? Ako da, zašto to misliš?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous15:54

      1 FR ne iskoricuje Aerodrome u slabo razvijenim regijama gradovima
      2 FR je prava LCC i privukla bi putnike iz okolnih zemalja hr-srb
      3 Mogu se kladiti da bi oterali W6 iz TZL kad bi FR dosao u BNX.
      4 I i mnogo domacih putnika bi ga koristilo.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    9. Anonymous16:00

      Pa zar ne misliš da FR također maksimalno ne gleda svoju korist te da ne izvlači najviše što može kao i W6? Zašto misliš da W6 isto ne bi privukao putnike iz drugih zemalja te da bi domaći putnici bojkotirali W6?
      Oprosti, meni se nekako čini da si jako subjektivan te da očito imaš neki privatni problem sa W6?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous16:14

      FR gleda svoju korist ali jos nigde nisam video ni jedan novinski clank da traze povoljnosti neke .
      Neznam kakav je to privatni problem.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    11. Anonymous16:20

      Mislim da svi LCC traže neke povoljnije uvjete da si snmize bazu troška, a zauzvrat dovode putnike na aerodrome koji su na marginama. Može biti subvencija turističkih zajednica, ne nužno aerodorma, ali je subvencija.
      Mislio sam na problem jer mi se čini da priželjkuješ neuspjeh W6 te smatraš da bi ih dio putnika ignorirao - što se lijepo vidi iz tvog posta, kao i da želiš da FR otjera W6 iz TZL iako je na drugom kraju Bosne i u mnogočemu ima potpuno drugačiji sastav putnika.Da ne kažem da ne znaš ni da li bi opsluživali uopće iste destinacije.

      Tvoj post:

      2 FR je prava LCC i privukla bi putnike iz okolnih zemalja hr-srb
      3 Mogu se kladiti da bi oterali W6 iz TZL kad bi FR dosao u BNX.
      4 I i mnogo domacih putnika bi ga koristilo.


      Delete
    12. Anonymous16:33

      W6 ima veliki uspeh i to je istina ali FR bi bila mnogo bolja opcija.
      Vi kao da radite za W6 pa ih branite toliko. Ili U2 je jos bolje zato sto naj vise ljudi zivi tamo gde oni imaju baze.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    13. Anonymous16:46

      Ne radim za njih, nego me samo zanima zašto si naveo svoja mišljenja pa čekam neke argumente....
      Inače radim za full service avio kompaniju, dakle niti za jedan LCC koji je tu u igri.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous19:19

      @An.3:54
      FR bi u BNX privukao putnike z Hrvatske? Dream on! Najblize BNX-u je ZAD u kojem FR ima bazu i leti za 11 destinacija. Nema sanse da bi iz BNX mogao FR da leti na vise od 2-3 destinacije. OSI,PUY,RJK, imaju takodje FR, OSI sa jednom a RJK/PUY sa 3-4 destinacije. OSI ima BEG, TZL i BUD, blize od BNX, sa veeelikom ponudom LCC. Putnici iz ZAG koriste FR i ostale LCC iz RJK/PUY/OSI/LJU/TRF/TRS/VCE, tako da broj onih koji bi isli preko BNX je mozda 1%. Tako da ne, nema sanse ni hipotetski za to, da ne govorimo o tome da su sanse da BNX uopste dobije neku ozbiljniju LCC za sada negde, po mojoj proceni na 10%

      Delete
    15. Anonymous23:09

      Mislio sam na HR iz Nove Gradiske.
      Jeste bolje resenje da dodje U2:
      @ 4:46 PM
      Bas me zanima za koju kompaniju radite.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    16. Huh?! FR is bad, this is especially apparent when looking at smaller airports in western Europe but others such as Riga, Budapest or Larnaca where they bullied their way into getting dirt cheap charges (Budapest the first time around).

      Delete
    17. Anonymous23:54

      Nisu ni oni sveci ali naspram W6 jesu sigurno.
      Opet mislim da je najbolja opcija za BNX da dodje U2 sanse su pola pola.
      Nemjee
      Sta vi mislite koja je najbolja opcija za BNX :).
      INN-NS

      Delete
    18. Визер и Рајанер су подједнако лоши јер имају исту тактику.
      Додуше Рајанер се сада мало мења али та политика неће бити примењивана на мањим тржиштима или на оним сиромашним широм источне Европе.

      По мени најбоље је да дође Визер али то се, по мом мишљењу, неће десити пошто већ лете из Тузле. Најбоље краткорочно решење је да се потруде да ЈУ опстане тамо и у тренутку када се они консолидују да виде кога ће довести.
      До тада, нека се постарају да обезбеде пар чартер лета током лета.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous00:23

      Znam da ce biti on ali ne znam sta da kazem .
      Da ASL moze da napuni barem A 319 pa da lete BNX-ARN-BNX .
      INN-NS

      Delete
    20. Anonymous02:34

      INN-NS fail AGAIN!!!!

      Delete
    21. Anonymous03:04

      Priznajem da se nisam bas najbolje raspitao o FR ali opet mislim da je bolja opcija od W6
      A najbolje bi bilo da dodje U2.
      Sta vi mislite ko ce doci.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    22. Anonymous03:27

      INN-NS and Nemjee, have you ever flown with Ryan? I have flown with Easy, Ryan, and Wizz in the last three years. As you all said U2 is the best, but comparing Wizz and Ryan is not right. Ryan treats pax worse than cattle.

      Delete
    23. Anonymous03:30

      Ja negotivim bas letenje sa LCC bolje dodate jos 40 eur i letite kao covek.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    24. JATBEGMEL03:50

      @ INN

      "Priznajem da se nisam bas najbolje raspitao..."

      jel moguce? :o

      "Ja negotivim bas letenje sa LCC"

      and?

      "bolje dodate jos 40 eur i letite kao covek"

      many people in Serbia don't have money to fly, and for many people 40€ is a lot. Serbia is not Austria and Serbs don't live with Austrian standards!

      Delete
  12. "Bolje dodati još 40 eur i letite kao čovek"

    Someone who says this is one of two types, either they have never worked a day in their lives and they don't know how bloody hard it is for the working class to earn €40 (especially in Serbia) or they are someone who has been born into a wealthy family and they have had everything handed to them. There is no third option.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps somebody who works hard, earns enough to afford a legacy carrier and simply prefers it that way?

      You are far too easy in judging other people.

      Delete
    2. Someone who works hard and earns their money honestly and legally would understand the struggle and wouldn't go around saying stuff like that.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous01:33

      +1 Aleksandar! You guys can say whatever you want but majority of the rich in Serbia gained money illegally. To those who did earn money fair and square kudos to the.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous18:33

    Проблем аеродрома Бања Лука је врло лоша власт која упорно зида корупцију и све ради наопако.

    Помоћник министра за ваздушни саобраћај, Вожни Весна, не зна о овом послу ама баш ништа.
    Радила је у Жељезницама РС а у министарство је дошла као кадар ДНСа. Сад је у предузеће довела школског колегу, Мирослава Јањића, инжењера друмског саобраћаја.Човјек радио на аутобуској станици у Новом граду.О ваздушном саобраћају нема благе везе. Својом недавном изјавом новинарима, показао је да не зна чак ни шта је нискотарифна компанија. Како он изјави, за њега су Ер Србија и БХ Ерлајнс "линијаши" а Виз Ер није. Жалосно кога су поставили за директора.

    Он неће уговорити ништа јер директори авио-компанија одмах схвате с ким имају посла. Јанјић обмањује јавност. Нјегове иступе у медијима многи исмијавају и називају шупљим причама.

    Све у свему, ако дође до промјене власти, сва четири директора тог аеродрома "лете", а нова власт ће се потрудити да у органе предузећа постави људе од струке, али способне. Тад ће се показати који потенцијал има тај аеродром.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A ko ti kaze da ovi drugi kad dodju nece uraditi apsolutno isto

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:24

      Ови већ 10 година све раде толико наопако да је то једноставно непоновљиво. Горе бити не може.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:54

      Veći problem su tri izvršna direktora koji u tom državnom preduzeću rade već 15 godina i najveći su problem oni. Sad je djelimično izmjenjen nadzorni odbor. Predsjednik je sada čovjek koji je nekad bio izvršni direktor, pa je onda bio direktor Sky srpske. Nakon što je Sky srpska zatvorena, sada je postavljen za predsjednika nadzornog odbora aerodroma. Ovaj novi direktor Janjić je tu doveden da premosti odredjeni vremenski period a predsjednik nadzornog odbora će napustiti svoju trenutnu funkciju i biti postavljen za direktora aerodroma.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:08

      Проблем је власт. Политичари све диктирају. Они ведре и облаче на том аеродрому. Колико год ти директори били неспособни, они су само луткице на концу. Њих власт и поставља да потписују и одрађују шта им се каже. Свугдје је тако па и ту.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous14:24

    BNX has been spinning in circles for almost 20 years. Bribery and corruption is unbelievably strong. It seems, a change isn't on the cards.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous12:08

    Banjaluci se posrećio kargo.
    Skoro svaki dan idu pošiljke mesa u Tursku.
    50 tona govedine po letu.
    Landing za Airbus od oko 170 tona take-off-a i manipulacija kargom, naplaćuje se navodno oko 7000KM.
    Dovezen je i hajloder iz Turske.

    Zbor tog biznisa, Banjaluka je odlučila da garažu za osnovna sredstva veličine od oko 20X15m, prepravi u neku vrstu improvizirane hladnjače gdje bi se to meso prepakivalo na avio-palete.

    U toku je montaža spuštenog stropa a i nadstrešnica ispred garaže će biti zatvorena stiroporom i biti će ugradjen i klima uredjaj.

    Zavrtio se dolar i na aerodromu Banjaluka.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:42

    БХ Аирлинес више не лети са аеродрома Бања Лука. Тај саобраћај и ти путници су изгубљени.
    Остала је само линија Бања Лука - Београд. Доћи ће до смањења броја путника на тој линији а не до повећанја на рачун БХ Аирлинеса како многи мисле.
    Тај карго ће догодине отићи у Тузлу кад они тамо заврше своја карго складишта која праве.

    И шта онда?

    Размишља ли о том директор тог аеродрома?

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