Ljubljana expects slower growth in 2016

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport anticipates handling some 1.5 million passengers this year, after welcoming 1.44 travellers in 2015. "We expect a slower growth rate to that of last year and we would like to close at 1.5 million passengers. That will be heavily influenced by how Adria Airways' new owners run the airline, which has a market share of 60% - 65% at our airport", General Manager, Zmago Skobir, told the "Večer" daily. He added, "Developments in both the aviation and tourism sectors are unpredictable due to the threat of terrorism, reflected in the decline in charter flights to Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey. Among scheduled services, both Paris and Brussels have been affected recently, while Adria Airways has suspended its routes to Istanbul, Stockholm and Cologne". On the other hand, Aegean Airlines will launch flights from Athens to the Slovenian capital this summer.

Ljubljana Airport is yet to surpass its all time passenger record, achieved in 2008, when it handled 1.673.050 travellers, followed by 2007 when it saw 1.524.028 passengers pass through its doors. In 2015, the airport improved its numbers by 10% compared to the year before. Over the past three months, Jože Pučnik Airport welcomed 245.466 travellers, up 3.9%. It is also looking to boost cargo traffic. "Last year we successfully implemented several projects with DHL and TNT, which will be presented this year and next. DHL has started flying to Ljubljana with a large Airbus A300 aircraft, while we are close to finalising a deal with TNT, which was purchased by FedEx, to move its operations to the airport", Mr Skobir said.

Ljubljana Airport will make a series of improvements to its passenger terminal by 2018. Work is already in progress and will enable quicker passenger flow through security prior to the peak summer travel season, while check-in is also being slightly expanded. The overhaul will continue after the end of the summer season, as well as through next year. Main changes will include the relocation of the security area, a new sorting facility for departing baggage, a technological upgrade for sorting arriving baggage, the refurbishment of retail space, as well as food and beverage facilities and an expansion of the baggage pick-up area in arrivals. "Before we build a new terminal, we want to utilise and update the existing one. It will have the capacity to handle two million passengers per year. This should be sufficient over the next few years if traffic continues to grow gradually", Mr Skobir noted.