TAV: Wizz Air to base fourth jet in Skopje


Wizz Air plans to base a fourth aircraft at Skopje Alexander the Great Airport, according to operator TAV Airports Holding. The comments were made by the company's Marketing Coordinator, Aslıhan Cortuk , for "Anna Aero" during the recent Routes Europe forum, which brings together a wide range of airlines, airports and tourism authorities. "This year Wizz Air will base a fourth aircraft in Skopje", Ms Cortuk said, noting that the Macedonian capital was the airport operator's star performer in 2015 with passenger growth exceeding 20%. Wizz Air itself has neither confirmed nor denied the claims. The budget airline based its third aircraft in Skopje last year and added three new routes from the city in 2016 - to Berlin, Bratislava and Copenhagen. Furthermore, it shifted its flights from Lubeck to Hamburg.

The low cost carrier is seen as the strongest contender for the introduction of flights between Budapest and Skopje after the Hungarian government announced plans to subsidies the route. The Macedonian Economy Minister previously said, “We discussed the opening of direct Wizz Air flights between Skopje and Budapest, as well as charter flights to cater for Hungary’s largest tour operator”. Last year, Skopje Airport's operator, TAV Macedonia, told EX-YU Aviation News it was “highly interested” in new market opportunities and identified several unserved or underserved European countries as its focus point. These include Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Last week, Amsterdam Airport's Head of Aviation Marketing, Hanne Buis, noted that the Dutch city is still missing a link to Skopje and that the airport is working towards establishing flights between the two.

Wizz Air is Macedonia's leading airline, with a total country market share of 58%, offering 27 routes to thirteen countries from its two Macedonian airports - Skopje and Ohrid. Last year, the carrier handled 734.931 travellers on its flights to and from Alexander the Great Airport, an increase of 31.9% compared to 2014, accounting for a passenger share of 50%. Furthermore, from Ohrid it carried an additional 60.000 travellers during its first year of operations. With three new routes from Skopje this summer, the carrier has more than one million seats on sale for 2016, representing capacity growth of 22% on 2015. Since launching flights from the Macedonian capital in 2011, the airline has carried over two million travellers to and from the country.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:04

    That woild be nice. Probably a preemptive move against Ryanair.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:05

    cooool :) But I still hope Ryanair and Easyjet to come.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:06

    Would be great if they introduced Moscow and Tel Aviv. Not sure how this works out in terms of bilaterals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      not possible

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      It would be great if that happens. But I don't think it is going to became reality anytime soon. Wizz flies to Moscow only from BUD, and there are airports and countries with a much bigger demand for Russia (like Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland...) and yet there are no flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:15

      This is what TAV discussed before why Macedonia needs a national airline. The problem is that a Hungarian registered airline cannot fly between Macedonia (a non EU country) and Russia. And this is just one example.

      Delete
  4. It's about time for direct AMS-SKP flights

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wizz won't fly to AMS

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      @ ljupco,
      It they will introduce a route to the Netherlands it will Eindhoven and not Amsterdam. Wizz don't fly there.

      Delete
    3. I'm referring to the comment from Schiphol's head of aviation;

      "Last week, Amsterdam Airport's Head of Aviation Marketing, Hanne Buis, noted that the Dutch city is still missing a link to Skopje and that the airport is working towards establishing flights between the two."

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:24

      lol they fly already to EIN

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:50

      Until Lelystad comes online with scheduled (low-cost) flights in 2 years time, EIN and ROT are the only low-cost alternatives to Amsterdam Schiphol.

      Wizz will not fly to Schiphol, at least not for the time being, even though easyjet has a massive hub here, so does Vueling, while Ryanair and Norwegian fly from the airport. Maybe Wizz should rethink its access to the Netherlands.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:13

      TRANSAVIA baby!

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:58

      Little bit retro for SKP - AMS flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODWJ_3k7TAM

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:52

      Haha MAT

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:08

    I fail to see how they could make SKP-BUD work unless they introduce a hub transfer system like Ryanair will. I knowthe route would be subsidised but still, those subsidies will run out at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:15

    I wonder weather Skopje or any other ex-Yu city will see Wizz Air's A321 any time soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      with a fourth aircraft probably not

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:38

      If it will be, it will be Skopje, but probably at least not for another year or two.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:19

    Still hope to see wizzair flying to some east-european contries from SKP and OHD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      I think everybody does. Until now it has been solely P2P. If they open some East European routes, there might be some transfer chances (I know it is an LCC in question, and that it doesn't have the hub system) for backpackers or anyone on a budget.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      dream on. Just look at the Sofia nad Bucharest Wizz-base

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:31

    OT: Dubrovnik airport

    4/2015 90646
    4/2016 94632

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:15

      OT: Split airport

      4/2015 74950
      4/2016 75522

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23:56

      its ok, Dubrovnik predicts 4%~ growth this year. April figures are in line with that prediction. Split will pick up in May however Split and Dubrovnik are holiday airports, there won't be much traffic between October 30th through to march 30th.

      However summer months should be impressive this year for both airports, I predict 5%~ for Dubrovnik and 8%~ for Split.

      Prediction for Croatian Airports this year.

      Zagreb : 2.8 million
      Split: 2.1 million
      Dubrovnik: 1.75 million
      Zadar 500k
      Pula: 400k
      Rijeka: 200k
      Osijek: 50k

      Total: 7.8 million.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:33

    IMHO, if this is true, the 4th aircraft will be only for upgrading existing routes. I don't think there will be many new routes, maybe only BUD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:39

      you are partially right: they had to cut 6 weekly frequencies to launch the 3 new routes in fear of Ryanair. There are stil 3-4 potential destinations left. I wont mention them :) And BUD is certainly not one of them

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:47

      they have many uncover routs from skopje, like Baden-Bade, Malta, Moskva, Some new in UK, Budapest........ And also from OHD.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:50

    OT Pristina

    OT Skopje


    please

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:15

      sorry what?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:48

      Pristina 2016 April

      Skopje 2016 April

      Zagreb 2016 April

      ??????

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:48

    If this happens SKP will continue to see massive passenger growth.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous11:09

    Wizz Air and Ryanair get ready to open services to/from Pristina across Europe.

    Kosovo today takes notice of visa liberalization to travel across Europe without visa and using biometric passports.
    This time most likely sounds positive, will hear soon today.

    So now Wizz Air, Ryanair and other airlines have more passengers of Kosovo to travel across Europe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:04

      I doubt that Wizz Air would start operating from PRN, having the already well established base in SKP, especially having the short distance between the airports. Also, Wizz will definitely not come to PRN without any subsidies or lower airport prizes. So, the visa liberalization wouldn't be enough as alone to bring Wizz to PRN.

      About Ryanair, well, maybe, having Wizzair in SKP, would be logical for Ryanair to establish itself in PRN, unless they do have plans for SKP too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:30

      and Ryanair doesnt want subsidies or lower airport prices?? ha you being funny!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:12

      It does. That's why I said maybe (if PRN is cooperative).

      Delete
  13. Anonymous11:28

    Excellent news for Skopje. But I'm still hoping for Ryan :) and getting quite worried about Qatar Airways as they still haven't put tickets on sale.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:46

      https://i.gyazo.com/261304ada6e98454f95bc3e79cbadfcb.png

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:14

      thanks

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:56

      Can you paste the content as it is not readable?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous19:55

      Thank you for contacting Qatar Airways.

      Please accept our apologies for the delay in getting back to you. Due to an unusually high number of requests combined with system related issues, we were unable to respond to your request sooner. We are working on resolving these issues to ensure that we provide a better service to you in the future.

      With regards to your query, we would like to inform you that as of now the SKP destination is not yet loaded, however you may subscribe to the Qatar Airways e-newsletter whereby you will be able to receive Qatar Airways exclusive offers, latest news on products and services and as well, you will be among the first to know about upcoming specials & promotions.

      Delete
    5. Image not readable on mobile...

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:22

    possible cities from Skopje:

    Hubs probably only for legacy carrier:
    Paris CDG, London LHR, Frankfurt FRA, Madrid MAD, Amsterdam AMS and Moskow (SVO) as supplement to the existing hubs (VIE, ZRH, FCO)

    Year-long for LCC or legacy:
    Geneva, Rotterdam, Budapest, Neapel, Manchester, Lissabon, Malta, Nizza, Lyon, Dublin, Warshaw, Moskow (DME or VKO)

    Seasonal, charter summer:
    Pula, Split, Tivat,
    Athens, Zakynthos, Larnaca,
    Antalya, Bodrum,
    Burgas, Varna,
    Sochi, Simferopol,
    Sharm-el-Sheikh, Hurghada,
    Monastir, Marakesh

    Seasonal, charter winter:
    Sochi, Poprad, Innsbruck

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:10

      I believe that SKP needs a proper year-round service to KBP, OTP, SOF and WAW.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:25

      I see high demand for Sofia and Bratislava/Vienna

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:52

      What are your sights and beliefs based on, gents?

      Delete
  15. Anonymous13:52

    OT: Air Serbia announces 3,9 million EUR profit for 2015. A330 will be in Belgrade exactly one week from now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:07

      Neto dobit iznosi 3,9 miliona evra, što predstavlja povećanje od 44 procenta u odnosu na 2014. godinu
      Ukupni prihodi su uvećani za 16 procenata i iznosili su 305 miliona evra
      Prihodi po osnovu kod-šer sporazuma učestvuju sa 21,5 miliona evra u ukupnim prihodima.

      http://www.airserbia.com/sr-RS/korporativni/vesti/air-serbia-ostvarila-neto-profit-od-3-9-miliona-evra-druga-uzastopna-godina-profitabilnosti

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:50

      OK, and what about 22 million subvention? Without this Air Serbia would be 18 million in minus!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:37

      ASL ima cist profit od 3,9 MIL EUR sto je fantasticno i zajedno sa 9W,HM i EY su jedini profitabilni u Alijansi.
      A kao sto je izjavio G Mali investicija Drzave Srbije je odavno prosla ne znam sta cete sledece godine reci kako su dosli do profita.
      A odlicne su vesti sto ce doci A332 uskoro .
      INN-NS

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23:34

      Cicko, mi i govorimo o profitu za 2015, subvencije su stale u februaru 2016. Ovo su brojke za prošlu godinu.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous00:14

      Znam ja od kad je finansiski izvestaj samo vi ne znate da nema nikakvih subvenicja nego se radi o investiciji.
      INN-NS

      Delete
    6. Anonymous08:48

      A jeli? Pa Cicko moj, ovo nije investicija u avione, zgrade, opremu, nego isključivo u operacije, tj. "investicija" je novac kojim se pokrivaju gubici.

      Bila je tako "investirana" i Croatia, Adrija, B&H Airlines, Montenegro... Zbog takvih investicija EU je ukinula Malev, Estonian, Cyprus...

      Delete
  16. Anonymous13:52

    as far as I know there are 5 daily buses from Skopje to Sofja. Which means (5*50=250) people in each way. For sure there is big demand.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous14:52

    Well done Skopje. Maybe it surpasses Pristina next year.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous15:02

    liberalization visa for Kosovo

    Prishtina next year 2 millions

    Skopje any chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:07

      With the Visa liberalisation taking place now, chances are Kosovo bounces back to the 3rd place again!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:16

      liberalization visa for Kosovo

      Prishtina next year 2 millions

      Skopje any chance.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:17

      Wizzair is in Skopje.

      PRN has a chance to come Ryanair or others airlines

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:18

      Yes PRN and Zagreb are beautiful Airports

      Delete
  19. Anonymous15:29

    Bice zanimljivo videti hoce li FR napadnuti W6 i u SKP kao sto je u INI .
    Ili ce mozda pre da otvori bazu u PRN ali samo ako PRN spusti cenu .
    Pogotovu sad kad gradjani PRN mogu putovati bez viza FR bi mozda napravio i bolji uspeh nego u SKP.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kakav crni napad FR na W6 u Nisu,aviokompanije se sa rutama ni na putu ne srecu.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:34

      Pa niko ne zna sta se planira u INI sve je moguce .
      INN-NS

      Delete
  20. Anonymous18:05

    W6 is doing well in SK. I did try to book return Eindhoven-Skopje for August, it was 380 for return without luggage!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:27

      try AMS-SKP but its not cheap either.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:55

      21-31 Aug: 100 eur from EIN to SOF return & 275 to Pristina from Ams, gotta be flexible :)

      Delete
  21. OT: Does anyone know how well is JU selling Hamburg, Kiev and St Petersburg flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:35

      Ask INN-NS. He knows it all.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:01

      Ahahaha napisat ce ODLICNO se pune, kao stojako kreativno analizira podatke o dobiti. Isto kao i kod OU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:16

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  22. JU520 BEGLAX21:22

    OT: Adria is serving water again for free. But only water

    ReplyDelete
  23. Easyjet it is going well in Prishtina and they will add new low cost flights with visa liberalization after Basel, Geneve , Berlin actually in service!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.