Mostar Airport expects to secure the arrival of a low cost carrier next year following talks with local authorities who are prepared to grant 255.600 euros in subsidies in order for the airline to launch scheduled flights to the city. Both Wizz Air and Ryanair have previously expressed interest in serving Mostar. "Next year we anticipate on receiving 255.600 euros in subsidies because that is the amount needed to bring one of the low cost carriers, which would launch several flights, particularly to Germany and Scandinavia", Marko Djuzel, the head of Traffic and Security at Mostar Airport, said. He added, "We don't need the same amount granted to Tuzla Airport because all of our studies show that the sum requested will cover the costs generated from cooperating with a no frills airline".
In 2013, the Federal government of Bosnia and Herzegovina designated both Mostar and Tuzla airports as the country’s low cost hubs. Since then, Wizz Air has opened a base in Tuzla. Mostar Airport attempted to attract low cost carriers on several occasions but has had little success. Back in 2012 it held talks with Wizz Air over potential flights from Dortmund and Malmo, but the airline opted for Tuzla instead. However, Wizz Air's Head of Airport Development, Jozsef Ujhely, recently said the carrier was looking to further strengthen its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which could result in potential flights to Mostar as well. On the other hand, in October 2014, Ryanair confirmed it had entered negotiations with Mostar Airport concerning the possible launch of services from Germany and Scandinavia. In the end, these flights did not materialise either.
Mostar has struggled to attract scheduled flights but sees a significant number of charter traffic throughout the year, carrying religious pilgrims visiting the nearby Medjugorje sight. Mostar Airport handled 47.9106 passengers during the first three quarters of 2016, down 27.6% on last year due to fewer charters, making it Bosnia and Herzegovina’s third busiest airport behind Sarajevo and Tuzla but ahead of Banja Luka. It handled a record 86.000 travellers in a single year prior to the breakup of the former Yugoslavia but has been unable to surpass that figure ever since. Last week, the airport began overhauling its passenger terminal in a bid to add capacity. Work should be completed by the end of next month.
It would be good if they got Ryanair. Then you would have Wizz from Tuzla and Ryan from Mostar.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if they got both not just one. Like Nis.
DeleteYes but even in Nis Wizz came first for about a year before Ryan came. One airline needs to show that there is a sustainable and growing market.
DeleteNiš.
DeleteIf it will be Ryanair then I expect in the mear future they will open flight from Mostar to Dublin, London Standsted, Barcelona, Manchester, Eindhoven, Oslo, Copenhagen as these cities are major Ryanair bases
DeleteFingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI think it will ginaly become a reality
DeleteIf this happens Banja Luka airport will be the only one left behind.
ReplyDeleteThe situation at BNX is crazy. Like a parallel universe they think their business is perfect.
DeleteThe issue is no one at Banja Luka Airport cares or knows anything remotely related to aviation.
DeleteReče stručnjak ...
DeleteI think a flight from Bergamo to Mostar could work year round.
ReplyDeleteWeeze would also be a good choice.
DeleteWarsaw too.
Deleteanother vote for Bergamo, all year round, great hub for lc for connections and many Italians ,in love, with Medjugorje.
DeleteWarsaw might be introduced later but not yet, I think they will introduce first Dusseldorf weeze an maby Milano and or Barcelona later
DeleteSo no one would consider the airport without subsidies...
ReplyDeleteFlights to Poland could work too. Lots of Christian pilgrims are coming from Poland.
ReplyDeleteYes, but they are trying to base those flights differently, so not just pilgrims but some regular diaspora travelers.
DeleteIt's kind of unsafe to stick with pilgrims because even the Holy chair itself may turn their stance on Međugorje other way.
http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/papa-franjo-vidioci-ne-pripadaju-krscanstvu
I don't understand why OMO doesn't do something similar to what INI did. Offer 3 eur fees per departing pax and a contract for 3-5 years. No subsidies necessary.
ReplyDeleteRemember when an airline contacted INI and asked for 200.000 to launch flights, but the director told them no? We all know what airline that was even though it wasn't publicly announced. Now INI has both Ryanair and Wizz and will have 300.000 pax next year, and hopefully a third airline.
+1
DeleteAlso INI expects to become self sustainable by 2018. Tuzla is still not self sustainable 3 years after Wizz started flying there.
€3 per departing pax is a subsidie if it costs the airport more than that to service the plane while at the airport. The question then becomes is it worth it for the airport to offer these loss making rates to the airline. Me thinks yes, when looking at the long the long term and big picture.
DeleteThe airport is only losing money up to a certain point, that is until the airport starts handing a certain number of passengers.
DeleteReal income comes from parking, restaurant, rent’a’car, duty free, petrol for planes, catering, marketing on airport etc.
DeleteIf airport works well at least 50% income must come from nonflight revenue.
Will Croatia Airlines keep Mostar - Beirut flights next year?
ReplyDeleteUnless there are some issues with OU, there is no reason why not.
DeleteYes, in case they are still around.
DeleteYes the will
DeleteHope this materializes.
ReplyDeleteWell it's good that politicians are finally not blocking Mostar Airport like they have done so many times in the past.
ReplyDeleteI will believe it when I see it
DeleteI assume the flights to Scandinavia would be Sweden.
ReplyDeleteI think Oslo, Norway
DeleteThis would be brilliant news for Croatian coast as well, let's not forget that.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAlthough some people do fear it could take away some passengers from Croatian coastal airports.
Many local politicians have been blocking Mostar Airport's development because of that reason.
DeleteIf Ryanair starts flying from Dusseldrof Weeze to Mostar then I dont see how they will take aways passengers from Split and/or Dubrovnik. The don't fly that route at all.
DeleteEspecially the new motorway will directly pass the airport so it will be very easy to arrive from the coast
DeleteMostar is located about two hours from both SPU and SJJ. I can see it serving quite a market out there.
DeleteItaly, Germany and the NL could be the first markets.
Despite the low level of traffic at Mostar and Banja Luka, it amazes me that this country has 4 functioning airports and that all have international flights.
ReplyDeleteAnd all will modernise their terminal
DeleteI think if Ryanair comes, they will start flying from Dusseldorf Weeze, just between in the middel the two hubs of WizzAir (Eindhoven and Dortmund).
ReplyDeleteThat would be possible, however I think Rayanair could also open this route from Eindhoven to Mostar, Eindhoven is near Belgium and Germany and is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe, is a Raynair hub and has a good location in the Nederlands
DeleteEx-YU Aviation,
ReplyDeleteWhich of the following is the correct figure:
"... local authorities who are prepared to grant 255.600 euros in subsidies ...
... we anticipate on receiving 266.500 euros in subsidies ..."
The correct figure is 255.600. Apologies for the typo.
DeleteIf this really happens, this would result with about 30.000 new passengers annually. However this isn't the first time news as this one has been announced. Anyway, some actual pre-work has been completed by OMO as well, they purchased some equipment but I'm not sure if the the DCS has been acquired already?
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't been mentioned who would finance the subsidies, I assume FBiH...
No subsidies would be provided by the government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.
DeleteIt doesn't matter who gives the subsidies, this wil be a great game changer in the BiH avation, a good balance in the Low Cost flying and if it will become Raynair then it will be a good concurent to WizzAir and Tuzla
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteAlitalia will suspend IST, these are great news for JU.
As if now everyone from Roma & Milano will use ASL to fly to Istanbul.
DeleteAlitalia's passengers will fly on AZ to BEG and then onwards to IST on JU. No need ot be so hateful.
DeleteVery interesting, I know Ryanair wants to expend as much as possible in Eindhoven (Netherlands) this could be the possible route in the near future.
ReplyDeleteWhat about OMO-ZAG with Wizz Air?
ReplyDeleteThis should have BH Airlines done long time ago and they'd never go to bankruptcy :) LCC with Zagreb & Belgrade.
Delete