Low cost carrier Wizz Air is planning to further expand in the former Yugoslavia in the coming period and is considering new services from both Macedonia and Kosovo. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, the no frills airline will introduce flights from Skopje to Rome Ciampino, Malta and Vaxjo in Sweden. Furthermore, Wizz plans to launch services from Pristina to London Luton. Skopje Airport continues to maintain its position as Wizz Air's largest base in the former Yugoslavia with three aircraft already stationed in the city. The airline will launch a new two weekly service between Budapest and the Macedonian capital this April. Over the past year, there have been indications the carrier could base a fourth jet, however, neither the airline nor the airport have confirmed such plans yet. Last week, the Macedonian Minister for Transport said the government would offer fresh subsidies to carriers for the launch of new flights from the country.

Wizz Air will enter the Kosovan market this April with the launch of state sponsored flights between Budapest and Pristina. Both the airline and Pristina Airport have been engaged in drawn-out negotiations over the introduction of new services. Speaking at a press conference in December, Wizz Air's Chief Commercial Officer, George Michalopoulos, said the carrier was "in continued discussions with Pristina Airport over new routes". "Hopefully this is just the start", Mr Michalopoulos noted. The only airline flying between Pristina and London is Germania.

This summer, Wizz Air plans to base an additional two aircraft in the former Yugoslavia, add at least thirteen new routes and offer over two million seats for sale from the region. The carrier’s expansion will begin in Tuzla this March with the stationing of a second Airbus A320 in the city and the launch of flights to Bratislava, Cologne, Friedrichshafen, Nuremberg and Vaxjo. Similarly, in Belgrade, the no frills carrier will base a second jet from mid-May, which will see the introduction of flights to Friedrichshafen, Nuremberg, Hannover and Malta. The airline will also launch services from Budapest to Sarajevo and Podgorica, Basel to Osijek, as well as boost capacity on its London - Ljubljana route.