Banja Luka Airport to announce new flights


Banja Luka Airport is expected to announce new flights by the end of the year as it continues to struggle with low passenger volumes. The airport's General Manager, Miroslav Janjić, says talks are underway with several carriers, with announcements on new routes expected by the end of December. "The airlines themselves decide whether they want to launch a new service or not. It is no one's interest for an aircraft to be flying half empty. There is strong interest for flights to Banja Luka from serious carriers", Mr Janjić noted. Banja Luka is said to be eyeing services to Zurich and Vienna, as well as flights to Scandinavia. Brussels Airlines has confirmed its interest to fly to the city via Sarajevo. Talks are also being held with Israeli and Irish carriers.

The General Manager recently conceded that talks with Wizz Air, which were held several years ago, were a missed opportunity. "I can't say it was a great pity but in some way it was an opportunity. Tuzla has its own growth strategy and I would not like to comment on that. Their development is separate from ours. We have different preferences and needs. How come there are no low cost airlines flying from Zagreb? I think we can draw similarities between us and Zagreb in that respect", Mr Janjić said. He noted that the airport plans to handle some 200.000 passengers on an annual basis within a three-year period.

Banja Luka Airport's terminal building is currently being expanded and a new cargo facility is being built in a bid to boost passenger and storage capacity. The 3.1 million euro project will be completed by the end of the year and will include the expansion of the existing terminal building by 397 square metres and the construction of a new cargo storage depot, which will stretch over 1.360 metres. Banja Luka Airport has struggled to attract passengers over the last few years with Air Serbia being its only customer at the moment, maintaining five weekly flights from Belgrade. Earlier this year the government of the entity of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina suggested for Air Serbia to station an aircraft at Banja Luka Airport and open a subsidiary in the city.

Comments

  1. "How come there are no low cost airlines flying from Zagreb? I think we can draw similarities between us and Zagreb in that respect"

    Jesus, what incompetence!

    Only in a Balkan country can someone like this be an airport manager.

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  2. Wishful thinking on Banja Luka's behalf.

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  3. In talks with Irish carrier? Could it be Ryanair???

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  4. These guys have done nothing for years! So much wasted potential.

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    Replies

    1. Well at least they have started expansion.

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    2. A few days ago construction inspectors banned all further construction on cargo terminal because of range of problems on the project!

      http://www.banjaluka.com/drustvo/2017/09/05/inspekcija-obustavila-gradnju-kargo-terminala-na-banjaluckom-aerodromu/

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  5. Good thing he realizes years after that not signing the deal with Wizz Air was a missed opportunity. Enjoy the JU ATR.

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    1. They do get Airbus A319 from JU a few times in a month.

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    2. Yes when ATR fleet is unavailable.

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    3. They sent an A330 once :)

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  6. Maybe Air Serbia should take up the government's offer and base an Aviolet 737 there. They would probably get money for it anyway.

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    1. I just don't see Air Serbia getting fifth freedom rights and flying between Banja Luka and other cities.

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    2. @Anonymous September 9, 2017 at 9:32 AM
      LOL!

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  7. Still don't see how a reconstructed terminal will bring you more airlines.

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    1. If you build it, they will come...

      Are you saying movies lie?

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    2. The new cargo warehouse is going to be really big and they have already brought a brand new high-loader, it must be they reckon the pax will be delighted when introduced to such stunning building. The pax will wish they could go through the warehouse instead of the terminal. Getting on board by the loader would be so amasing. The director,as well as the rest of the managing board, is going to be remembered by this phenomenal idea.

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  8. I really do hope Banja Luka Airport turns things around. Don't understand some people who seem to enjoy and make fun of the current state at the airport.

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    1. The same guys are not able to turn around anything.

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  9. 200,000 is reachable by 2020 if they get a serious airline like Wizz to base a plane and start flights. Otherwise it will be difficult.

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  10. They are in the middle of their reorganization. Thus, I doubt that they are even interested in a such adventure.

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  11. Brussels - Sarajevo - Banja Luka could work with Brussels Airlines.

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    1. Not sure how profitable this would be. If they do start these flights it should operate with an Avro.

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    2. Those are being phased out.

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    3. They could get some feed onto their JFK and YYZ flights if they launched this route

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    4. @10.33 yep mid Q4 of this year.

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  12. Flight to/from Vienna with Q400 would make most sense with number of connections onward.
    Ryanair would be an interesting development, as it would draw passengers from Zagreb.

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    1. Continued. BNX is about the same distance from Zagreb as Ljubljana, which has Easy and Wizz. Also, BNX is 2-2.5 hours drive from the closest airports (Zagreb, Osijek, Tuzla). It has a decent catchment area, not too much risk of cannivalisation as Osijek doesn't seem to have much traffic anyway. Only upside for Ryanair.

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    2. Why would they want flights to VIE for onward connections ? isn't that the whole point of JU flying to BEG ?

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    3. Compare how much onward destinations are offered with JU from BEG - and how much are possible from VIE with OS and all Star Alliance members.

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    4. perhaps because Austrian can offer much broader network. But, I agree, they wouldn't try to hurt JU.

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    5. There are also much more landlines (bus, train) between Zagreb and Ljubljana than there are between Zagreb and Banja Luka.

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  13. I love reading about BNX always so funny. Do all people in this part of the world have the same mentality.

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    1. It could be resurrected Sky Srpska because their director rides again, now as the airport's supervisory board chairman.

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  15. Maybe Eurowings should look into it.

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    1. I doubt they would be interested. Seems like their plans to fly to Mostar also won't materialize.

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  16. Every yugo wants to have its own airport. Same nonsense as Maribor. Build railways which is obviously to demanding for The Peninsula.

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  17. The worst thing about this is that Banja Luka Airport actually has a lot of perspective. The issue is the unprofessional and political management.

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  18. Banja Luka's main problem is its proximity to Zagreb.

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    1. Actually I think it is one of its assets. If you were to develop BNX into a Wizz or Ryanair base you could actually attract quite a few passengers from Zagreb, seeing as LCC presence in Zagreb is not so big.

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    2. Zagreb will get LCCs soon and Banja Luka is a joke, let's face the facts!

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    3. If BNX's supervisory and managing board were replaced, and guys who know how to manage an international airport take over BNX, BNX wouldn't be a joke at all.

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  19. This could also be an advantage (LCC)

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  20. Why don´t they consider Wizz, Adria, Ryanair?

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    1. BNX does not want low cost airlines. They said it many times.

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    2. They only want 5* airlines. Expecting Qatar some time soon

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  21. I will believe it when I see it.

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  22. The original expansion project for BNX from a few years ago looked sooo much better than what they are doing now

    http://www.deling.rs/images/gallery/public/banjaluka_01.jpg

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    1. Cemu sluzi ta cevuljaga ispred zgrade? Da sidju na pistu niz jedne stepenice?

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    2. What does the current project look like?

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    3. You have it here under Banja Luka

      http://www.exyuaviation.com/2016/12/ex-yu-airports-launch-major-projects.html

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  23. OT:
    No Germania flights between 27.10-22.12 on the ZRH-INI-ZRH route!

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    1. It seems that LX is more successful in INI althought they might be more expensive

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    2. Well, first of all - Swiss offers connections, and the other thing is brend recognition, which clearly is on the Swiss side ...

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  24. Gothenbug-Banja Luka should be profitable!

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