Skopje Alexander the Great Airport has registered its busiest year on record in 2017 by handling 1.868.272 passengers through its doors, representing an increase of 13.3% compared to the year before. Its counterpart in Ohrid welcomed 159.072 travellers, up 9.7%. Combined, the two saw 2.027.344 passengers use their services, which is an increase of 13% compared to the year before. The number of aircraft movements stood at 18.130, an improvement of 7%. Istanbul (both Ataturk and Sabiha Gokcen airports) was the most popular destination to and from Macedonia, accounting for a 12.3% passenger share. It was followed by Zurich at 8.6%, Vienna at 6.5%, Basel at 5.3%, Malmo at 4.6% and London with a 3.7% passenger share.
Wizz Air cemented its position as the busiest airline in the country, accounting for 59% of all passengers carried or some 1.2 million travellers. During 2017, Skopje Airport registered its busiest day on record when it handled 8.283 passengers on 98 flights in August. The figures were fuelled by the UEFA Super Cup Final which was taking place in the city. The General Manager of airport operator TAV Macedonia, Alper Ersoy, noted, "It has been another successful year for TAV Macedonia, reaching two million passengers at both Skopje Alexander the Great Airport and Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport, with a 13% increase compared to 2016. This was achieved due to the growing destination network available from both airports. There were five new routes introduced from Skopje - Budapest, Malta, Rome, Vaxjo and Doha, as well as new seasonal flights from Katowice to Ohrid, catering for Polish tourists". He added, "In 2018, we will continue to focus on expanding the route network, but also providing high quality services to our passengers and customers".
Late last year, the Macedonian government said it wanted to focus on developing traffic at Ohrid Airport. It noted, "St Paul the Apostle Airport in Ohrid has untapped potential and we are focusing on shifting traffic to that airport and providing the public with many destinations operated by low cost airlines. It is one of the measures of the government's program. We will continue our efforts in improving air traffic in Macedonia". The measures have so far yielded desired results with Brussels Airlines, Nordica, TUIfly and Wizz Air set to introduce new flights to the city this year. Other airlines have also expressed interest in launching services to either Skopje or Ohrid, including LOT Polish Airlines, Onur Air, Arkia Israeli Airlines and Aegean Airlines, with the latter ready to introduce flights if a political deal between Macedonia and Greece is reached in the coming months.
Great result for both. Skopje with almost 2 million. Wow.
ReplyDeleteNice job for Skopje
DeleteSo SKP managed to overtake PRN?
ReplyDeleteNo. I think they JUST missed out by 3-4.000
DeleteAlmost, but I don't think SKP can overtake PRN, soon Kosovo is getting schengen visa which SKP can't overtake PRN in the future.
DeletePRN: 1.885.136
DeleteSKP: 1.868.272
Difference: 16.864
This year will be a big one for PRN meaning that the difference between the two should get much larger.
DeleteWhy will it be a big one? What new routes are planned?
DeleteAdvanced bookings are really strong for some airlines from what I heard. It's still too early for any major announcements. Unlike some, PRN is not paying airlines to fly there.
DeleteVisas are still a major issue for PRN growth.
DeleteWithout visas PRN could easily handle between 2.5 and 3 million in the next five years.
DeleteSkopje pax figures improved by only 8% when Macedonians were allowed to fly visa-free. Bus transport increased enormously instead. I think every third or fourth of SKP pax comes from or aims Kosovo. But Mk has done great in supporting both airlines and the airport financially. Kosovo did not follow. instead they have chosen to go against Mk by filling a compliant for unlawful competition. Witg one or two km less highway KS could have financed this imperative plan that, in addition to additional aeronautical revenue, would generate incremental indirect income for the country.
DeleteOhrid really could be a fantastic spot for more tourists, I just hope the government doesn't go overboard with the tacky resorts and statues there too.
ReplyDeleteDifferent government is now in power. Statues will be removed from Skopje city center as well.
DeleteOhrid is UNESCO i dont think you can build tacky resorts that easily. having said that the prev gov was eager to do it ...
DeleteIt's impressive how many new airlines will start flights to Ohrid this year.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the reason for this sudden interest?
DeleteSkopje will have over 2 million this year, no doubt.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. But it's a bit worrying that there are no new flights announced for SKP for this year. At least not yet.
DeleteRemember that new subsidies will be given this year for new routes. So I assume Wizz will launch new flights from SKP next winter.
DeleteDo not forget that INI is expected to handle almost half a million passengers by 2019. Also, W6 preferred VIE-INI and not VIE-SKP.
DeleteAlready some of the traffic is being "stolen".
But they launched VIE-OHD. They already fly BTS-SKP. It would be odd that they launch VIE-SKP as well.
Delete@9.22 Aegean will start flights.
DeleteThat depends on the name issue.
Deleteanon, 9:23, sure we know it:
DeleteINI is a major competitor to SKP and BWK is a major competitor to ZAG and SPU
Fantastic results. Well done Macedonia.
ReplyDeleteHas someone the Nov and Dec passengers figures for SKP?
ReplyDeleteCongrats SKP and OHD! Wizzair has definitely made an impact. Let's see what other route they could open from SKP this year.
ReplyDeleteNot sure they will announce any new routes from SKP this year except increase frequencies on some routes
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteI was informed that tonight's flight to STR will be YU-ANJ's last one after which it will be retired.
The aircraft was delivered to JAT on 17/11/1986.
Good news (if true)
DeleteYU-ANK operated today BEG-STR.
DeleteMihael
Last minute swap. ANJ is out for good.
DeleteSo Neos are comming after all?
DeleteNEOs are not coming, no.
DeleteI'm really glad for Skopje knowing how many passengers they had only 5 years ago.
ReplyDeleteone has to wonder what is the ceiling of SKP.
DeleteSoon or latter normal generic growth will begin. But anyway SKP is a success story in its own right. Congrats!
DeleteWizzair has definitely made an impact.
DeleteSo what is the prediction for Skopje and Ohrid in 2018? What should the numbers look like at the end of the year?
ReplyDeleteSKP 2,0
DeleteOHR, 500,000
We will probably see growth of around 4-5% this year.
DeleteThe first part of the year will definitely be very strong because all of Wizz Air's new routes, plus Qatar Airways didn't start till mid-summer.
Deletewell done Macedonia...bravo
ReplyDeleteIt would be excellent to see FR start flights to Macedonia. Possible destinations could be Madrid and maybe Larnaca. I'm also hoping for Moscow soon.
ReplyDeletePobeda was considering flights to Skopje in 2016 then they decided against flying there. Hopefully they review their plans. There is really a strong case for flights between Moscow and Skopje.
DeleteGreat news for the two airports. Unfortunately it has been decided that the cargo airport in STip won't be built.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. It means they will direct those funds into SKP nad OHD. Why would we need a cargo only airport in Stip.
Deleteno they will not- it was in the media that these funds will be redirected for projects in local infrastructure in the east
Deletethis is a great result
ReplyDeleteThere are still a lot of legacies that could give Skopje a try.
ReplyDeleteI think there is also room for more LCCs. For example Easy jet, Eurowings and Transavia.
DeleteEutowings was planning to launch flights to Munich. Unfortunately due to low interest it never materialised which is a great shame ca
Delete... Cause you can do connect flights with Lufthansa via eutowings...
DeleteAlso pitty that Ryanair went to Nis rather than Skopje. Don't think they will come back now..
There had been 2 foggy days in Dec when flights from SKP were diverted to PRN. Hadn't this happened I assume SKP would have been short of PRN only 2-3 Tsd. pax.
ReplyDeleteThis year they will achieve this.
There were also a few foggy days in Pristina in December too...
DeleteAnon 4:21, Where was their planes diverted?
DeleteUnfortunately to SKP
DeleteHahah comical diverted to eachother ������ what happens when both have foggy days?
DeleteOhrid maybe?
Deletein the foggy days in Pristina, most from the airplanes were diverted to Tirana, you can simply see this to Flight Radar ;)
DeleteOk, so PRN gained some passengers thanks to skopjes foggy days :p
DeleteInteresting, it's the second year in a row that SKP has grown at 13%.
ReplyDeleteThey added 218,898 pax compared to last year which is great.
DeleteCongratulations Macedonia!! Next year both Skopje and Pristina will at least reach 2 million. Becoming already 5th and 6th ex-yu airport with 2 million passengers or more.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually quite remarkable that two airports so close to one another, are both achieving such gopd results.
Well done, Macedonia!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Sofia!