Turkish Airlines mulls Mostar service


Turkish Airlines is considering introducing flights between Istanbul and Mostar in the coming period with talks over the new service underway. Mostar Airport's General Manager, Marin Raspudić, said, "We recently received an enquiry from Turkish Airlines about which aircraft type could operate to Mostar, which shows that our negotiations have advanced. We forwarded them information concerning the airport's technical capabilities. We are already discussing equipment and scheduling and we expect to reach a concrete agreement with Turkish Airlines very soon". The Turkish Consul General in Mostar, Zerrin Kandemir, noted, "This airport has the capacity to handle Turkish Airlines aircraft. Therefore, there are no obstacles to broaden our cooperation and finally link Mostar with Istanbul". She added, "Mostar Airport, Turkish Airlines and the Consulate are all prepared to work on this matter".

Turkish Airlines has been negotiating the launch of its second destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina for several years. Most recently, in 2016, it was suggested for the carrier to operate services to Mostar via Sarajevo, however, those plans never materialised. Turkish Airlines is the only foreign carrier serving all capital cities of the former Yugoslavia. This summer, it will maintain nineteen weekly flights to Sarajevo. Mr Raspudić said, "An Airbus A319 would be most suitable for flights from Istanbul. For the citizens of Mostar, it is important there are flights to the east so passengers can transfer through Istanbul to the rest of the world".

Mostar Airport, which sees a range of seasonal and charter flights during the summer, primarily catering for pilgrims visiting the Medjugorje site, as well as tourists, has secured two new scheduled services this year, including two weekly flights from Zagreb operated by Croatia Airlines (from May 3) and two weekly services each from Dusseldorf and Stuttgart run by Eurowings (from May 16 and May 19 respectively). "This year is crucial for Mostar Airport. That is why I would like to invite locals to use these new flights to Germany and Zagreb so the services can be sustained. The arrival of Eurowings and Croatia Airlines will improve the airport's connectivity and make other carriers take note", Mr Raspudić said. Mostar Airport handled just 619 passengers during the first quarter of the year, down 65.5% on 2017, making it the least busiest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:09

    To me this route seems a bit more suited for Pegasus to me but anyway good to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      TK is better because they offer much more transfer options.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      +1 - they will open the new IST airport this winter, so really good connections indeed.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:09

    Well done Mostar.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:14

    I like how BiH is actively trying to generate revenue and movements to its regional airports. TZL was a blast, apparently BNX is next and now OMO. Well ✔!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      +1 finally.

      Maybe it is because of elections but it does not really matter because all these routes will stay after elections too. Well done.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:22

    I had no idea Turkish had A319s. Turns out only 7 of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      Good plane for routes such as this one.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:27

    I didn't know that ZAG had a 12% share of OMO! Do those 12% belong to the Croatian government or to the Frenchies ?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:35

    TK will have a bigger ex-Yu network then any ex-Yu airline :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      Would be interesting to see how they perform on each route and where they carry most passengers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:50

      Interesting point.

      JU: SKP, TGD, TIV, DBV, SPU, PUY, ZAG, LJU, BNX, SJJ.

      TK: BEG, PRN, SKP, TGD, SJJ, DBV, ZAG, LJU.

      OU: OSI, PUY, BWK (<3), LSZ, SPU, DBV, OMO, SJJ, BEG.

      JP: BWK, TGD, PRN, SJJ.

      JU: 10
      OU: 9
      TK: 8
      JP: 4

      However in terms of passenger numbers I think TK is second, right after JU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:24

      OU doesn't really operate the OSI flight, they just code-share on it. I think it's the same model to OMO.

      Delete
    4. JP: BWM, TGD, PRN, SJJ + SKP, DBV

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:31

      So basically OU and JP serve the same number of destinations.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:35

      Do people do anything else here other than measure their di*ks?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:39

      It's an aviation portal and we are discussing aviation.
      Please if you have nothing constructive/interesting/nice to say, don't say anything at all.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:40

      Basically they fly to all Balkan capitals + 1 more city with few exceptions:
      Albania: TIA
      BiH: SJJ
      Bulgaria: SOF & VAR
      Croatia: ZAG & DBV
      Greece: ATH & SKG
      Macedonia: SKP
      Montenegro: TGD
      Romania: OTP, CND & CLJ
      Serbia: BEG
      Slovenia: LJU

      I must say, adding OMO makes sense. Also missing: INI, TIV, OHD and maybe MBX.

      Delete
    9. Nemjee10:44

      They plan on adding regional jets so I see them adding INI.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:45

      I didn't know that. Which regional aircraft are they planning on introducing?

      Delete
    11. Nemjee10:48

      They haven't made a decision yet but it will happen only once the new airport becomes fully operational. There is simply no room to grow right now.

      A family member of mine came from IST this morning and he said that the airport is getting extremely overcrowded and that it's not uncommon to wait in the plane until a parking position opens up.
      Btw the B738 this morning was full to the last seat.

      Regional jets will allow them to operate more efficiently into airports such as DBV (winter) or TGD.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous10:54

      I personally used the airport and can confirm this too. Although moving the airport elsewhere was a very wise decision as it is now within the city´s permises. You literally see an aircraft take off and land almost every 1-2 minutes. TK also is excellently connected to Africa and beats the MEB3 because of its geographical position. They can easily operate a 738/739 to central Africa, they have excellent coverage in Europe and will not be surprised if they begin flights to Australia soon.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous01:55

      You missed SKP, ZAD and RJK from OU, but OU does not fly LSZ.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous08:33

      Also OU doesn't fly to OSI and OMO. They code-share on those flights.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous09:34

      It is not true that OU is codesharing on flights to OMO...they confirmed themselves that they will use their own aircraft on the route...dash Q400 and operate flights on their own

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:36

    Goood news. Big year ahead for OMO and BNX.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:32

      Overall I think it will be a good year for all airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:36

    Why are the numbers down so much at Mostar? What happened?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      Fewer charters for pilgrims.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:57

      I think Mistral stopped flying to Mostar over winter. Mistral is Mostar's biggest customer.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:12

      Balkan expres wich offers packets and Ticket for mostar and medugorje have a big financial problem..
      In this time on there web have no more offer for mostar and all croatia and other Countrys...they have offers only for egipat..

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:39

    "We recently received an enquiry from Turkish Airlines about which aircraft type could operate to Mostar"

    -》 Shouldn't OMO be able to handle any medium haul jet of TK, means all 737-family and A320-family aircraft: 737, 738, 739, 319, 320, 321? OMO does have a 2.4km runway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      I though so too. But maybe they are talking about handling capabilities besides the runway (who knows if OMO has enough equipment like refueling trucks, stairs, fire trucks in case of emergency etc)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:28

      Mostar has more than enough equipment to handle all medium haulaircraft...back in 2000's OMO handled 10 charters with B767 from USA.....i think they asked what type of aircraft would be the best in terms of load factor another words is there really a demand for A320 or it would ve better to send A319...i think they simply asked OMO managements oppinion

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:33

      Not 767 but 752 from USA (via KEF)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:30

      Wow interesting. Do you guys know which airline?

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:56

    Good news.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:56

    What about IST-TZL-OMO?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:32

      How long would Tuzla - Mostar last? :D

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:12

      35 minutes

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:18

    There you go Austrian. You snooze: you lose!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Austrian can only make money on profitable routes. Turkish airlines is state subsidised and constantly re-inflated, they go where they please.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:49

      OS should rather open VIE-SPU year round

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:36

    When does the new airport in IST open?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:41

      30th October.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:42

      29th October 2018:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_New_Airport

      It looks really, really, good!

      https://www.instagram.com/igairport/

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:46

      Wow looks very nice. Can't believe the end of Ataturk Airport is coming.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:48

      True. Not sure if you have been there but those Istanbul city surroundings will be missed. However, it is also good on the other hand as this land will be used most likely for housing, offices, schools, etc. Also, less pollution.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:26

      E, mogao bi opet s Turcima malo letjet kad taj aerudrum otvore.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:26

      Ataturk keeps open for some years as cargo and ga airport

      Delete
    7. Anonymous20:31

      Is there any plan what will happen with the airport in the future? Also will the new airport be called Ataturk?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous21:25

      They still haven't decided. If Sabiha Gokcen is called after Ataturk's daughter then the logic should be the same. Lets wait and see.

      Delete
    9. TheBosnian04:27

      anon9:25 Where in the world did you get the idea from, Sabiha was Ataturks daughter?
      She was the first turkish female fighter pilot, hence the namesake.
      Btw., her relatives claim Bosniak ancestry....

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:36

    Kad bi se u BiH rijesili tog politickog tereta, brzo bi procvijetali.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous11:27

    Excellent news for Mostar. Anyone know how many passengers they could handle this year. OU flights are year round no?

    ReplyDelete
  16. It is unsustainable

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:50

      I think 2x per week could work.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:28

      It is sustainable

      Delete
  17. Anonymous12:22

    This could seriously affect Sarajevo but their incompetent management will not blink on this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:06

      Do people from Mostar mostly use SJJ or they go to SPU?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:08

      Probably both

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:12

      The 3 airports SJJ, SPU, DBV are all between 2 and 2.5 hours by car from Mostar. All are being used.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous13:05

    Good luck OMO.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous15:54

    Interesting choice. Good for OMO. I would have expected Split as the next destination by TK.

    ReplyDelete

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