Bosnian airports set for traffic boom

Bosnia and Herzegovina's four commercial airports expect a record year with two of its most struggling, Mostar and Banja Luka, securing a handful of new services. Jointly, the four airports welcomed just over 1.5 million travellers last year, with figures set to reach close to two million in 2018.

During May, Croatia Airlines and Eurowings launched scheduled flights to Mostar, linking the city with Zagreb, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart with two weekly services each. Croatia's national carrier will maintain year-round flights to Mostar for at least three years, while Eurowings has been obliged to operate seasonal services for at least five years. Mostar Airport estimates for its passenger numbers to double in 2018. "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", Mostar Airport's General Manager, Marin Raspudić, said. Furthermore, local authorities are planning to provide financial incentives in order for Turkish Airlines to launch flights from Istanbul to the city, while talks have also taken place with Air Serbia concerning potential operations from Belgrade. During the first four months of the year, Mostar Airport welcomed 2.176 travellers through its doors, down 60.7% on 2017.

Ryanair will enter the Bosnian market this October through Banja Luka by launching three new routes to the city. Europe's largest no frills airline plans to handle 100.000 passengers on services from Memmingen, Charleroi and Stockholm Skavsta during its first year of operations. In addition to the low cost flights, Air Serbia will continue to maintain its services from Belgrade, while new summer charters to Antalya, which are set to run between June 19 and September 11, will also boost numbers. “These are destinations that will have a sufficient number of passengers. This is the start of what I believe will be a very fruitful cooperation between Republika Srpska and Ryanair, which will benefit the local community”, the Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska entity, Željka Cvijanović, said. Banja Luka Airport handled 4.870 passengers during the January - April period, representing a decrease of 12.1%.

Tuzla Airport, which has registered significant passenger growth over the past few years, has already seen Wizz Air introduce a new service to the city in 2018. The low cost airline launched flights from Vienna in late April, while services to Baden Baden will commence in less than a month. Tuzla Airport also aims to attract new airline operators in 2018 in a bid to ease its reliance on Wizz, which accounts for almost all of its annual traffic. In a statement, the General Manager of Tuzla Airport, Rifet Karasalihović, said, "This year we will intensify talks with several airlines in order to offer additional destinations to our passengers, both in Europe and the Middle East. In 2018 and 2019 we want to generate economic growth in the Tuzla Canton". The airport previously noted, "The idea of bringing another airline dates back from when an agreement was signed with Wizz Air instead of Ryanair. However, we have maintained contact with Ryanair and other carriers who were initially apprehensive of our statistics and analysis". Tuzla is targeting passenger growth of between 8% and 12% this year, however, the airport has so far seen its figures grow 33% to 172.289.

Sarajevo Airport has recorded strong growth so far this year by handling 256.119 passengers during the January - April period, representing an increase of 15.5% . The airport estimates welcoming over one million passengers in 2018, the first time it will reach the milestone in a single year. "Despite fierce competition, the airport is constantly working on attracting new airlines and is seeking to adapt to the individual and specific needs of each carrier. The airport’s management is undertaking ambitious infrastructure projects and other investments with the aim of further expanding its capacity and strengthening its leadership role on the Bosnian market", Sarajevo Airport said. A number of carriers currently serving Sarajevo have upped their frequencies this summer, while SAS Scandinavian Airlines has launched new seasonal operations from Copenhagen. Furthermore, start-up FlyBosnia, which is in the process of acquiring its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), plans to launch out of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital on June 10.