The Saudi-backed Sarajevo-based start-up FlyBosnia, which planned to commence operations between Sarajevo and Riyadh today, has pushed back its launch until August. Flights between the two cities will now be run by Egypt's Nesma Airlines starting June 13. The service will operate until July 30, after which the newly established carrier is expected to take over. The Bosnia and Herzegovina Directorate of Civil Aviation has confirmed that the airline has applied for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), however, it is yet to be issued a permit. Although FlyBosnia initially plans to link Sarajevo with Riyadh and later with Jeddah, it also intends on expanding its network to in-demand destinations sometime in the future. It will officially unveil all of its plans once it is granted an AOC.
Last month, the airline's future cabin crew completed their training ahead of the planned launch. Out of 300 applicants, a total of ten female and five male cabin crew were selected and trained. They were awarded certificates at a recent ceremony in Sarajevo after completing their course. FlyBosnia has been set up by Saudi Arabia's Al Shiddi Group, which was founded in 1975 with interests in various fields, including construction, real estate, agriculture and tourism. It has been operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2006, where the group consists of four companies - SRE Investment, Shad Invest, Sarajevo City Center (SCC) and Hotel Bristol.
The Saudi conglomerate has described FlyBosnia as a "new young and dynamic airline", which will "strive to ensure that passengers enjoy safe flights with high standards of customer service". Previous attempts to set up a commercial airline in Bosnia have failed. The country's flag carrier has gone into bankruptcy on two occasions, while Bosnian Wand Airlines (BWA), founded by the Iraqi Al Wand Group in 2015, with plans to fly from Sarajevo to Stockholm, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Malmo and Athens, lasted for only a month. There has also been a previous attempt, by a different investor, to set up an airline named FlyBosnia. In 2004, a UK-based company intended to establish the carrier with flights between London Gatwick, Manchester and Sarajevo. However, those plans never materialised.
What a joke!
ReplyDeleteSeems the same joke and money laundring like Bosnia Wand Airlines in dec. 2014 when they landed whith an rented airplane from Greece to Sarajevo amd afther that it was a complete silence...
DeleteCorruption, mobs in a form of politicians are everywhere in BiH. Sad to see that cuz its a beatiful country, but with many stupid people.
The Al-Shiddi Group is very sketchy..
True. I think they are blacklisted in US.
DeleteYes, almost like VLM airlines.
ReplyDeleteExactly like this clowns!
DeleteAt least VLM is flying.
DeleteBarely out of Maribor.
DeleteIt still has two weekly flights. True, not what we were promised but at least it's something.
DeleteAnd has the potential to develop in the future.
DeleteYou gotta love ex-Yu start-ups.
ReplyDeleteDalmatian, Air Croatia, BWA... I can't keep up
DeleteSomething must be wrong with their paperwork. They applied for an AOC in December 2017. It usually takes 90 days to issue an AOC. It is June now.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt's a very complicated process. Delays are normal.
DeleteAlso it's good they are getting an AOC and waiting for it before they start flights, unlike BWA.
DeleteIt takes a great effort on both the airline and CAA side to get everything done in 90 days.
Deletewow such a shock....
ReplyDeleteWell at least they arranged alternative transport with Nesma, so you have to give them credit there.
ReplyDeleteWell the plan was for a Nesma plane to operate these flights under Fly Bosnia AOC and Bosnian crew. Now they will just use Gulf/Egyptian crew.
DeleteIt is such a shame. Bosnia deserves a normal airline which can link it to main points in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThere is Wizz in Tuzla.
DeleteI was talking about Sarajevo and destinations such as FRA, LHR, CDG.
DeleteIf there was actuall demand to fly to these airports somebody already would have been offering it.
DeleteSometimes you have to start flights before demand is geberated.
Delete*generated
DeleteDemand for travel in London, Paris and Frankfurt markets is covered.
DeleteIf there was also demand to fly to the expansive airports of those cities the airlines that have huge hubs in them (BA, AF, LH) and also can afford to experiment with testing new routes would have already try it.
Interestingly SJJ had until a few years ago BA flying there.
DeleteI just checked on Google that BiH GDP per capita is slightly lower Serbia and higher than Albania. So, it's not like Bosnians have no cash at all. If BiH joins EU in 2025,it will become a richer country.
DeleteBiH in EU in 2025 .... well I like amibtions, but they have to be acceptable en reliable
DeleteJoining EU doesn't equal richer country.
DeleteFrankly speaking, BiH deserves a serious airline. You cannot play with the lives of 300 people and especially those 10 selected! I can imagine their extreme disappointment.
ReplyDeleteThat said, if this airline ever flies, what reputation will it have and just how serious will people take this matter?
I would never use them seriously just for the sake of the poor personnel! Shame on them!
Agree but this comes from the creators of BWA. So it's not a serious thing.
DeleteOnly the CEO is from BWA. The company itself has nothing to do with bwa.
DeleteAnybody applying for a job at a startup in any industry should be prepard things might not go smoothly.
DeleteCome on dont act now as you were surprised
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for the people that were trained.
ReplyDeleteImagine the people that were trained with BWA.
DeleteSJJ will be just fine without them.
ReplyDeleteHighly doubt this will ever happen...
ReplyDeleteThey have rich backers. It might.
DeleteAnother fiasco.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Bih and Fly Bosnia.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see how this plays out. Unfortunately I don't think they will launch,
ReplyDeleteI can't believe anyone thought this would happen.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if someone brought down the Star Alliance monopoly at SJJ.
ReplyDeleteAnd you think Fly Bosnia will do that?
DeleteIs it possible to purchase a ticket from Sarajevo to Riyadh on these Nesma flights?
ReplyDeleteYes through Al Shiddi group.
Deleteno name jokes pls
DeleteThis airline reminds me a lot about Hungary with Sólyom and Ronan Air, do you remember?
ReplyDeleteAnd comparing other countries with new airlines, Bulgaria will get a new charter called Tayaranjet. Let's see.
Shame
ReplyDeleteSo they plan just to fly to Riyadh? I mean they will have 1 plane, what's it going to do for the rest of the day?
ReplyDeleteMod, is there a reason why you delete data from my yesterday Air Serbia flights?
ReplyDeleteYes, it was insulting towards YM as it was the topic of the day.
DeletePlus why didn't you fly on YM from LJU?!
Lol!!!
ReplyDelete