easyJet readies for new Ljubljana flights

Low cost carrier easyJet is preparing for the launch of its third destination from Ljubljana next month with the airline having recorded a 50% increase in passengers numbers from the Slovenian capital over the past three years. The introduction of flights between Berlin and Ljubljana in two weeks time will mark the carrier's second expansion from the Slovenian market in just over a year and a half. In December 2016, it introduced services from London Gatwick, complementing its flights from London Stansted. "This new route from Berlin has been unserved for a few months so we’re really happy to connect the two capitals again. Berlin Tegel is easyJet’s third destination from Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, in addition to our existing services to London Gatwick and London Stansted", Thomas Haagensen, easyJet Europe's Managing Director said. Ljubljana Airport's General Manger, Zmago Skobir, added, "Considering that Germany is Slovenia's largest trading partner, we are convinced that this and all other connections from our airport with German cities will be successful and that it will also significantly contribute to the further growth of the number of German tourists in Slovenia".

easyJet is Slovenia's second largest airline based on capacity. In 2017, the carrier handled 126.537 passengers on its flights to and from Ljubljana, with 64.309 of those travelling on the Stansted route and the remaining 62.228 on the Gatwick service. Previously, easyjet attempted several other destinations out of Ljubljana. In December 2010 the airline was due to commence services from Milan Malpensa but the route was cancelled prior to its launch due to poor ticket sales. The no frills carrier also maintained flights between Paris and Ljubljana from December 2010 until March 2012, but they too were cancelled. Asked if it is considering launching new routes to Slovenia, the airline said, "easyJet is always evaluating new options and opportunities to be more profitable and continue growing in Europe with the primary focus for the short term to thicken our presence in our core markets".

High refuelling prices, state taxes and other charges continue to act as a deterrent for low cost airlines in Ljubljana. Eurowings, which intended on introducing services from Dusseldorf to the Slovenian capital earlier this year, cancelled such plans later on. The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, previously said, “If Ljubljana Airport were to lower its taxes Ryanair would surely return to Slovenia”. The airline operated flights from London Stansted to Maribor for some nine months between 2007 and 2008. Last month, Janez Krašnja, the Head of Airline Management at Fraport Slovenia said that Ljubljana Airport is in "intense talks" and "constant contact" with foreign carriers over their potential introduction of flights to the Slovenian capital. He noted that the arrival of new airlines would boost tourism in the country but added that it is demand, not the airport, that influences a particular carrier to establish flights. "We do not expect that Slovenia will become popular overnight as some other European capitals, but eventually more passengers could be brought in", Mr Krašnja said.