The Macedonian Ministry for Transport and Communications has relaunched a tender to grant financial support to an airline for the launch of new routes, just over a month after annulling a similar public call. The newly published incentives will be provided to the winning airline between 2019 and 2021. Those applying must have carried at least ten million passengers in 2017 and recorded a net profit of 25 million euros. The selected airline must establish and/or maintain a base with at least one aircraft in Skopje or Ohrid by January 10, 2019 at the latest for the duration of the financial support program. Furthermore, the carrier in question must launch at least two new routes from Skopje by January 10 and four new routes from Ohrid, the first two in January 2019 and the rest within a year of being granted state support.

The newly launched routes from Skopje and Ohrid cannot be served from the other airport and cannot have been served over the past two seasons. In addition, every new destination introduced at Macedonia's two international airports must be run at least twice per week throughout the year. Applicants are free to introduce additional new services, with the Ministry noting that the winner will be chosen based on the number of new destinations proposed. If two carriers commit to the same number of routes, the winner will be determined based on the number of frequencies.

The financial support includes a one-time payment of 40.000 euros for each new route launched, as well as nine euros per passengers for each new destination from Skopje for the first year, eight euros during the second year and seven during the third. On the other hand, the carrier will receive thirteen euros per passenger during the first year of operations on a new route out of Ohrid, twelve during the second and eleven euros per traveller in the third year. A similar policy was enforced on two previous occasions, in 2012 and 2015, with Wizz Air being the sole beneficiary. Applications for the latest round of subsidies must be submitted to the Macedonian government by October 12.

The Ministry for Transport and Communications annulled a previous tender held earlier this summer after it received one bid. According to the Ministry, the bidder did not clearly write its name and address on the submitted envelop as outlined in the tender documentation. "On this occasion, I invite all interested airlines to apply for the public call. The government of the Republic of Macedonia will remain committed to creating conditions for the development of air traffic in the country and the provision of affordable and cheap flights for citizens to new and attractive destinations", Transport Minister Goran Sugareski said. The government has set up a commission which will evaluate each bid and will determine the winner. Late last month, the head of the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency, Goran Jandreoski, said, "It is not just Wizz Air, there is also interest from Ryanair and easyJet. The Agency is always at hand to provide support so everyone can enjoy the benefits of low cost travel for a long time to come",