Ljubljana Airport unveils 2019 growth plans


Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport plans to further grow its passenger numbers next year as it prepares to start work on the construction of its new terminal building and drafts plans for the opening of an airport hotel. General Manager, Zmago Skobir, told the "Gorenjski Glas" newspaper, "We are focusing on North Germany, Scandinavia, the former Soviet republics, the Iberian peninsula and Italy. These are destinations that are still missing from our network and we are now getting involved in talks. This year, Adria introduced flights to Hamburg and Dusseldorf, and next year we expect flights to Stockholm. Rome, Madrid and Barcelona also have great potential, but these are very demanding markets where Slovenia is not yet recognisable enough. We are also looking at alternatives for the Middle and Far East through Dubai or Doha, but we have very strong competition for these markets in Zagreb, Belgrade, Venice and Vienna. We have invested a lot of effort to convince carriers that our market is small but of great quality, as well as economically stable".

Mr Skobir noted that the airport is also working on attracting more carriers to operate on existing routes, in order to offer passengers more choice. "We are investing a lot of efforts in attracting new airlines to destinations already covered by one of the carriers. When Transavia introduced flights to Amsterdam, the existing Adria Airways service did not lose passengers. We attracted a completely different market and the number of passengers on this destination has more than doubled. As a domestic carrier in the Netherlands, Transavia is much more recognisable than Adria, which makes it easier to address this market. In addition, this route has opened a new window to the world for our travellers. Amsterdam Airport, as an important transport hub, provides many intercontinental flights mainly to America and Africa", Mr Skobir said. This winter, Aeroflot will introduce a daily service from Moscow to Ljubljana, competing against Adria Airways on the route.

Despite being in close proximately to a number of larger airports, the one in Ljubljana has seen its passenger numbers grow over 9% during the first three quarters of 2018. "There are six major airports in the region. We have strong competition in Zagreb, Venice and Treviso. However, in the last two years, we have recorded greater growth than all of the surrounding airports. We had a difficult period between 2009 and 2012. At the time, figures at Ljubljana Airport declined mainly due to Adria's restructuring. The national carrier discontinued a third of its flights, which resulted in a big passenger decline for us. It then took three or four years for us to get to the same volume of traffic as before. Today, Adria is stable and contributes almost 60% of all passengers at our airport", Mr Skobir said. He added, "I think that we are successfully fighting for our share in the market, and we are also supported by the favourable economic climate in Slovenia and the increasing visibility of Slovenia as a tourist destination".

Ljubljana Airport's planned new terminal

Work on the new 10.000 square metre terminal building is expected to begin early next year. It will feature a departures hall with 22 check-in counters, five security lanes, three baggage reclaim carousels, a new baggage sorting area, a large duty free shop, a new premium lounge, as well as new food and beverage facilities. The existing passenger terminal, which stretches over 13.000 square metres, will also be partially renovated. "Work is underway to obtain the necessary permits and by the end of the year a tender will be announced for the construction of the terminal, which will start next year. The facility will be completed in 2020. Furthermore, the development of the surrounding business zone has been enabled with the recent relocation of the road passing by the airport. We will start building internal road infrastructure in the near future, and we have already attracted some investors to build their facilities in the business zone. Negotiations are also underway with a large international chain for the construction of a hotel near the airport", Ljubljana Airport's General Manager concluded.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    So basically we can expect only Stockholm from Adria next summer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      We now know Brac won't be resumed next summer by Adria. Are all other routes launched this year confirmed for next year?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:55

      Geneva is also not returning next year.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:07

      Such a shame about GVA, I think they needed to invest more in it. :(

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    Looks like the talks with Flydubai and Qatar did not succeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      Adria said they are now interested in Dubai.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:07

      Knowing Adria, I am sure they are looking at LJU-DXB on the CRJ-700 with a technical stop in Ankara.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:10

      Haha :D Well don't say it twice. Lufthansa is launching Frankfurt - Pune (India) via Baku with A319!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:18

      That's gonna be one nasty and long ride.

      Delete
    5. Nemjee13:19

      That flight has disaster written all over it. First of all, Pune is some 150 km from Bombay which is served with far more airlines offering a superior product. Second of all, who wants to pay a premium to fly on LH slimline seats with no IFE.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:08

      lol you clearly have no idea what is Pune. and it was served with a business class ony narrowbody from Frankfurt already by LH in cooperation with Private Air

      Delete
    7. Anonymous14:39

      It was served by Ptivate Air (contract not extended) but have a look at Private Air's product compared to the one people will be getting now..
      https://liveandletsfly.boardingarea.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Lufthansa-737-PrivatAir-05.jpg

      Their B737 has just 80 seats.

      Delete
    8. Nemjee15:18

      I know what Pune is but like Anon 14.39 wrote, Private Air's product was far superior when compared to the one Lufthansa will be using now.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous16:28

      eksperti iz Kipra https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/70641-lufthansa-to-resume-privatair-wet-lease-for-pune-ops-in-4q18

      Delete
    10. Anonymous16:31

      To ti je bajata vest. Potrazi novu da vidis sa cim ce leteti.

      Delete
    11. Nemjee17:25

      И каже се ,са Кипра' већ када смо код тога.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous20:41

      Nemjee bolje se drzi avijacije a jezik ostavi lingvistima. Moze se reci i sa Kipra i iz Kipra pri cemu "sa" podrazumeva ostrvo, dakle sa ostrva Kipra, a "iz" podrazumeva državu, dakle iz drzave Kipar. Mislim da je ovde "iz" cak primereniji jer je bitnije iz koje su strucnjaci drzave nego sa kog ostrva.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    They will build the new terminal and make it operational in just one year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      It's not that big so its doable. It's just a question if it will be ready to open at the start of 2020 summer season like they planned.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:38

      They announced the new terminal in April 2017 and they will start construction in 2019 which will be done in March 2020. Too long.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    Great work Ljubljana!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:06

    Great news for Ljubljana Airport. I'm glad things are finally picking up with new airlines and routes, plans for a terminal expansion and passenger numbers growing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    LJU is really moving forward. Good luck, Slovenia!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    why nobody is trolling LJU because JP has a share of 60%?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      It's a huge share. A bit less than Wizz in Skopje but still huge. More comoetition needed.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:16

      JP no longer gets subsidies from the state to be able to hold onto this market share
      JU still does though but it's share of BEG traffic continues to diminish fast.
      Imagine that on top of the GoS subsidies the airport was subventinig them as well!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:20

      Obsession with Air Serbia continues. No one even mentioned them. Such a thorn in the eye for many.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:23

      Well you see, unlike in Ljubljana where 4 new airlines started flights in 4 years in BEG 4 new airlines started flights just this year and numerous ones since Air Serbia was launched, including an LCC based in the city stationing a second plane. So your comparison is stupid to say the least.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:36

      Please stop crying.
      I will continue to criticize JU for the subsidies it receives.
      You wanted to complain about JP not getting the same critisizm about its share in LJU as JU gets for its share in BEG.
      I just responded.
      If you don't like getting answers then don't ask questions.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:45

      First of all I'm not the first anon and second of all the first anon was referring to Skopje where Wizz has a share of 63% and everyone criticizes SKP for it (follow the topics a bit more closely). Air Serbia is not even close to that share, so your obsession with Air Serbia in this case is misplaced.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:47

      He is very much aware of that. He just had to mention JU. To get one in for the day.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:48

      LJU without JP and SKP without W6 is like a flower with no water.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:09

      And that's the main difference with BEG. BEG could survive without JU but LJU and SKP couldn't without their main customers.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:30

      both LJU and SKP would "survive" (whatever that means) without their main customers.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:55

      I don't think SKP would because they have a new and expensive airport. They couldn't go back to handling 700.000 a year.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous10:57

      If suddenly JP and W6 dissapear from LJU and SKP other airlines will rush to fill the void.
      That is what happened to all airports that the local carrier went out of business.
      So it is not just BEG that can attract other airlines.

      Just my2cents.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous11:03

      fyi, SKP would be handling 1,5mio pax without w6.
      Furthermore, the terminal building has nothing to do with pax number.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous11:34

      And who exactly would rush to open flights to SKP from German and Swedish villages? SKP would go back in an instant to the time before Wizz Air when the airport didn't even handle 1 million passengers a year.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous11:48

      ahaha the usamljeni hater strike again

      Delete
    16. Anonymous12:59

      It is problematic in my opinion that Adria holds over 60% of the market. They need more competition. Now it is great for the airport because Adria is growing but remember what happened 3 years ago when Adria was cutting flights and LJU fell behind Pristina and Skopje.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:10

    is HAM stil bookable?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      Yes it is. For next summer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:58

      oh thats good

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:59

      Yep so far GVA and BWK will not be returning next summer. All the other routes launched this year are on sale.

      Delete
    4. Nemjee13:22

      Some people were not happy when JU had 55% marketshare.
      Some people are not happy when JU has 40% marketshare.
      Some people are not happy JU is even around.
      Some people would not be happy if JU went bankrupt.

      In the end you can't please everyone. Luckily BEG has a lot of airlines so no one is forced to fly on Air Serbia if they don't want to.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:11

    Expansion of the terminal can't come soon enough.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:11

    Bravo Fraport!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      The good results are mostly down to Adria and Slovenia's strong economy. Not because of Fraport. They haven't done much in fact.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:52

      +100
      They are doing a great job and taking a good care of the "kids".
      FRA is expected to surpass LHR within the next 5 years.
      Greek airports are booming like crazy, Bulgarian coastal airports, LIM and AYT too.
      LJU will easily reach 3 million by 2022.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:54

      I was expecting that more and more airlines would launch flights to LJU after Fraport took over but so far not too much action.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:02

      If all goes like planed you will get a lot of suprises in a few months

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:04

      I really hopes so. Any hints?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:45

      ANA scheduled flights would be nice :D

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:30

      I'm sure it would be mentioned in the text if they managed to finalize the deal with ANA. So I think ZAG is getting it, not LJU

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:14

      We don't know anything about ZAG. Not a good period for the airport. China will maybe happen, USA not.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:26

      Wait, isn't the flight from ZAG to US just round the corner as we were convinced here?
      And China is sure, very sure thing just we don't see it yet...

      Delete
    10. Nemjee13:26

      Don't rush to write LJU off. They showed they can compete, just look at what they did with flights to AMS, they managed to capture a large chunk of the market that previously flew from ZAG.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous16:36

      I'm not writing off anyone. It is just symptomatic CEO is mentioning Scandinavia and Spain/Portugal as the regions from which next flights are expected, mentioning Middle East which would probably not happen and no single word about Japan with which negotiations were supposedly being held.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:13

    Hope the construction of the new terminal goes to schedule and that it results in some new airlines like in Zagreb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:10

      LJU already got easyJet from Berlin and Transavia so they are not waiting for the new terminal.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:13

      And aeroflot

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:41

    And still no prospect of flights to UK airports north of Luton.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:14

      Just wait.... you will be surprised soon

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:50

      Nobody will be surprised because nothing will happen

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:49

    Norwegian please considers some of those Scandinavia routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      They said ages ago they were interested in flying to LJU but since then nothing.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:05

      I see potential for SAS launching flights from either Copenhagen or Oslo. Especially since they are Star Alliance and could cooperate with Adria.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:56

      Like I said a few days ago, SAS has published its timetable for summer 2019 including new routes and there are none to ex-Yu.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:55

    Meanwhile Adria cancelled three flights already today. Hopefully these constant cancellations won't impact on LJU's numbers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:02

      Yep for today
      Ljubljana - Zurich (morning and evening flight)
      Ljubljana - Bucharest

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:03

      Well, JP owes money to LJU. And JP is certain to restructure into a pure ACMI.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:06

      But what is the route cause of all these cancellations. It can't be a lack of aircraft can it.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:10

      How bad are the loads to ZRH when they cancelled both flights?!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:14

      Soo not true! Stop trolling only flight to bucharest was cancelled!!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:15

      Morning zurich was not suspended so i dont know where you get that crazy info

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:15

      Adria status page. It was canceled but then duplicated and it finally operated. But the evening ZUR is canceled. At the same time A319 S5-AAP left today to work for LH at least until spring.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous15:58

      The other two are leaving soon. Last one out of fleet in December.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous17:04

      ZRH Loads are not bad. Info was yday published on JP page that the flight is cancelled. This morning flight was operated instead. JP Lapsus after Lapsus and Skobir will build that terminal which supose to be done 5 years ago ...

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:02

    I'm hoping Vueling or Iberia start flights from Spain if Adria doesn't want to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:05

      I agree. I think Spain is underserved from Ljubljana and I also think there is potential for more flights to the Scandinavian market.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:23

      Adria and Vueling already flew to Spain and it didn't work out.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:47

      Times have changed.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:00

      They tried that before the peak of recession...

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:28

    Could LJU surpass Skopje next year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:48

      No, especially since W6 will probably base a fifth aircraft in SKP next year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:50

      njet

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:47

      Those "probable" thoughts.
      I personally think that SKP has long finished its potential. Market is saturated and 100% covered by W6 and TK.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:37

    Just a few years ago Adria used to serve all those markets Skobir is talking about.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:38

    Good to hear about plans for the hotel.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:42

    LJU has a bright future.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:44

    I'm still disappointed Athens didn't work out with Aegean. They were a nice addition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:51

      I'm surprised it didn't. What plane did they use to LJU? Q400 or Airbus?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:56

      A320

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:57

      If they operated it with Q400 I'm sure the numbers would be there.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:57

      Agree. It's off because they operate all new routes in ex-Yu with Q400s. Strange they went for the A320 to Ljubljana.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:59

      * That was supposed to be odd not off.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous17:28

      I believe ATH could work with Aegean as I flew from LJU via BGD to ATH this summer and there were a lot of connecting passengers on board.

      Delete
    7. ATH should work with JP as well, connecting on A3network. They got SAABs now. They should try ATH in Summer 2019

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:47

    Eurowings had LJU on that 'you vote we fly' thing. I hope they eventually launch it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50

      They announced flights to LJU last year but then cancelled their plans. Same for Skopje.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      they sell JP flights on their webpage. so not very likely

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:57

      Interesting. Are they codesharing?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:14

      I must correct myself they only sell LJU-SKP on their webpage. sry

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:17

      and its on OS . best admin delete my message above

      Delete
  22. Anonymous10:50

    So new and old terminal combined will be around 22000sqm. I can see there's room for more expansion further down the line.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:12

      The exact numbers have actually already been published: the current terminal is 13.702,50 m2, the new one will be 14.497,50 m2, that gives you a combined gross area of 28.200 m2.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous12:48

    How many pax will Ljubljana handle this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:40

      Somewhere between 1,80 and 1,85 mio

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:57

      Wondering if it could get to 2 million next year.

      Delete
    3. Vjerojatno ne. Budući da sljedeće godine JP odlazi u stečaj, promet im pada ispod milijuna

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:50

      And even if JP goes bankrupt, do you think that no other airline will launch flights to LJU to fill the gap?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous20:57

      Athos-Cro
      sto jednom vec ne oladis sa tvojim laznim vestima.to sto si ti vec u bankrotu i nemas kune u djepu ne trbas da ovde siris lazne vesti.
      dosadan si vec....

      Delete
  24. Anonymous14:47

    This is good news for Ljubljana Airport which needs more destinations and airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous15:56

    More good news to come soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:33

      I really wish new airlines will start flying to LJU with new destinatons, as there sure is a lot of potencial...as passengers are avoiding LJU despite being so well positioned geographically.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:52

      How soon is soon. November, Dec, jan?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:55

      Can we expect maybe to get TAP flights to LIS or Volotea flights or even second destination for transavia?

      Delete
    4. Second with Transavia would be awesome!

      Delete
  26. Anonymous22:08

    @Nemjee do you maybe have a number for best and worst routes from lju?

    And does anybody knows which markets are underserved from lju?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:50

      For underserved/unserved routes, my wild guess would be Stockholm, Cologne-Bonn, Madrid/Barcelona, Milan/Rome, Oslo, Manchester, Liverpool, possibly Glasgow and Dublin. Of longhaul destinations NYC could possibly work in 2-3 years from now with A320NEO or B737MAX.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:35

      From LJU?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous02:59

      Yes

      Delete

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