Wizz Air registers strong Pristina growth


Low cost carrier Wizz Air has recorded strong passenger growth on its flights to and from Pristina in 2018. The airline welcomed 100.000 travellers on board its flights, up 155% on 2017. Wizz entered the Kosovan market in April 2017 with services from Budapest and London Luton. This was followed with the addition of flights from Memmingen, Basel and Dortmund during the fourth quarter of last year. The airline has now positioned itself as the tenth busiest at Pristina Airport. It performed better than a number of other carriers which have long-established links to Pristina including Austrian Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Swiss International Air Lines.

Commenting on its operations in Pristina, Wizz Air's CEO, Jozsef Varadi, recently told EX-YU Aviation News, "I think we are still trying to learn the [Kosovo] market. We have a limited presence in Pristina". Asked whether the airline could base an aircraft in Pristina, the CEO said, "Not at the moment. Maybe at a later stage but at this point in time, no". Germania, which will base an aircraft in the city next month remains Kosovo's busiest airline. It is followed by easyJet, Edelweiss Air, Orange2Fly and Turkish Airlines. Adria Airways, which operates a handful of routes from the city saw its figures decrease when compared to the year before.

Busiest airlines at Pristina Airport in 2018

AirlinePAXChange (%)
Germania321.499 9.1
easyJet241.809 5.5
Edelweiss240.200 13.4
Orange2Fly200.278 280.8
Turkish Airlines179.218 24.4
Eurowings163.982. 24.3
Adria Airways157.931 10.9

Meanwhile, Pristina Airport started the new year off on a strong note. It welcomed a record 168.777 passengers through its doors in January, representing an increase of 17.1% on the same month last year. The number of aircraft operations stood at 1.321, up 17.8%. "There is interest from various airlines to launch flights from different countries to Pristina. We intend on supporting these carriers in order for them to introduce new destinations and provide a greater choice to passengers", Pristina Airport's Scheduling Manager, Driton Hyseni, said.

MonthPAXChange (%)
JAN168.777 17.1

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    With Germania about to go bankrupt, this is a real opportunity for another carrier to take over in Pristina. Wizz or Adria both seem well positioned to take over the routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      If Germania goes bankrupt we will see anothe reisen airline take over like Orange2fly. Look at how much their numbers grew in a year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:54

      So which destinations you would take over from Germania?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:02

      Germania might go bancrupt but Germania Flug not.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:48

      They could take over Basel, Geneva, Hanover...

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:06

    This shows that there is enough demand for Wizz from both SKP and PRN.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:07

    Great news for W6. Poor Adria just can't seem to catch a break.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:08

    Basically WIZZ is doing very well in all ex-Yu markets they serve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:49

      Yes
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/01/wizz-air-registers-serbia-market-growth.html
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/01/wizz-air-posts-record-macedonia-results.html

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:08

    Excellent news. Plus a great start to the year at PRN.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:09

    Another market where Adria will fail as PRN gets linked with more cities. Will be curious to see how SKP performs in January and if this growth affected them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:32

      It already is failing. Look at their passenger numbers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:35

      I mean fail as in cut back flights or maybe suspend them completely.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:49

      Since we are talking about Adria, it is very possible.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:59

      Adria has 50% more pax then Austrian at PRN. its feeding LH from FRA and MUC basically. there is very little O&D on JP flights

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:14

    Hopefully Copenhagen-Pristina will be launched next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      CEO seems quite cautious in his comments about PRN expansion.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:31

      Because the airport is expensive and under the concession agreement, the government sets the airline fees and prices, which is ludicrous.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:50

      ^It is. I have never head of a concession arrangement like this one.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:17

    In the end Wizz will chase away all the smaller airlines and increase its ticket prices. That's their strategy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      I haven't seen them do that I any ex-Yu market.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:36

      Look at their growth in SKP and OHD. With their domination there almost no one can compete.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:06

      of course no one can compete- W6 offers by far most competitive prices

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:25

      Exactly, dumping fares until someone gives up and leaves.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:50

      They can afford that because their costs are low.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:29

    They will base a plane in Pristina sooner or later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:33

      Expansion is inevitable and they are targeting underserved regions, such as ex-Yu.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      I doubt they will open a base in Pristina, having SKP nearby.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:37

      Not gonna happen. SKP has higher yields and a bigger market. Why put that in danger when they can already dominate like this.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:01

      It will happen. Most pax using W6 in SKP are Albanians.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:07

      and most of the Albanians using W6 from SKP either live or have lived in Macedonia- why would they use PRN?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:26

      Macedonia and Skopje are becoming really popular tourist destinations, Kosovo isn't. PRN will always be a gasto destination while SKP sees a mix of gasto, business, tourism... That's why airlines do well in SKP while easyJet, Adria... fail and airlines such as Orange2Fly and Wizz thrive.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:06

      Anon 10:26 thats quite ironic to say

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:47

      Anon 10.26. I don't agree with you. Kosovo has a great touristic potential: the world tourism market is searching for new destination. The area is touristically undiscovered this is attractive for many visitors. Backpackers e.g. loving it already, groups there for cultural,religious tourism too.

      Delete
    9. Nemjee17:09

      I am sorry but I don't think there is much religious tourism in Kosovo. Muslims go elsewhere while most Orthodox churches and monasteries are unsafe due to constant attacks.

      PRN will primarily serve as a gasterbajter destination with very limited outbound demand. As someone mentioned, family run tour operators dominate the market.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:46

    I don’t think basing the Germania A319 will happen. They have not payed the wages of their employees.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      They were paid in Germania Flug AG, Switzerland. ZRH and GVA are secured.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:03

      Yeah but the German part is in trouble, once the German part goes down it won’t last long for the Swiss part.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:04

      Once the German part goes down it won’t last long with the Swiss part.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:15

      You will be surprized about the outcome. Swiss GSW will not go down and liquidated German GMI will be consolidated.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:49

      Believe me, I hope it won’t fail, just afraid they both will. Small Planet, Belle Air etc are some examples

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:49

    Pristina needs Wizz to Vienna, Eindhoven. Plenty of immigrant there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50

      We need Transavia for AMS to PRN

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      There are plenty of opportunities from PRN. I'm sure whatever they launch will be a huge success. Market potential was never the issue.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:15

      And Basel please..

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:17

      easyJet flies BSL-PRN.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous10:49

    Congrats Pristina!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous11:15

    Great news

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous11:20

    We could see a Wizz base in Pristina once visas are removed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:01

      Yes but no one knows when visas will be removed. I don't see it happening with the ongoing spat over taxes where the EU is furious at the Albanian side.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous11:48

    PRN market: Switzerland has a share of 36%, Germany 31%

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous14:42

    Is it now available any public transport to Pristina airport? I don't like the taxi only policy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:44

      I think they just signed a contract with some bus company to operate between the airport and the city.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:52

      Hope it's for real. Thank you for answering.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous16:44

    Does Wizz get subsidies to fly from Pristina like in Skopje?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:57

      No

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:37

      PRN offers incentives to all airlines when they launch new flights, as is common at many airports around the world.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21:00

      Ok, thank you

      Delete
  18. Anonymous21:00

    Wizz milking the ex-yu market for all its worth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:27

      The West is milking us in general since we decided to fight each other.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:26

      Lets bring back the communist days!

      Delete

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