FlyBosnia is gearing up to launch scheduled operations from Sarajevo, with ticket sales expected to begin soon. The airline is tipped to commence flights in May with its single Airbus A319 aircraft, with a further three to be added to its fleet in the coming months and a total of eight to be operated by 2023. The Saudi-backed airline has noted that its initial target destinations in Europe are London, Frankfurt, Rome and Warsaw as part of the first phase of its development. In addition, it plans to serve Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait and Bahrain in the Middle East. "Our schedule will be made up of both scheduled and charters", the company said. With exception to Riyadh, none of the aforementioned cities are currently linked with Sarajevo.
The start-up airline has contracted the UK-based Deloitte as its business advisor, Lufthansa Technik for aircraft maintenance and Turkish Airlines for servicing and parts. The carrier previously noted, "FlyBosnia has conducted extensive market research into creating an innovative, sustainable concept. The airline will offer passengers: a simple and clear pricing structure, allocated seating, combined business class and premium economy class configurations and on-line check-in at point of purchase". It added, "Ticket pricing will be dynamic and highly competitive, supported by an extensive, integrated marketing campaign and promotion. Existing connections with hotel and travel agencies will support and drive passenger demand. FlyBosnia’s on-line booking system will account for up to 80% of all ticket sales, enabling the airline to minimise distribution costs and, therefore, maintain a strong competitive pricing advantage".
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. "FlyBosnia has conducted extensive market research and detailed operational and financial business planning. Bosnia and Herzegovina is an emerging tourist destination, experiencing year-on-year growth of between 10% - 20%. There is no existing national airline serving Bosnia and Herzegovina, so FlyBosnia will immediately apply for national carrier status", the company said.
... Warsaw?
ReplyDeleteexactly my reaction lol
DeleteCodeshare with LOT?
DeleteMight be a good move. Hopefully they will codeshare with LH as well. Good luck!
Maybe Warsaw - Mostar, because of Polish pilgrimage travelling to Medjugorje?
DeleteIndeed, Warsaw is an interesting destination because of the pilgrims' market.
DeleteOdd Frankfurt I get but the rest I don't.
ReplyDeleteOh and I get the Middle East ones too :D
DeleteFRA and LON I understand, but FCO and WAW seem like odd choices for me. Any particular reason?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand London either. Limited diaspora, visas, limited tourist numbers, no possibility for connections since Flybosnia doesn't have any codeshares or interlines, few business links...
DeleteWith Brexit (eventually) coming and little appetite in Britain for more emigration from Eastern Europe I don't see how this route can succeed.
DeleteThere isn't tourism demand for Bosnia from the UK either.
Didn't BA fly LGW-SJJ once upon a time?
DeleteInstead of Warsaw I would have rather understand Prague. Rome is understandable because of Medjugorje
Delete@9.13. They did. Started in 2006 and ended in 2008.
DeleteWell surprisingly, according to SJJ, London is one of their top unsreved cities.
DeleteI'm sure they have done some analysis and there is a reason they want to fly to London first.
DeleteTuzla - London didn't work out for Wizz Air.
DeleteWho would want to fly with Wizz?
DeleteLuton is nowhere near London and one of the worst airports in the UK that's why those flights failed!
With resonable prices and hopefully convenient Gatwick flights they could attract lots of tourists from UK.
DeleteDo we know the tourist structure in BiH? Are there some statistics from where the most tourists are coming from?
ReplyDeleteMiddle Easterners because of no visa requirement. The rest are diaspora visiting home.
DeleteFrom 2017:
Delete1 Croatia
2 Turkey
3 Serbia
4 Slovenia
5 South Korea
6 Italy
7 Poland
8 Germany
9 China
10 United States
11 Malaysia
12 Saudi Arabia
13 Austria
14 France
15 United Arab Emirates
16 Montenegro
17 Oman
18 Netherlands
19 United Kingdom
20 Sweden
21 Hungary
22 Spain
23 Kuwait
wow I'm really surprised with South Korea and Malaysia!
DeleteThese are statistics (in Bosnian) for 2018
Deletehttp://www.bhas.ba/saopstenja/2018/TUR_01_2018_04_0_HR.pdf
I assume South Koreans visit when they go to Croatia. Malaysia is a surprise. I know BiH and Malaysia are close, but I wouldn't expect there to be too many tourists. I mean there more than from Hungary even which is relatively close.
DeleteMalaysia is a Muslim country, so makes a bit of sense I think.
DeleteMany South Koreans spend overnight in Neum when they tour Adriatic coast. I was quite surprised when I saw what a year round business they have made in Neum by hosting these groups.
DeleteNeum has historically been a lot cheaper (especially food) then the surrounding areas of Croatia.
DeleteSouth Korean tourists mainly go to Međugorje. There is an important Christian population there.
DeleteWarsaw?
ReplyDeleteIs there really demand for travel between the two countries?
Only religious tourism for Medjugorje I would guess. Other than that no.
DeleteI find it odd that no one has ever launched FRA since B&H Airlines died. Lufthansa could have but they only serve Sarajevo from Munich.
ReplyDeleteLH is expanding more their MUC operations. For transfer passengers MUC is much better option
DeleteThey need to fly all year around to FRA, DUS, TXL, AMS, CPH and ARN
ReplyDeleteAgree. These are the main gasterbaiter routes.
DeleteBosnian diaspora estimates:
Delete1. Germany – 180 000
2. USA– 145 000
3. Austria – 90 000
4. Sweden – 54 000
5. Turkey 45 000
6. Switzerland 40 000
7. Australia - 35 000
8. Canada – 30 000
9. Netherlands – 25 000
10. Slovenia – 21 542
3x as many Bosnians live abroad, hmm, where are they?
DeleteMy only guess is that Warsaw and Rome will be from Mostar while Frankfurt and London (and Middle East) will be from Sarajevo.
ReplyDeletethey must have enough money to waste on SJJ-OMO ferry flights ..
DeleteI do wonder how that would work. Would they do a ferry flight or would they do SJJ-FCO-OMO-FCO-SJJ?
DeleteWell their website finally seems to be up.
ReplyDeleteLooks good actually. Hope bookings start soon.
DeleteYes quite nice.
DeleteSJJ-WAW is probably linked with LO. I smell a codeshare agreement between the new airline and LO. The same applies for FCO. There it will be AZ.
ReplyDeleteWinds of change are awaiting BiH.
Not to mention the new, young player: BNX.
Flybosnia can't make codeshares. It doesn't have an IATA assigned airline code.
DeleteWarsaw and Rome to Mostar could make sense but not to Sarajevo. Unless there is a highway or railway line Sarajevo - Mostar...
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see which airport they will fly to in London.
ReplyDeleteSTN or LTN most likely. LHR and LGW are pretty much maxed out and it is difficult to get any decent slots.
DeleteYes STN and LTN make most sense. I just hope they can fill an A319 to make it work.
DeleteIf they keep on expanding in Europe then it could negatively impact TZL numbers which is the closest LCC alternative to overpriced SJJ.
ReplyDeleteI think people will still to prefer with the low cost option - Wizz.
DeleteThe creation of Flybosnia will give Wizz Air a better negotiating position with Tuzla Airport since they are getting competition. They will be able to ask for more in order to extend their contract.
DeleteBut how much more can they get? In the end Wizz will become too expensive for the city. It's not like Tuzla is rich.
DeleteWizz is Wizz. They will use the opportunity to get out as much as they can.
DeleteHave no clue who they plan to fly to London. And I don't think many people will be lining up at the embassy to pay 200 euros for a British tourist visa.
ReplyDeleteand why should they with the rest of Europe visa-free
DeleteYes I agree. But that's the more reason I don't understand them wanting to fly to London.
DeleteMaybe they want to connect Gulf Countries with London through SJJ. Just guessing
DeleteThis is great news. Sarajevo is finally being connected to main European airports.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteTheir plane went to Zagreb the day before yesterday. Doing some maintenance?
ReplyDeleteNice crew
ReplyDeletethey should consider LJU (huge diaspora) and SKP (BiH and MK gov. wanted to sponsor this route anyway so theres a chance to get on some some cash)
ReplyDeleteNo matter the choice of destinations, I think we can all agree that this is the most serious airline project in Bosnia ever.
ReplyDeleteI agree. They seem serious.
DeleteCould this have an impact on some airline in SJJ that rely on transfer passengers?
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. At least not at this early stage.
DeleteA319 will be difficult to fill at first on many of these routes. As a new company, they will have to have very good advertising and very attractive prices.
ReplyDeleteYes and they have to start ticket sales ASAP if they want to launch in May.
DeleteWarsaw is definitely the weirdest. Much more so than London.
ReplyDeleteI like the plans so far.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad it won't be just Middle East flights. Finally connections to some world cities.
ReplyDeleteWarszaw is chosen probably because of Međugorje, Rome as well.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Bosnains need visa for UK, London is still top unserved destination from SJJ.
They released the website so you can see how serious partners they have.
+1. These owners have very deep pockets. I have no doubt they will take off.
DeleteIt's surprising Wizz Air hasn't started flights from Warsaw to Bosnia.
DeleteWizz doesn't fly to Mostar and it only flies one susbidised route from Budapest to Sarajevo. There is no interest for Poles to fly to Tuzla.
DeleteSo they will fly to Riyadh plus Flynas will fly to Riyadh?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteReally exciting times ahead for Bosnian aviation. Finally!
ReplyDeleteWhen will the next A319 arrive?
ReplyDeleteAround a month ago they said the second plane would come within six to twelve months.
DeleteAnyone know the registration of their current plane?
DeleteE7-FBA
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/01/flybosnia-outlines-fleet-and-network.html#comments
E7-FBA
DeleteThank you
DeleteWill this be the first time there will be Sarajevo-Warsaw flights?
ReplyDeleteI think so. I don't remember LOT ever flying to Sarajevo.
DeleteThey haven't. But I could see them start seasonal flights next year.
DeleteKuwait is going to be a cash cow. Especially now that Wataniya Airways has gone bust.
ReplyDeleteKuwait Airways could have launched these flights at least seasonally. One thing is for sure - it will be a great year for Flydubai in Sarajevo witha lot of connecting passengers from GCC countries.
DeleteThat's why they will be flying three times per day.
DeleteAnd they even planned B737MAX9
DeleteYeah I don't think those MAX flights are realistic now...
DeleteI think their pax planes actually have less capacity then the new generation 738s.
DeleteMirnaBosna
ReplyDeleteMirnaBosna Airlines :)
DeleteGood. Finally a national airline that will serve its own people.
ReplyDeleteIf the Arabs can be trusted, there will be 3 birds by 2023. This will mean that SJJ will significantly increase its traffic and the prices will go down because of the competition with other carriers.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.flybosnia.ba/media-release
I don't think W6 will be happy about their existence . They might contact the local government and have their share of the cake.
That would be nice. If Flybosnia is successful, it will certainly make others take note and the Star Alliance monopoly at the airport can be broken.
DeleteSo cute, but they won't make it to 2020.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think so?
DeleteCan't wait to see their fares. Hope they are competitive.
ReplyDeleteRome is acceptable according this.
ReplyDeleteItaly and Poland will be for pilgrims. Germany and UK for diaspora. Middle East for Arab tourists.
ReplyDeleteThere is some tourism demand from UK for Sarajevo as City break. So prob for that rather than diaspora. Whenever I have been on OU from zag to SJJ there have been British (and american) tourists on boards..one of the best cone tions or Austrian vie VIE. Ditto. Brits are looking for interesting and value short break destinations. BCN..DBV...FCO..NCE now getting v expensive. We will see. Sadly it it is LTN will be mostly stag parties...horrible airport
ReplyDeleteWell dear, Luton itself seems like an Asian/Middle Eastern town, let alone its airport.
DeleteAs for London, there is almost demand everywhere you can think of. This city has the most connections on the entire planet. 6 airports is simply crazy.
Besides if BA once served SJJ, then there was a very good reason behind that.
On my opinion, the most logical airport is Gatwick as it before with BA.
Concerning Warsaw, I would say Chopin Aiport and not Modlin, because it´s served by Ryanair.
Rome will be FCO and not CIA.
Citam komentare na moguce destinacije Fly Bosnia. Ne mogu vjerovati sta citam, ne mogu vjerovati da skoro i ne postoji komercijalna i marketing sluzba. Da se ne zna sta i gdje ce letiti ali se spominju gradovi koji se nikada nisu smatrali ozbiljnim odredistima. Kakva Varsava, kakav London (LHR i LGW zaboravi, ostaju samo STN i LTN), pa ko to jos iz regiona leti za Varsavu , Adrija prestala, Srbija prestala, LOT jos nesto pokusava na ovim prostorima ali zato sto ima dobre konekcije za Ameriku,Kanadu, Japan,Kinu. Maleziju itd. Ali onda bi trebalo pricati sa LOT-om, a zato treba biti clan IATA, treba imati elektronske karte itd itd itd. Jedan milion evra investicija u insfrastrukturu NAJMANJE ! Avione (ako dodju) treba uposliti na provjerenim destinacijama a jos vise gledati da se napravi medjunarodni audit o kvaliteti i bezbjednosti letenja (IOSA) ili nesto slicno da bi se mogla dogovarati kratkorocna i dugorocna saradnja sa kompanijama u regionu i van regiona. Pogledajte samo Trade Air, na njih se treba ugledati. Privatnik a pametan ! U ljetnjem periodu svima trebaju avioni, sto u carter letovima sto u redovnom aranzmanu. BH Airlines je 4 mjeseca prije prestanka operacija trebao napraviti wet-lease posao decenije sa Air Serbia tj. da na 6 mjeseci iznajmi jedan ATR72 sa komplatnom posadom i da preuzme liniju Sarajevo-Beograd-Sarajevo. Na zalost do toga nije doslo. Ali sve to zato sto je BH Airlines konsekutivno 6 godina imala IOSA certifikat. Kosta, ali se isplati. Ocigledno je da vlasnik FBA ima sredstava za to i neka onda to i napravi. Kako god, sretno ali i pametno !
ReplyDeleteDal si ti čovječe ikad čuo za Međugorje?
DeleteDal znaš da je London najcesce odrediste iz sjj koje nema direktan let?
Where is Amsterdam?
ReplyDeletePeople from saudi could take connecting flights via Amsterdam. And a lot of dutch people are interested in visiting Bosnia...