Wizz begins expansion as Macedonian airports grow

Low cost carrier Wizz Air commenced its major expansion in Macedonia with the introduction of its first of eight new routes yesterday, which will be followed by a further two today. A total of 118 passengers arrived on the carrier's inaugural service from Malmo to Ohrid on Monday. Today, forty travellers flew from Milan to Ohrid, while 116 were booked on the return service. From Skopje, 195 passengers travelled on the inaugural flight to Baden Baden, while 200 were on the return service. Tomorrow's first flight from Skopje to Bremen will see 179 passengers on the outbound and 165 on the inbound service.

A total of four new year-round flights are being launched from Ohrid and Skopje each over the next four months, which will add a further 200.000 seats onto the Macedonian market this year. By the end of July, Wizz Air will offer 38 routes to sixteen countries from Macedonia's two airports. TAV Macedonia Airports Coordinator, Nejat Kurt, said, "TAV Macedonia is always looking forward to new routes and new opportunities for passengers using both airports in Skopje and Ohrid, and today, we are glad that passengers’ needs and requests have been met. With the introduction of these new destinations, we believe that there will be numerous opportunities for Macedonian citizens to expand their travel experience. I would like to thank Wizz Air for their commitment to the development of aviation in our country, as well as the government for their constant support".

Wizz Air's 2019 expansion in Macedonia

The new routes come as a result of the successful tender that Wizz Air was awarded in January 2019. The airline will receive subsidies for the eight services over a three-year period totalling five million euros. "It is our pleasure today to start a new phase in the development of air traffic in Macedonia. As the responsible government body, we are strongly committed to the development of air transport and creating conditions for establishing access to new destinations for Macedonian citizens. Wizz Air remains the government's serious partner in the development of air traffic", the Macedonian Minister for Transport and Communications, Goran Sugareski, said.

Macedonia's two international airports are set to see strong passenger growth as a result of the new routes, continuing on from their solid performance over the first two months of the year. In February, Skopje Airport welcomed 137.676 passengers, representing an increase of 5.8%. At the same time, Ohrid's figures grew 53% to 7.146. Jointly, aircraft movements increased 5% to 2.826. During the first two months of the year, Macedonia's two airports welcomed 372.351 passengers through their doors, up 7%. "I expect for the passenger growth trend, which was recorded in the initial statistics for the first two months of this year, to continue with the launch of new routes", Mr Sugareski noted.

SKOPJE AIRPORT RESULTS

Month	PAX	Change (%)
JAN	152.292	▲ 4.6
FEB	137.676	▲ 5.8

---

---