Low cost carrier Eurowings will station an aircraft in Pristina and launch two new routes, complementing its existing network from the city. The Lufthansa Group member will base a 150-seat Airbus A319 jet from June 19 and introduce flights to Basel and Geneva. Furthermore, existing services to Dusseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart will be "significantly increased". In total, the airline will offer over sixty weekly frequencies to and from Pristina. “With more than forty million passengers carried last year, Eurowings has clearly become the strong number three among point-to-point airlines in Europe. We are consolidating this status by expanding our network in the direction of Eastern Europe. Pristina will play an important role in this context”, Eurowings CEO, Thorsten Dirks, said.
Eurowings was Pristina Airport's sixth busiest airline last year, handling 163.982 passengers, representing an increase of 24.3% on the year before. In addition to Dusseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart, it also maintains flights from Cologne, Hamburg and Hanover to the Kosovan city. The airline noted the new flights will be "bookable within the coming days". As a result, Eurowings will, for the first time, offer nonstop flights from Pristina to Switzerland, which remains the airport's biggest market, accounting for 36% of all passengers. Eurowings effectively replaces the now-defunct Germania, which planned to base an aircraft in Pristina from March, prior to its demise.
Pristina Airport has seen increased interest from various carriers, which has also resulted in strong passenger growth. In April alone, the airport welcomed 192.075 travellers, representing an increase of 8.1%. During the first four months of the year, Pristina handled 668.229 passengers, up 12.1%. Overall, the airport added 72.363 travellers so far this year. Pristina Airport's Scheduling Manager, Driton Hyseni, said recently. "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".
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 168.777 | ▲ 17.1 |
| FEB | 138.269 | ▲ 11.9 |
| MAR | 169.108 | ▲ 12.4 |
| APR | 192.075 | ▲ 8.1 |
wow did not expect Eurowings' first base in ex-Yu to be Pristina. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteEw need to open base in ZAG,.... good news Pristina
ReplyDeleteWhat is great is that EW sells flights directly and not like Germania for example where a lot of flights were sold only through tour operators.
ReplyDeleteAnd they also sell connecting flights with Lufthansa.
DeleteI think the tour operators do sell some Eurowings flights, like Hanover. Not 100% sure though.
DeleteWell Air Prishtina sells and buys a huge chunk of seats on Germania and EW. With them now owning GM, they will certainly not be selling on EW anymore.
DeleteGM can only fly to swiss destinations from PRN
Deleteright, selling EW to Swiss destinations I meant ;)
DeleteThis won't work. Much more competent airlines failed in PRN. I think they are basing a plane to cut costs but in the end the ex-YU market is best served by Wizz Air and Ryanair. Eurowings is too expensive.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhich more competent airlines failed in PRN?
DeleteWell easyJet tried and failed. Let's face it, until purchasing power grows there won't be real demand. Until their reiseburos will dominate.
DeleteeasyJet currently operates three routes to Pristina. They failed on one route, which is really not unheard of. They have suspended a route or two from other ex-Yu airports as well.
DeleteWhen was the last time easyJet had a larger expansion in PRN?
DeleteDoes it matter? Just because they didn't have it last year doesn't mean they failed on the market. Had they failed they would not be present on it.
Deleteeasyjet is increasing frequencies on PRN flights this summer.
DeleteThis will work! Costs in Kosovo are much lower than in Germany. Kosovan crew will fly towards from Basel, Dusseldorf etc. to other destinations. The airplane will leave PRN in the morning and will return in the evening.
DeleteThey are trying to make a move before Wizz Air opens a base.
ReplyDeleteWith 5 routes to PRN, they are probably next.
DeleteCommenting 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".
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/02/wizz-air-registers-strong-pristina.html
Good news for Pristina more dumping prices for the costumers,.. I hope that ZAG become a base from EW
ReplyDeleteThis will hurt Adria the most.
ReplyDeleteHow?
DeleteBecause it will take away their German/Swiss bound passengers with more affordable prices and much better services. Also they offer connections onto Lufthansa flights through Germany.
DeleteAdria's number have been contracting each year from Pristina.
DeleteSharks are sensing blood in the water...
DeleteSeems to me like another market where Adria was in prime position but let it slip through its fingers.
DeleteActually to me it looks like LH gave up on relying on Adria for transfers from PRN.
Delete+1
DeleteAdria is now mainly focusing on LJU which I think is a good thing. The real golden opportunity they missed years ago was Macedonia.
DeleteSo Adria will suffer because EW will be flying instead of Germania, wher Adria did not suffer?
DeleteIt suffered because its passenger numbers have been decreasing from PRN year by year.
DeleteNot a big surprise. Germany will need a handful of Kosovars for work during the upcoming years. Not to mention the EU visa free regime.
ReplyDeleteIf I am not mistaken, around 30,000 positions will be open.
The main driver of growth at PRN would be complete visa liberlization.
DeleteExcellent news for PRN. Eurowings is a well established airline.
ReplyDeleteI;m assuming they will be hiring local crew?
ReplyDeleteDid not see this one coming
ReplyDeleteThey will get a very nice discount since under current PRN incentive measures any airline that opens a base in the city is free of all fees and charges during the first year.
ReplyDeleteLet's see then if they keep their aircraft around in 2020.
DeleteThey will, don't you worry.
DeleteTo me this is kind of odd. Does not fit into EW's strategy.
ReplyDeleteWell their CEO seems to think it does.
DeleteWell their CEO also made €245 million loss in Q1.
DeleteCongratulations Pristina. Good to see some positive developments.
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy that a serious airline is opening a base in PRN. Well Done!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how all these extra flights in Pristina will impact numbers at Skopje because there will be fewer people from Kosovo needing to drive or bus to Skopje to catch cheaper flights.
ReplyDeletethese eurowings flights already oprate from PRN under Air Pristina
DeleteGreat news. And the passenger growth has also been very good at the airport even though Germania disappeared.
ReplyDeleteOnce EU visas are lifted, whenever that may be numbers should improve even more.
DeleteAny info as to when EU visas will be lifted?
DeleteNo one is willing to give a timeframe.
DeleteBig news. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteThe Pristina-Germany market seems to be huge.
ReplyDeletePristina-Switzerland market is even larger.
DeleteWhat are the most popular routes from Pristina?
DeleteZRH
DeleteIn 2018:
DeleteZurich constitute 16.2% of total passenger traffic, Basel (BSL / MLH) - 13.3%, Dusseldorf - 9.4%, Stuttgart - 7.5%, Istanbul (IST) - 7.1%, Geneva - 6.2%, Munich - 5.5% Istanbul (SAW) - 4.6%.
Thank you! :)
DeleteWelcome. And biggest markets are Switzerland leads by 36% of total traffic from Pristina, followed by Germany by 31%, Turkey by 16%, Austria by 5%, England by 3% and so on.
DeleteAll gasto markets. No surprise.
DeleteWell probably 90% of traffic at PRN is gasto generated.
DeleteTrue. Almost zero tourists come by plane, this is all gastos coming back to visit family
DeletePRN's biggest issue is it's failure to sustain flights to non-gasto routes.
DeleteI find it odd that Eurowings does not fly to either Skopje or Nis.
ReplyDeleteThey started selling tickets to SKP 2 years ago but then said the demand wasn't there and suspended ticket sales.
DeleteLufthansa expanding presence in ex-Yu.
ReplyDeleteLufthansa?
DeleteEurowings is a part of the Lufthansa Group.
DeleteMissed opportunity for Croatia Airlines. They cancelled Pristina yet they could have offered a good transfer option via Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteMost using OUs flights from Pristina transferred to London Hethrow. Since OU sold some of its slots there was no longer a good connection with them.
DeleteThey could have just rescheduled the flight to fit another LHR departure.
Deleteobviously wasn't worth it.
DeleteHonestly, I think it's a missed opportunity for Wizz Air.
DeleteMissed opportunity for Air Serbia.
Delete@10.32, it is still an option for Wizz Air :) They are doing well, with five routes. They said charges would have to go down to PRN if they are to ecpand further.
Delete*expand
DeleteThere will be huge demand for Germany since Germany is liberalizing its work permit visas. Prepare for mass exodus.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Pristina. Solid result for an airport which has so many limitations. Good work.
ReplyDeleteeurowings have no rights to fly GVA-PRN. not sure how that is gonna work
ReplyDeleteAlso weird that LX already fly GVA-PRN and are increasing frequencies this summer. Will EW really not have any rights on this route or will they fly it on behalf of LX ? BSL could work if they operate it to MLH. Also weird not to see ZRH-PRN.
DeleteEW is the designated carrier of Kosovo for Switzerland. So they fly any destination in Switzerland. They already got the slots for Geneva.
Deletefunmy how nobody mentions Air Pristina aka Germania Flug who is the main driving force behind this, i suppose
ReplyDeleteI doubt Air Prishtina is the driving force behind this. They own Germania Flug now. Don't think they would be creating extra competition for themselves with Eurowings. They probably ended cooperation with Eurowings and that's the reason Eurowings responded.
Deletecheck on airprishtina.com cooperation is ongoing. witho
Deleteuit EW they would have to close down
Ha ha ha now Eurowings can win the tender for PSO flights from INI. They need to base one plane there and because Serbian government considers Pristina as part of Serbia technically they have another one plane based in Serbia :-)
ReplyDeleteGosh now that would be too crazy :D
DeleteMove over SKP, we have a new regional star :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. The question is, who will come out on top - Pristina or Skopje?
DeleteNice for Pristina. I expect 2.5 million in 2019.
ReplyDeleteWe might even see 3 million by 2020.
DeleteThe growth was phenomenal this year. Well done.
DeleteI recommend Eurowings to open non-stop flights PRN to/from New York JFK with A330's during summer season. Excellent opportunity and they would make great profit from USA diaspora.
ReplyDeletelol
DeleteYou can laugh but Pristina already had nonstop flights to JFK. New York is also most flown unserved destination from Pristina.
DeleteThat was in the past!
DeleteNow we are in the future, Eurowings definitely should open PRN-JFK-PRN for summer season.
Eurowings you can do it don't miss it.
Can we expect flights from HHN or FKB to PRN anytime soon? With the work visas coming, low cost airliners could profit from the influx of workers in Frankfurt. Hahn and Karlsruhe/Baden would be great options.
ReplyDeleteRoutes to CH will happened only if they register and AOC in Kosovo or Switzerland. Otherwise no traffic rights.
ReplyDeletePristina Airport has registred 8% increase in April 2019 compared to April 2018.
ReplyDeleteYeah thanks, we see that in the article, there is even a table at the bottom.
DeleteNice.Let's hope they stick around.
ReplyDeleteIf PRN wants to regain its original 3rd position among exYu airports, it needs to reduce its fees. Otherwise well done.
ReplyDeletePrRN will regain third position in ex-yu area when the visa liberalization takes place, and when, you are right, reduces fees. Eventually PRN will gain second position!
DeleteIn the mean time, PRN will struggle to keep the fifth position.
The STT (Southern Triangle Trio) airports SKP, PRN and INI are all growing impressively connecting more and more flights to this once deserted region.
ReplyDeletePRN will most likely remain the largest of the 3 airports, however, this will also depend on Wizz Air.
Eurowings don't miss it hurry,
ReplyDeleteThe summer season diaspora USA - PRN!
I prefer,
Flying an A330 two ways
DUS-PRN-JFK-PRN-DUS
Start Marketing Hurry
Good Luck ;)
That's true good idea EW should open it now.
DeleteAlso route:
DUS-JFK-PRN-JFK-DUS