The Sarajevo-based FlyBosnia has said it will decide by the end of the year on launching scheduled flights from Tuzla and Mostar to European destinations. The carrier previously noted it was considering moving its operations to the two cities, away from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. “We expect that within the next thirty days we could decide on which cities would be linked with Tuzla and Mostar. We are still waiting for the canton, federal and state ministries for tourism to get involved and actively promote Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tourist potential. This includes the City of Sarajevo, so we can bring in more tourists and strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy”, the airline’s spokesperson, Aida Cvijetić, told the “Klix” portal.
It is unclear whether the new flights from Tuzla and Mostar would result in the carrier discontinuing its services from Sarajevo. Last month, Ms Cvijetić said, “Our company and staff are considering the possibility of shifting our operations to Tuzla and Mostar. In such a case, we would fly to Rome from Mostar, while London and other EU destinations would be maintained from Tuzla, from which we would provide bus transfers to Sarajevo". Wizz Air, which boasts a base in Tuzla, previously flew from the city to London Luton but discontinued the flights due to insufficient demand. It is believed FlyBosnia has accumulated over half a million euros worth of debt towards Sarajevo Airport.
FlyBosnia, which currently boasts a one-member fleet, has said it will take delivery of two leased Airbus A319 jets in April 2020, which would enable it to introduce new services to Barcelona, Moscow and Milan. The airline also plans on launching flights to Paris during the first quarter of 2020. The company will run a series of charters in the coming period from Mostar to Italy and Ireland. Since launching scheduled flights in June, FlyBosnia has handled over 40.000 passengers. "FlyBosnia is a young carrier from Bosnia and Herzegovina, which took up the risk to develop airline traffic both in the country and Sarajevo as our home base. We are well aware that we have no concessions, grants nor any other type of subsidies from either the canton, federal or state governments. This is in contrast to other regional airlines where the state invests into their carriers in order to cover their losses as they are of national importance", the company previously said.
With their fares, I don't see any flights working out of Tuzla and Mostar.
ReplyDeleteWhat did you expect from an airline that chose Europe's most expensive city that requires visas for Bosnians as their first European destination.
DeleteThey are in essence an Arab shuttle service. Nothing in general to do with Bosnian people.
DeleteIf they move to TZL and OMO that will be the official end for them.
ReplyDeleteEventually Saudi owners will realize what an expensive toy they have and will go back to leasing capacity from Nesma Airlines or someone like that for flights from Saudi Arabia to Sarajevo during the summer.
ReplyDeleteIt is gonna work. Flaying Christian pilgrims by Saudi owned company. Cunning plan.
DeleteI really doubt the pilgrims will know the airline's ownership structure.
DeleteAnd even if they did, why would it matter?
DeleteFlyBosnia is already flying charters from OMO and none of the passengers seem to care who owns the airline.
DeleteMO and TZL will let them fly for free there.
ReplyDelete*OMO
DeleteIf they already have over 500,000+ debt to SJJ I would be very careful to work with them.
DeleteWell at least now we can conclude that Wizz Air pays for nothing at Tuzla airport.
Deleteno airline is paying real money in TZL, OMO, BNX; (even those who "pay" nominal fees)
Deleteand FlyBosnia got public money here as well (officially some marketing cooperation); I can see that they are not happy because they did not get their fees waived, but it appears that they still think that they will not have to pay in the end.
Watch out Wizz :D
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to watch out but they certainly won't be happy, especially at the time they are renegotiating their agreement with Tuzla.
DeleteWhy would they be unhappy that Fly Bosnia will fly a route they flew and lost money on. Plus something tells me Wizz Air's operative costs are lower.
DeleteIf Wizz Air couldn't make Tuzla-Luton work, FlyBosnia as sure as hell won't.
DeleteExactly!
DeleteDon't understand what makes them think it will work.
DeleteSmaller planes are needed to make some of these European routes work.
DeleteI agree. Curent (or future) fleet is not suitable for these types of European destinations from Sarajevo/Mostar/Tuzla unless you are an ULCC like Wizz Air.
Deletecurrent/future fleet is 100% a319; how could any LCC be successful?
DeleteWhat a ludicrous plan.
ReplyDeleteSo they will have one plane based in Tuzla, one in Mostar and one potentially in Sarajevo. Wow.
ReplyDeleteHow odd. No strategy whatsoever.
DeleteHow costly it will be to have base in Tuzla and in Mostar? So two bases, while all staff is based in Sarajevo.
DeleteIt is probably still less expensive than flying to Sarajevo and paying the fees.
DeleteLet's see if they will be around next summer to open all these new routes.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo/Mostar/Tuzla - Barcelona makes little sense to me.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are hoping to get Spanish pilgrims to Medjugorje.
DeleteCrazy.
ReplyDelete50,000 pax isn't that much considering they had 2 planes and operated charters as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's not 50,000 it's 40,000.
Delete"FlyBosnia has handled over 40.000 passengers."
Yes meant to write 40,000. Sorry.
DeletePotential 3 bases with 3 aircraft. Now that's a first.
ReplyDeleteRome might actually work from Mostar because of pilgrims.
ReplyDeleteTickets aren't that expensive as people claim. For next week, without luggage you can buy a return fare Sarajevo-Rome for 118 euros.
ReplyDeleteThey are an LCC (no service whatsoever on board, not even to buy anything) so price is still high.
DeleteAnd they probably have one of the worst seat pitches in the industry. Very tight.
DeleteOuch.
DeleteMeanwhile Sarajevo - London (Luton) is 200 euros return with no luggage. Remember they also have no frequent flyer program or anything of the sort.
Delete200, euros return for a direct flight is a bargain.
Deletewtf?? This is the weirdest thing I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteIs that bare structure on the photo the expanded part of Sarajevo Airport?
ReplyDeleteGood to see work progressing.
DeleteTheir redesigned website looks relatively nice.
ReplyDeleteI don't find it great. It lacking a lot of information. Nothing about on board service or luggage policy. Their "About us" section is empty and they only have a webpage in English!
DeleteYes they forgot to make a website in Bosnian. And this page redesign isn't that new so no excuses.
DeleteIt shows that the local population aren't their targeted customers.
DeleteWho then is their target customers if they fly SJJ-LTN or SJJ-FCO with no connections to anywhere else???
DeleteAnd also, if their target customers are not Bosnians I wonder who they will transport from Tuzla.
DeleteTuzlacke Hipstere.
DeleteNo respect for this airline anymore...treating their staff in the cruelest way ever.
ReplyDeleteI wish SJJ and BiH all the best but it's insane how it's allowing them to go that far.
This is NOT Saudi and they must abide to the Bosnian law!
Sarajevo is already a limited market and now they will further limit themselves in Tuzla and Mostar.
ReplyDeleteI had high hopes for this airline.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity because they have the planes and they could actually create a small but profitable network from SJJ. If they just had the knowledge it could have worked out.
DeleteFlyBosnia isn't dead yet and they have backers with deep pockets. Let's wait and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteHope dies last.
DeleteThey burned way too much money. There is a limit to everything.
DeleteSame with exYu airline companies.
DeleteI think the A319s are just too large for the market. Yes they might be full for Hajj but that's about it. For European routes they need a plane up to 100 seats. a CRJ or ERJ.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteSJJ should give them some sort of incentive or stimulus. They certainly help Sarajevo Airport's passenger numbers grow this year.
ReplyDeleteWell they certainly gave them an incentive since Fly Bosnia has not been paying for anything even though it should have and it's obviously being tolerated.
DeleteI think Sarajevo Airport has an incentive program for new routes and basing aircraft. I'm sure they used it.
DeleteSJJ will be just fine without them.
DeleteTZL - VIE - TZL makes sense!
ReplyDeleteWizz Air tried that route and didn't work.
DeleteIs there no airline in BiH that can work out?
ReplyDeleteIt can. You just need competent people to be put in charge.
DeleteIcar Air has been in existence for almost 20 yrs now.
DeleteBecause the market is small and starting an airline is expensive.
Delete@ 9.59
DeleteIcar Air does fly but it is cargo airline which flies for DHL in Sarajevo.
Didn't expect they would last the year. I think they will eventually have to return the aircraft they leased and that will be all. Hope I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteNot a signle ex-Yu start up has been successful. I can't remember a single one.
ReplyDelete- Dalmatian
- Air Croatia
- BWA
- Centavia
- Air Maxi
- Sea Air
- Libertas Air
- AWEX
- VLM Slovenia.
DeleteOmg Sea Air from Osijek hahaha. Completely forgot about them.
Delete- Limitless Airlines
DeleteI would really like to see an airline from ex-Yu operating more beautiful Boeing jets. Getting sick of the busses.
DeleteShame
DeleteMost of those actually flew.
DeleteAirSerbia flies its Aviolet B737s
DeleteMAT Airlines, Air Dubrovnik, Bosnian Wand, Air Srpska, Master Airways
DeleteThe former Jat was also in terrible shape.
DeleteNo thanks, Boeing 737 max',s are death traps and the 737' neos are cracking up.
DeleteSarajevo deserves a normal airline which can link it to main points in Europe.
ReplyDeleteSomeone needs to shake things up at Sarajevo. End the star alliance dominance, bring affordable prices, and flights to key destinations in the west.
DeleteYou are now German turf, we can not help you, do not start politics again.
DeleteSomeone surprised?
ReplyDeleteGood luck
ReplyDeleteThey will need it.
DeleteIt is good if Fly Bosnia venture works. No taxpayer money is involved into it. There is no harm to any of us if Fly Bosnia does not make it.
DeleteNo taxpayer money? Fly Bosnia owes SJJ a lot of money. If they don't pay it to SJJ, taxpayers will one way or another.
DeleteCould you please tell how taxpayers will cover that debt one way or other. Even more, please explain what taxpayers are having with SJJ at all?
DeleteWill be interesting to see how this plays out.
ReplyDeleteThe risk of making it up to break even is too high. Even if you have unlimited founds, it does make no sense. With one or two a/c's your overhead costs are to high. This makes sense only if someone finance it for political reasons, but then the question is why, and for how long?
ReplyDeleteTuzla and Mostar could really benefit.
ReplyDelete6 months, tops until this goes belly up.
ReplyDeleteRIP
ReplyDeleteThe issue is that this airline can only make money during summer with Middle East flights.
ReplyDeleteHave no sympathy for them. For the way they treat their employees or non paymenet of fees.
ReplyDeleteThis a money laundering scheme. Nothing more, nothing less.
ReplyDeletePiši kući propalo...
ReplyDeleteAnd this time next year, we'll be millionaires :)
ReplyDeleteNo, it won't work out and moving to Tuzla or Mostar will not solve anything.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Trebinje airport is better solution for them...
ReplyDelete:-)