Mostar Airport sets January deadline for LCC talks


Mostar Airport has said it is in discussions with two low cost carriers over the introduction of flights, with the outcome of those talks to be known by the end of next month. The airport’s Planning and Development Manager, Marko Djuzel, said, "The increase in passenger traffic will depend on the outcome of these negotiations”. While Mr Djuzel did not reveal the name of the airlines in question, it is believed that one of them is Ryanair, which has been in discussions with Mostar Airport over the past few months. The two sides have held talks on several occasions since 2012. Previously, it was proposed for the low cost airline to introduce services from Charleroi, Frankfurt and Oslo to Bosnia and Herzegovina's fifth largest city. However, there is also strong potential for the carrier to cater for religious tourism on routes from Italy and Poland. Over the past few years, Mostar Airport has also held talks with Wizz Air. In 2012, the two sides discussed potential services from Dortmund and Malmo, but the airline ultimately opted to operate from Tuzla instead.

The government of the Herzegovina - Neretva Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina has expressed its willingness to provide financial assistance to airlines serving Mostar. It approved a five-year subsidy agreement with Eurowings in 2018. The low cost airline is being granted just over a quarter of a million euros on a yearly basis until 2023 (inclusive) for its seasonal services from Dusseldorf and Stuttgart. The Canton is also providing financial assistance for the upkeep of Croatia Airlines' two weekly year-round service between Zagreb and Mostar. The agreement is valued at half a million euros per year. In addition, Mostar Airport also boasts an incentive scheme for all airlines.

Mostar Airport handled 31.265 passengers between January and October, representing an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year. The growth came as a result of an increase in capacity on behalf of Eurowings, which operated larger aircraft on its routes from Germany, as well as an increase in the number of charter flights to Italy, which are being run by FlyBosnia. The Sarajevo-based airline plans to commence a scheduled one weekly service from Mostar to Rome on December 16, which is expected to further contribute to the airport’s passenger growth over the winter months.




Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    I don't see Wizz and Ryan flying at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      Why not? Just look at it in ex-Yu. Both Wizz and FR fly to TGD, INI and SPU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:09

      Yeah but there are also places like Tuzla, Belgrade or Skopje where they don;t.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:06

    I hope they finally achieve a deal. These talks have been going on for ages.

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  3. Anonymous09:08

    It's nice to see Mostar growing again.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      The total number of passenger is minuscule and a shame considering the potential the airport has to serve pilgrims visiting Medjugorje or even parts of the Croatian coast.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      Agree with anon above. An airport in such location really shouldn't be struggling to get airlines and passengers and shouldn't be subsidising every airline to fly there.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:08

    I'm very curious to see how FlyBosnia will perform on the Mostar-Rome flights.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      Putting tickets on sale 10 days before the flights start certainly won't help.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:18

    I still think it's silly that a tax is imposed on Sarajevo Airport and its passengers so Mostar and Tuzla can pay LCCs to fly to their airports.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      Completely.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:56

      It has had a negative impact on Sarajevo Airport and unfortunately it won't get removed any time soon.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:21

    Hopefully better days are to come for OMO.

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  7. Anonymous09:27

    Great work Mostar. I am really optimistic that brighter days are ahead :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:30

    Why don't ex-yu countries just privatize these smaller airports? Wouldn't it be easier? Plus the new owner would actually want to have flights and invest money in them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:33

      Yes that worked out well with Maribor.

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    2. Anonymous10:40

      That's just one example. Meanwhile, look at the number of state run airports in ex-yu with little or no traffic.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:33

    I will believe it when I see it.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:40

      yes they have said so many times that they are in talks with someone but nothing ever materialised.

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    2. Anonymous10:48

      Eurowings materialized

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:30

      OU also materialized which is very important as they connect Mostar to the rest of Europe with connections in Zagreb.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:45

      That's why they have 3 pax per flight lmao

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:35

      @ 9,33 exactly. Officials from the Balkans are known for boasting before striking the deal.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:38

      I think this time it will happen.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:35

    With so many subsidies, you have to wonder at what loss this airport is operating at.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:39

      Same story with Tuzla and Banja Luka.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:51

      Subsidising OU on this route is the most silliest since they have just a couple of passengers on these flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:52

      What I wanted to say is that it's a waste of money. Better that they gave it to Eurowings to open nother route.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:56

      It's a political route. Nothing more nothing less.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:36

    Italy, Germany and the Netherlands could be the first markets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:38

      Sweden would work too. Big diaspora.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:49

      Herzegovina Diaspora is huge. Mostly in Germany

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:55

      I think a flight from Bergamo to Mostar could work year round.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:03

      Warsaw too.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:40

    Will these LCCs fly just seasonally or year round to Mostar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:38

      Depends on how much money they get.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:41

    Can't wait to see the destinations.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:37

      I think flights from Bergamo, Weeze and Warsaw would work great.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:37

    Too many airports in short proximity. They will cannibalize each other.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:23

      +1.

      Bosnia needs modern railway and highway network, not airport in every village.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:50

    Ryanair doesn't come anywhere for free, especially small airports.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:51

    Fingers crossed

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous10:53

    I hope one of the airlines is easyJet :D Time for them to enter BiH market.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:00

      Yes! That would be fantastic. At least they could fly from Italy.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:37

      easyJet to Paris, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin would be good.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:57

    Overall I think 2020 will be a good year for all airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous11:00

    Well it's good that politicians are finally not blocking Mostar Airport like they have done so many times in the past.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:34

      The reason they are loosing passengers is that more and more people are flying to Croatia instead and then going to Medjugorje. People prefer a scheduled service they can book for cheap over the internet. So I fully support Mostar trying to get some airlines to fly there.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous16:30

    Fingers crossed

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous16:38

    Great news for Bosnia :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous16:41

    I expect in the near future they will open flight from Mostar to Dublin, London Standsted, Barcelona, Manchester, Eindhoven, Oslo, Copenhagen as these cities are major Ryanair bases.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:02

      The last three are not.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:53

      Two routes would be enough for a start

      Delete
  23. Anonymous17:31

    Will the future of OMO affect other Croatian airports similar to what happened with BNX and ZAG?
    BiH is currently doing a great job filling its 4 airports and already thinking of having a 5th airport. Just speechless!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:54

      I don't think Banja Luka has overly affected Zagreb. ZAG's numbers are up this year. Also don't think Mostar will have much of an effect.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:04

      I don't think OMO would pose such a threat to say SPU.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous19:55

    Airport has announced this many times till now. Let's hope for once they actually stick to their deadline and promise.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous20:04

    This would be brilliant news for Croatian coast as well, let's not forget that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:06

      +1

      Although some people do fear it could take away some passengers from Croatian coastal airports.

      Delete

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