Could Wizz Air operate flights from Belgrade? Also is DBV an expensive airport to fly from? I can see FR operating many seasonal flights to Trebinje.

Not surprised, this is a geopolitical move by Serbia from which the city and the region will profit.

This airport might not be profitable, but for sure it is more than important due to geopolitical reasons for people from Trebinje.

Full support.

What a waste

No it can't operate between two non EU airports.

I find it very interesting how aviation has developed quite nicely in both Serbia and Srpska. INI is booming, KVO has seen flights after years and years of planning, BEG is growing nicely and most importantly BNX is also adopting a far more realistic business approach. Seems like there might be a coordinated policy to encourage the expansion of flights from all airports.

No, W6 could not do it without special permissions.

DBV is in another country and that part of Srpska should not depend from the airport in the neighbouring state.

Why?

Better to have used the money to develop Banja Luka.

+100

I think that's the logic behind this move, aviation is key (as we've seen during corona) and having an operational airport in this part of Srpska is important. I have a feeling JU will fly there a few times per week but I think they'll negotiate with other airlines as well.

It was announced the other day that BNX will get improvements soon so their development is not linked to the opening of Trebinje airport.

@9.05 yesterday the government reported that it does not have the money to expand the runway in Banja Luka. When an airport is "developing nicely" it means it's actually profitable that it can pay for improvements, which it isn't. Flooding this article with bot convents doesn't change that.

Basically, BiH will have 5 operational airports which leaves behind many other countries in the region.
It can definitely be a LCC alternative for both TIV and DBV.

Hopefully they name the airport after Jovan Ducic.
If JU manages to offer good fares like they do to BNX I can see there being a lot of tourist demand, especially now when corona forced many to reconsider their holidays options. I was surprised by the amount of Serbs that eventually went to Neum. Trebinje could also serve this seaside resort in the future.

No, what was announced is that the government has denied funds for the runway extension at Banja Luka.

This airport will be just another expencive monument to human stupidity.Better road conections to Serbia and western part of Srpska, would be more usefull.

Developing nicely can also mean that the airport is recording increased revenue which brings it closer to breaking-even. Just because it's not profitable (yet) doesn't mean it's not less loss-making. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Have you seen where Trebinje is? Only a highway would make sense and that would be more expensiver than this airport.

Buduci aerodrom Trbinje bice platforma razvoja juzne i jugoistocne Hercegovine. Od Drine do Popovog polja.
Potencijal investicija i privlacniji predeo za zivot.
Bice u mrezi sekundarnih kargo i LCC saobracaja jugo istocne evrope...
Veoma pozeljan projekat.
Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. 😀🛫🌐✈♥️🛫

Seems like Serbia might help out with financing BNX so there we go.

'Kaže i da se razmatra učešće u rekonstrukciji i renoviranju aerodroma u Banja Luci, kao i da će se napraviti plan za formiranje zajedničke industrijske zone u pograničnom delu, između Srbije i RS.'

https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/vucic-nakon-sastanka-sa-predstavnicima-rs-prvi-avion-sa-aerodroma-u-trebinju-poletece/y6sq784

Good idea for the airport's name.

09:15

+100

KVO is deserted and in normal circumstances has two oversubsidised routes. I would use this money to develop this airport, try to get airlines to come organically rather then build some airport in Trebinje.

The investment is estimated to be around 50 mil EUR.

And not 200 mil EUR as some so called experts announced.

Why someone needs LCC alternative to DBV if there LCCs are making 50 % of passanger nubers share at DBV?

2022? Are they serious or what?

KVO is limited until the new runway is constructed, it can't handle anything larger than ATR. So I don't see who else could fly from there than JU. Also how do you know Trebinje will be loss making?
In my opinion major aviation wastes in ex-YU region and OMO and OSI.

Well they are going to build a small terminal with a runway and an apron that can take maximum two, three planes at the same time. It's not like they are building another BEG mate.

The only difference is that those two airports were built over 40 years ago. No one built them yesterday.

The purpose of building Trebinje airport is to be there for the people from that part of Srpska. And if it could anyhow increase its traffic by serving the passengers arriving to another country - even better.

Mate, they have less then 2 years and they didnt even said were they will construct it, who will be constructor, got IATA and ICAO code... it is simply immposibile.

So why keep them open if they are not functioning? What's the rationale behind that? This airport is a strategic move because Srpska doesn't have an airport in the south.

Oh yes. There are 2 money lossing airports so we should build at least 10 more money lossing. Its not like this region is poor without any reason.

No, we should support the development of the regions which do need it.

Actually after this summer it seems like Neum might become a popular destination for many Serbian holidaymakers. This year they spent a whole night travelling by bus to reach the final destination. Replacing this exhausting part of the holiday with a 40 minute flight might be an appealing option for many. Not to mention that agencies can also promote Trebinje in the process.

From a touristic point of view, this airport can make sense. Like someone mentioned, this airport won't be a new DXB or IST but rather a small shack with a runway. Cheap and practical to operate.

https://www.danas.rs/bbc-news-serbian/korona-virus-i-turizam-neum-morska-oaza-za-srpske-turiste/

Don't understand why there is so much hysteria each time this airport is mentioned.

If this is promoted properly it can be a good source of income for both Serbia and the region. Bosnia was smart not to request a PCR test for Serbs this summer. That's how Neum was 'discovered' by many.

Well its hysteria becsuse everything you metioned cannot make airport usefull or profitabile. Especially not one with 2.6 km runway and 300.000 passanger terminal.

That was the former plan. From 11 yrs ago which was cancelled. Read what it says.

TJE could be IATA code.

And it has to become profitable the first year it opens? No one is saying this. Airports are usually a long-term investment hence why concessions are 30 to 50 years long. This is just Belgrade opening an airport it considers important for that region. Without proper infrastructure no region can develop. Areas like Serbia, Srpska and the Federation have been economically devastated and they will require major investments before they can start earning what they spent.

Hmm, im thinking the same. Why is bad to build airport with capacity of 300.000 passangers in the poor region of 50.000 people surrounded by 2 airports.

Its true what are you saying but you forgot very immportant factor in every airport and that is demand. Demand will make airport profitabile and nothing else and there is no chances to make an airport in the region of 260.000 passangers capacity profitabile. Airport in Trebinje can only make sence as 1.45 km runway with subisided flights to BEG. Same as in Donegall, Ireland which even has more population and more tourism then Trebinje region. And here we have some megalomanic plans which relay on absoulutly nothing. Best thing is that they are saying who it will be opened in march 2022. which is for year and the half while they dont have even location where it will be built.

So happy about this.

Trebinje will become much closer to Belgrade now and many people will use it to visit this beautiful city.

Only bus companies might suffer as there is every day direct bus between Belgrade and Trebinje.

How much are there weakly bus arrivals from BEG.

Despite in Bosnia you still have less air passangers then population, politicans are still intrested in building more and more useless airports.

Tell me, what was demand like for Dubai back in 1985 when Emirates was founded? Demand can be created, quite easily actually, especially if it is one which will rely on tourism. Interest in Neum is best proof of that. With some marketing and promotion a virtually unknown destination became the exact opposite. I guess only time will tell who was right and who wasn't. Have a wonderful day.

If there is every day bus route how many weekly routes do we have?

1 x 7 = 7

Rijeka has 150000 inhabitants, wider aerea (county) 300000. It is the second most developed and second richest part of Croatia. It is the center of the most touristic region. It is the port with despite reduced, still significant traffic and business activities related to it. It is not on the crossroads of the most important rail and road ways, which makes air traffic even easier to boom. It has the benefit of the EU open borders (in normal circumstances). Despite all of these, RJK airport struggles and never managed to make any decent traffic, and even break even economically, because it is surrounded by ZAG, PUY, TRS, VCE, LJU. Now just compare Rijeka and Trebinje, surrounded by TGD, TVT, DBV, OMO and SJJ, and make your own conclusions.

You are comparing a country which found oil and started rapidly expanding with a region where people mostly work in Dubrovniks supermarkets? Wow, nice. So by that logic airport can be build everywhere and make profit everywhere? So lets build airport in Celje, Šibenik, Gospić, Slavonski Brod, Hvar, Varaždin, Subotica, Novi Sad, Šabac, Bačka Palanka, Novi Pazar, Prizren, Kosovska Mitrovica, Prizren, Štip, Tetovo, Bitola, Doboj, Zenica, Livno, Nikšić, Berane, Golubac because if Emiates was made with state money in 1985. why not to build airport in every village! Congrats!!! They will all make profit some day so million euros investment have a sence!! You are right!

Some people were saying 2 daily buses.

"marketing and promotion"
Whats with the people with this blog if they think you can become successulf tourist destiation only with promotion? Now for Trebinje.

Well Trebinje can with that logic have at least 10 million passanger, overtake BUD in 2025, and have a direct link with Auckland because all what you need to do is a promotion and the smartest politicans in the region.

No but Dubai, unlike you, had a vision of a post-oil world. Today Dubai has no more oil but it has income from other sources which it developed in time. It was not oil that made Dubai what it is today. Oil was a mere catalyst in the process of turning a vision into reality. That's something many in ex-YU don't have, a long-term strategy and vision for the region in which they live. Most people today live one day to another. Your silly comment on airport construction is best proof of it and you are still ignoring why this airport is being built in the first place. You need to follow political developments between Belgrade and Banja Luka in order to understand why this airport is going to happen. It's all part of a larger picture, that is of political, cultural and economic streamlining between Serbia and Srpska. Redirecting passengers from DBV or TIV to Trebinje airport fits this narrative. You are either ignorant of these developments or you are purposely ignoring them. It has to be either one or the other.

Anon 10.19
Well marketing helped Icelandair create a major hub in the middle of nowhere. Marketing helped Qatar Airways and Doha become what they are today. Marketing helped Riga and Krakow become major weekend destinations. Marketing can become a useful tool if you know how to use it properly. There is a reason why so many companies invest in their marketing activities.

Finally

Yes OMO and SJJ are such major threats to Trebinje airport.

another political stunt ...

And what is Trebinje future vision? More people working in Dubrovniks supermarkets or? But still where Im wrong when I say this airport has no any logic? Maybe it has "political, cultural and economic" immportances for Trebinje but does it has a demand? No it hasnt. Because demand is not so easliy made as people on this blog think. And why do you think my comment is silly if you think how Trebinje has a sence? Airport in Livno can be very immportant by that logic because of "political, cultural and economic" ties between Hercegovina and Croatia. You have one daily bus to Belgrade from Trebinje and from where did these intelectuals found 50.000 passangers in the first year i dont now at all. Im not ignorant, I just have a logic in my head which is saying who there is no demand for airport in Trebinje.

no conclusions needed dont even bother :) another joke decision

50mio is massive

Major threats to Trebinje Airport are facts and logic.

even more funny when you have Podgorica a Ryanair and Wizz heaven. LOL dreamers

KVO is a waste of state money

I already answered most of your questions especially regarding where demand will come for this airport. I am not going to run in circles.
As for Livno, your comparison isn't correct because there are already Croatian airports nearby which can cover this region. Serbia on the other hand doesn't have any of its own in this region and Belgrade wants to change that with this airport.
As for 50.000 passengers, no one said they will come from Belgrade alone. This airport can be an alternative for the more expensive airports in the region. It's mentioned in the original text, please read more carefully in the future. Trebinje can be a fantastic business alternative for airlines like Ryanair.


KVO was originally a military airport so state money would be spent on it one way or another. By adding commercial traffic you would at least reduce the dependence on the budget by collecting extra income from airport tax or the leases from shops and restaurants there. Hungary is considering doing the same with Kecskement and I think The Netherlands already did that with EIN.

I wonder which airport is TVT?

According to Wikipedia it is located in India so I don't get how it could have any influene on Trebinje.

Rijeka center of the most touristic region? So let's forget Dubrovnik, let's forget Makarska, the port of Rijeka is the center of the most touristic region in Croatia.

Nothing that happens in the world will close the access that Rijeka has to ZAG, PUY or SPU. From the other side Croatian (DBV) or Montenegrin (TGD, TIV) side could use anything as excuse to close the borders and Srpska is left again without any decent airport. The pandemic is the best proof of it.

Also, DBV does not have year-round connection to BEG. If there is no Air Serbia there would no connection at all between DBV and BEG and flying to the capital of Serbia is actually one of the most important goals for people from that area.

So, my conclusion is that we shall leave RJK struggle further and build our own Trebinje airport.

Hey, hey... There's catch... They announced work in phases (thanks God), i.e. 2600m runway will not be built 2022, and enormous money will not be spent. This is final stage of development what can be never. I think it is realistic 1200 m runway and small terminal.

And what does mean for Livno if there are Croatian airports nearby? Nothing. These airports can be and Bosnian ones but airport there would not make any sence, same as airport in Teebinje.

I think that Trebinje will be nice turboprop destination. LCC perhaps for 6-10 years

Like every aviation decision in ex-YU.

Neum will be a major destination for Serbian tourists, this is for them. People are afraid of JU getting another TIV destination in the region. ;)

Nemjee kum aerodroma. Excellent suggestion. And nowvremain to connect Banjaluka and Trebinje. Only way is to Srpska found its own company.
Or I will have to buy my own airplane :-)

Once this aiport opens JU can move some flights from DBV to Trebinje. Like that at least locals will fly to a Serbian airport where money is collected by Serbian government. It's a win win situation. Hercegovina has a massive diaspora.

JA flew from BNX to TIV so JU could operate BNX-Trebinje in the future plus flights from BEG. It can go BEG-BNX-TREBINJE or BEG-TREBINJE-BNX and back

It would mean there are even more reasons for future flights between Trebinje and Belgrade

But Rijeka has gpod roads to access all those airports and go abroad. If they have to travel to Zagreb, they use car within 2 hours. Trebinje cannot acces to Banjaluka without 6 hours and Beograd in 8 hours. Beside that, it is not all about position of Rijeka airport, maybe you have to ask manager about plans and development...

LOL. Every airport in the world is making downsizing strategies, and these geniuses want to build an airport in, wait for it... Trebinje!

What's more, people here are discussing it as if it makes some kind of sense. Get real, please.

If a daily or double daily bus departure can work from BEG then a daily ATR can work as well. Add to that transfers in BEG and it's fantastic. After Ruma (50 km from Belgrade) there is no more highway until Trebinje. Horrible and exhausting experience to drive.

A bus has the same seats as the ATR

Huh? Who is downsizing exactly? BEG and LJU are investing in new infrastructure. You know, the world will not end with corona, there is going to be life after it. :)

The fact that they are building more terminal space doesn't mean that they won't have to deal with a big slump in passenger numbers over the coming years. They will for sure have to change their business models and the size or structure of their workforces. That's what I mean by downsizing.

Anonymous11:01 did you ever drive from Trebinje to Neum?

Nemjee, of you're wondering why people think s..t of this airport, read again who are the people in the article talking about it - Vučić and Mihajlović.
And then go and check their other projects and see how they went.

Anon 12.22 did you ever drive from Belgrade to Neum?

It is perfectly normal to build airports in isolated, hardly reachable areas, folks. Both BEG-Trebinje and BNX-Trebinje flights are highly justified, even subsidized. And they would exist in developed, and also in developing nations.

People from Mostar and the whole of Herzegovina will use the airport to connect to the world through Belgrade, too. Or you think JU should fly to Mostar, rather then to serbian-populated Trebinje?

Herceg Novi is close, too.

Moreover, we were told that one day we'd all live in Europe without borders, and there You go, this will be an alternative to DBV. Do You think Belgrade flights to Dubrovnik would operate to Trebinje or to Ćilipi under such circumstances?

Etc. There's a strong case for an airport down there.

They would operate to Dubrovnik because people that want to holiday in Dubrovnik will want to arrive in Dubrovnik and not in another town in another country, which is especially important for an airline carrying a lot of transfer traffic.

Gradi se autoput prema Pozezi brzo ce na Drinu a preko Gorazda i Bilece je dobar put za Trebinje.

Yes and it will be completed until 2050

Let me remind you that people talking about this airport (and Nacionalni stadion lepši od Alijanc arene the other day), are the same ones that can't get popločavanje Trga right.

So you are implying only people going to Dubrovnik are flying on flights to DBV? That's an odd statement. I remember before ZAD was launched those people probably flew to SPU. What makes you think many going to Trebinje right now are not already flying on those DBV flights?

You are right. Air Serbia planes are actually filled with people flying to Trebinje. As soon as they open this landmark airport Air Serbia will stop flying to Dubrovnik. And your example is fantastic. Did Air Serbia stop flying to Split when they launched Zadar? And on top of everything Split and Zadar had millions of tourist visits laat year. Waiting for Trebinje data.

Some people live in a parallel universe

Well, it should be noted that Dubrovnik airport Is not exactly in Dubrovnik, indeed, it is not even in Kupari, nor
in Mlini, but some km down the Magistrala, to Cavtat.

So, on day, in the United Europe, there will be two Dubrovnik airports. And some guys&girls from the coast will be welcome to work at check-in counters at Trebinje.

Like I said, parallel universe.

Well, I beleive Integral Banjaluka will be given the job, and they're quite capable in constructing paved surfaces.

Actually, I know a familly from Blok 28, NGB, who fly to Trebinje regularly, through Tivat.

Construction of paved surfaces is not sending people to the Moon. I am, however, sceptical about competence of the people talking about the project, as they have proved their incompetence in numerous occasions.

U kojoj su državi ono izbori na jesen?

Those same people gave us JU500, BEG concession, Air Serbia, Belgrade-Chachak highway and so on. Sure they had some mishaps but then which government hasn't? They are not totally clueless.

САД.

This is how it will work; the owner of the airport is the Serbian government, so priority will be given for flights to JU. Moreover, ONLY JU (and maybe a Bosnian airline) will be allowed to fly Between Trebinje and BEG - just like TIV - BEG. We see the EXACT same thing in Montenegro (with no complaints from them, as it's the only reason that YM can actually exist at all). It also creates an alternative for JU to DBV and TIV and increase negotiating power with those airports with respect to rates, etc...

RS will also give priority for Serbia-based tourist operators to establish themselves in the area. Don't be surprised if transport, holiday and hotel operators are all tied together.

All in all, a good long-term idea if looking at the bigger picture.

Bus companies will have to adjust their routes for BEG arrivals for transport to hotels, Herceg Novi, Neum and other coastal destinations.

Unfortunately, many tourists from BEG don't feel safe or welcome travelling to Rijeka for the last 25 years [including myself and my family]. Some do, but most don't. This is a big factor that people take into consideration when travelling.

In Trebinje they know that they will be welcome and the passenger numbers will reflect that as well. I would be one of the first to book a flight for my family to Trebinje.

Forget the "50,000 people living in Trebinje" - BEG and the surrounding area has almost 2,000,000 people - with many that would rather fly to an airport that has customs agents, police and a local population that will not potentially intimidate or harass.

So there should be also airport in Neum?

So Trebinje with one daily bus is going to become a new Tivat?

BEG and LJU are investing in new infrastructure. You know, the world will not end with corona, there is going to be life after it. :)

These airports started to build their expansions before corona while Trebinje airport is going to be built after it. Huge difference.

Only difference between ZAD and Trebinje is that Zadar has catchment area of 200.000 people with tourist demand, while Trebinje has only 50.000 people and nothing else.

Look at how well Maribor is doing in vicinity of Graz.

We have our own domestic airports that need attending to first.
- KVO barely has stable operations since opening while having a runway that leaves it handicapped for anything useful.
- INI is finally getting an upgrade. However, the network JU was subsidised to operate could have been better chosen.
- UZC hasnt had commercial flights since the 1990's, while having decent infrastructure in place.

In the region, OMO is actually closer to Neum compared to Trebinje. An existing airport with 0 flights to BEG. BNX couldnt sustain a daily rotation to BEG, regardless of the subsidies in place, and is down to a couple of flights per week. SJJ after over a decade still has only a daily ATR rotation to BEG, except the odd B733/A319 that jumps in and a short period JA was flying to BEG. DBV and SPU being major tourist destinations is barely a daily rotation in the peak summer period, and still those flights are not operational for a full season.

As for the marketing for Trebinje, Serbia should invest in better marketing in what it currently has. However, what we currently have is half completed projects scattered across the country screaming for investment and marketing while remaining an additional burden to the state budget. Serbia still remains as an unknown and untravelled destination, funding new airports, especially in neighbouring countries, is not going to change that.

@ nemjee

JU has decent fares to BNX thanks to government subsidies. And even with the subsidies, BNX wasnt able to sustain a daily rotation. If they want to have flights close to Neum, OMO would be a nice start and a good indication if a future Trebinje Airport would be viable.

@ 09,20

2 brand new ATR's at list price could be purchased for that money.

Excellent reply anon 15:22.

I will also be among first to fly from Belgrade to Trebinje.

LOOOL

Not good but excellent.

Last time I checked airplanes need airports to fly to.

If you try to tell us that 2 new ATR's are more valuable than one whole airport than it is useless to discuss it further.

I don't really like the fact that Serbia will be its owner, but an airport in Trebinje might actually be good for OMO. Since Croatia owns 12% of OMO, the Croat administration in Mostar has often hurt OMO by blocking the introduction of new routes, so that DBV can profit from their flights. Now, with a new airport in between (Trebinje), the Croatian administration in Mostar will lose their opportunities for hurting OMO, so DBV can profit from that.

Congrats on normal comment from you JATBEGMEL! Some people here really do not understand aviantion and demand....

How many people live in Dubrovnik and how many passengers pass through the airport? Same with Zadar or Pula

Trebinje has lower costs so it can appeal to many going to Dubrovnik and looking for a cheaper deal.

What more could be done in KVO since the airport can't take more than ATR? Launch Paris which would take 3.5 hours on YU-ALP? Seriously, some things you will read on here. Serbia has promoted itself in Turkey, China and Russia and we saw concrete results. Last year there was double digit growth in tourist arrivals, it's pretty good if you ask me.

You are missing the big picture and the whole point of all this. For Belgrade there is no difference between INI, KVO, BNX or Trebinje. It's a political move. As for OMO, JU looked at it but doesn't have the qualified pilots to operate the route due to the presence of winds/bura. That's why OU flies there as they are qualified.

Finally KVO is getting a new runway so not much can happen until then so your comment is pointless but hey at least you got the resident hater to support you.

15:22 it's about affordability. RJK is moreover destined for Western tourists and not about safety. Croatia is not really affordable and Trebinje much cheaper. It's normal you think like this.

11:12 in that time it was one country (Seerbia & Montenegro), now not (and doesn't fly)

There is far more people in Belgrade with origin from Hercegovina than people in Hercegovina. I know personally a lot of them, including my wife (Banja Luka)

Integrall already done pavement of BNX runway, a couple years ago.

Fantastic even.

JA was Air B&H, not JU which is Air Serbia.

With so many airports, Bosnia is cementing it's position becoming the leader of ex-Yu when it comes to connectivity.
Never have there been so many connected airports. Congrats! TZL remains the busiest airport so far.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has the worst connectivity in Europe after north Macedonia according to Eurocontrol with the fewest flights to hub airports.

If you followed the news you would know it's not about affordability but rather about safety. Italy and Germany are second and third most popular destinations for holidays from Serbia and neither one is really cheap, at least they are more expensive than Rijeka, that's for sure. Serbs also spend millions and millions abroad each year, who do you think fills all those flights from Belgrade?

More than that

Germany as a holiday destination? You are mixing all travel, including work travel, with holiday travel.

Greece, Montenegro, Egypt, Turkey - yes, but Germany?

1. A runway of less than 2.500 m will make it impossible for anything other than turboprop to land in Trebinje. So it makes clear that the only airline that may use this airport is JU from BEG. It means the airport cannot be intended as any competition to DBV (or in fact for any other purpose than the above-mentioned turboprop). You may want to consider why the nearby DBV has a runway of 3.300 m (in particular, given the high temperatures in the area).

2. DBV is subsidising tourist arrivals via air. I am pretty sure they would be happy if somebody else made sure further tourists arrive to Dubrovni via other airports without their subsidies. I don't think they would be against JU migrating to Trebinje, as long as tourists continue to flow to Dubrovnik.

3. Giving priority to Serbian-based tourist operators means you are intentionally cutting yourself off from international tourist market as Serbian-based tourist operators won't be able to bring foreign tourists. I am not sure this decision would be sensible.

4. Still, I think the airport is destined primarily for local people. Not questioning beauty of Trebinje (never been there), without a sea or at least a lake, it will be difficult to catch attention of potential visitors, given how competive the tourism market is.

Well, Montenegrin coast, notably Herceg Novi, will at last be able to be served by night flights.

Bravo majstore, pozdravi od mene tvoju Hercegovku iz Banja Luke OMG