One carrier in talks over Sarajevo Airport base


One carrier has answered Sarajevo Airport’s recent public call to station an aircraft in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital from 2021 and is currently in talks with the airport’s management, EX-YU Aviation News has learned. Although several airlines expressed interest, only one submitted its proposal within the prescribed timeframe of the public call. Sarajevo Airport’s acting General Manager, Alan Bajić, told EX-YU Aviation News, “We sincerely hope for a positive outcome of these negotiations and the successful stationing of an aircraft on behalf of the interested company at Sarajevo Airport”. The tender was open to any carrier that was willing to station its plane in the city between at least 2021 and 2023. 

During the first phase, the selected airline will be required to base two aircraft “with the option of growing its fleet, as Sarajevo Airport's capacity grows and other conditions are met”, the public notice said. If an agreement is reached, the selected airline will be given incentives for stationing aircraft in the city as well as additional funds depending on the number of passengers carried. The public call, which was officially launched towards the end of September, was closed on October 25. The measures are aimed at softening the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic 

Sarajevo Airport is expected to handle under 250.000 passengers this year, its slowest since 2000. At this point, a total of 232 commercial flights are expected to operate in out of Sarajevo during the first month of 2021 (both directions included), with Turkish Airlines to have the most frequencies – 64 – followed by Austrian Airlines, Flydubai, Pegasus Airlines, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines. In terms of capacity, Turkish Airlines will have the most seats on offer – 8.619 – followed by Pegasus Airlines, Flydubai, Austrian Airlines, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines. Overall, capacity will total 29.940, representing a decrease of 35.8% on January 2020. 

The full interview with Mr Bajić on how Sarajevo Airport is navigating the current Covid-19 pandemic and its plans for the future can be read tomorrow as part of the EX-YU Aviation News Premium Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    My money is on Wizz Air

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      I heard it's OU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:13

      That would be interesting. And maybe they are also the ones in talks with LJU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:20

      Who knows. They had plans to open SJJ base years ago

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:29

      OU has the U2 A319 so it makes sense.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:41

      I doubt it very much. They are losing market share in their own country, they do not have money for salaries, they did not open any base in any of announced countries during the best aviation years...simply it is still "too early" for them

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:23

      If Wizz comes to SJJ it will be the end of Tuzla

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:47

      I won't shed a year for Tuzla. Such a badly managed airport that it's crazy. They restricted Wizz for so many years now.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:02

      ^ agree

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:00

      How did Tuzla restrict Wizz for so many years, when they have a base there?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:53

      First thing first by not installing proper lighting on the runway.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous18:59

      But they have like 2 or 3 planes based there, ok.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    Finally some good news for Sarajeco!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    This could be a game changer for Sarajevo Airport

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Fingers crossed

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:08

    Knowing how things work in the Federation I would wait not only for this to happen but a few years to pass once the airline comes. I wouldn't be surprised if SJJ (read the government) makes some additional requests from them once operations start. There is a reason why SJJ is the worst managed capital city airport in Europe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:17

    Well we can now be assured Sarajevo Airport will overtake LJU next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Until Skobir is the manager of LJU, it will be overtaken by almost everyone in ex yu

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      Tuzla already passed Ljubljana!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:42

      How many passengers does Tuzla have and how many Ljubljana?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:43

      Ljubljana has more passengers this year but Tuzla had more in October and November.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:25

      I wish LJU did something similar to this.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:00

      Anon 10:25 with current management this will never happen

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:41

      LJU and INI basically tied in October and I have a feeling INI overtook them in November.

      INI: 10.586
      LJU: 10.775

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:05

      Wow, LJU really is hurting. How much of this is due to Adria bankruptcy and corona, and how much to bad management?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:07

      You had a whole topic about Ljubljana yesterday...

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:54

      Well his comment is on topic as he is comparing LJU with Bosnian airports. No need to get triggered.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous12:58

      I'm not triggered you just had the whole day to discuss it yesterday and it has nothing to do with an airline basing a plane in Sarajevo.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous14:32

      Sarajevo is in Bosnia and so is Tuzla which is overtaking LJU for the first time.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous09:56

      @11.41 how can INI overtook them with 3 weekly flights they had?

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:18

    Finally! Forget about Air Bosna's, FlyBosnia's, B&H Airlines and allow real airlines to fly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:11

      Any airline with Bosnia in its name will either go bust due to mismanagement or constant fighting with airport management in 6 months.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:21

    Sarajevo is missing so many vital links that this will be welcomed. There are no flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Rome... just to mention a few.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20

      There is a lot of potential from SJJ.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:26

    Exciting. I'm guessing this base will open in summer 2020

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:07

      Aaa no. 2021 at best.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:38

    Sarajevo Airport deserves a serious airline to open up a base. Well done on this initiative

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      This is the smartest decision the management could make.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:20

      They could really boom with any LCC.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous10:19

    Good for SJJ.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10:20

    We need more flights to Europe. Wizz Air would be a good addition

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      London, Paris, Berlin, Eindhoven, Bratislava, Baden Baden, Dortmund, Hamburg... I think these have potential to work from SJJ.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:21

    Can't wait to see who it is.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous10:24

    Let's hope for a success story

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous10:35

    what if the one airline is FlyBosna? (or what was its name)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:37

      Highly doubt it. SJJ terminated their contract because of debt.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:54

    I totally think it could be some arab gulf carrier, with smaller fleet of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:00

      It needs to be a European airline in order for it to fly European routes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:59

      Yet they can register their company/aircraft in Bosnia.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous11:07

    Let's wait and see who it is. If its an LCC then I would agree. We will see fast paced growth. If it some Balkan legacy forget it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:08

      It definitely won't be any ex-Yu national carrier.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:16

      I really hope not. All of them are struggling at the moment. Reforms, staff reductions, network cuts.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:24

      Everyone is struggling but it will be Wizz Air because they need money as much as anyone else. Just unlike them they don't have a single government that cares enough about them.

      Mind you, next summer will be a bad one. AA just announced the termination of PHL to KEF, MAN and PRG. Airlines will cut much more before they will start growing again.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous11:13

    Great news for SJJ. I think this airline is likely to be Wizzair but Ryanair cannot be ignored. Whoever comes is beneficial.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12:41

    Great news! Sarajevo and Bosnia have so much potential!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wizz cancells flights right left back straight ahead. I booked marked NEW line riga - birmingham, which they started 18.oct, an what you know, tickets are on sale but they have not done a single flight to since publishments ))) just getting money, then you will receive regret letter and in best case refund in 1-2 months. Thats best business, you sell what you dont do, and debt is paid by next stupid sheeps. Are you sheeps?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:31

      The correct plural form of "sheep", is "sheep", not "sheeps". And Ive been flying with Wizz 8 times during the pandemic to Tuzla, and no problems whatsoever.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:03

      Some peeps have had probs flying with Wizz.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:47

      Wizzair is a reliable and punctual airline. They have made Eastern Europe so affordable since 2004. Still remember them pesky and hilarious €300 RT flights to AMS or LHR. They have built bridges between the East and West and have many bases in the Balkans. Jószef Váradi is a genius. Good luck Bosnia!!

      Delete
    4. Hope they will fire all previous commentators soon, finally, and close that shining business of poor and inner angry employees + ofcourse youngs amateurs who ready to fly just to fly because mam and dad give them pocket money 😆😆😆

      Delete
    5. Anonymous00:33

      @Slk: Uhm, I flew in 2019 4 times with Emirates, 2 times with Qatar, countless times with SAS, Lufthansa, Austrian and Iberia. What about you smartass?

      Delete
    6. i am not passenger xD thanks for compliment

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:49

      I sincerely hope then you are not airline crew, because your English is really bad. If you are, I am wondering which airlines employ their staff with such poor English skills?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:28

      Play nice boys.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous21:21

    Why keep it a secret? 99.99999% Wizz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:46

      Nope, from reliable source.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous01:47

      How do you know it's not Wizz Air

      Delete
  22. Anonymous12:41

    Is it Air Serbia?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:36

    It's OU! Bravo Hrvatska!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Haha, good joke! If its OU, might as well be Montenegro Airlines :))

      Delete
  24. Anonymous18:25

    I saw on Flightradar that Xfly's CRJ900 with registration ES-ACM (in SAS livery) has flown from TLL to SJJ. Is it a charter or could it be that Nordica is the airline willing to set up the base and that they are flying down for meetings/showing the aircraft?

    If they get similar contracts in Slovenia and/or Montenegro and they link them together with regional flights to swap crew and aircraft, they might get some economies of scale. Otherwise, a single aircraft base far away from their TLL home sounds inefficient.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:28

      It's just a charter bringing the Estonian handball team for a game in Sarajevo.

      Delete

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