Wizz Air to launch Skopje - Abu Dhabi flights


The Macedonian Minister for Transport and Communications, Blagoj Bočvarski, has announced that Wizz Air will commence operations between Skopje and Abu Dhabi. The Minister said ticket sales would likely commence this month. The new route would mark the first time the two cities have been linked through a scheduled nonstop air service. It would face no direct competition on the route. Flydubai, based in the neighbouring Emirate of Dubai, suspended operations to the Macedonian capital at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with plans to resume the service on March 29, 2021 with two weekly rotations. Mr Bočvarski said the agreement with Wizz Air for the launch of the new Abu Dhabi route has already been signed. 

Wizz Air recently established a subsidiary in Abu Dhabi. Although the carrier is operationally ready, its launch has been delayed time and again due to strict entry conditions currently enforced by authorities in Abu Dhabi. Foreigners travelling to the Emirate must be tested for Covid-19 at the airport and then undergo fourteen days of mandatory self-isolation, which is tracked through a medically approved wristband given to each arriving passenger. As a result, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi now plans to launch operations on January 15, with flights to Yerevan, Sofia, Larnaca, Alexandria, Kutaisi, Athens, Budapest, Katowice, Bucharest, Cluj and Odesa now on sale. Further launch date changes remain possible. 

Prior to the pandemic, in February, Wizz Air shortlisted Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro as potential markets that could be served from Abu Dhabi. Skopje currently has no flights to the Middle East. In addition to Flydubai’s temporary suspension, Qatar Airways has also cancelled its service from Doha to the Macedonian capital until March 29. Mr Bočvarski said the government would continue to subsidise and facilitate low cost operations to the country, with 1.1 million euros in funds set aside for the flights in 2021.

Skopje - Dubai - Skopje passenger numbers

201720182019
26.26228.76724.270

Skopje - Doha - Skopje passenger numbers

201720182019
/29.87429.856



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    If they signed an agreement with them for the route then it can only mean they are getting some subsidies for it?

    I guess it's bye bye FZ.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:03

      Why would bye be bye bye FZ. FZ provides connections onto Emirates. Wizz Air won't provide any connections.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:06

      This route is definitely subsidised.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:07

      and there are no subsidies.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:08

      last anon +1

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:09

      same like Salzburg

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:09

      So what agreement are they signing with them? All newly introduced routes got subsidies so why not this one?

      FZ carries a lot of locals as well. These will now shift to Wizz.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:23

      he didnt say they signed an agreement with the gov so chil out with your subsidies dreams or nightmares.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:06

      He literally said that. You are the one who needs to take a chill pill.

      From the article: Mr Bočvarski said the agreement with Wizz Air for the launch of the new Abu Dhabi route has already been signed.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:17

      can you launch a flight without signing an agreement?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous06:30

      Of course. Usually airlines have agreements with the airport where general terms and conditions are defined. When they launch a new route those apply. Here they are signing it with the government which is a whole different story.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Let's see how this works out. I doubt the P2P market is very big between Abu Dhabi and Skopje.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      its low cost. they create a market!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      There is only so much they can create. Don't forget this is an almost five hour flight with a lot of seats to sell.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Do Macedonians need visa to enter UAE?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      Nope

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:09

      Yes they do.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_citizens_of_North_Macedonia

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    Quite ambitious plan. With low demand to DXB and DOH, wonder how a P2P route would work.
    Why not LJU or ZAG? Both need more Gulf connections.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      do you know how low were ticket prices to DXb with them??

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      There is almost no O&D demand between ZAG and Dubai. Only a route with transfers can work. Air Arabia would make more sense than Wizz.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:15

      And if I just remember introducing DXB-ZAG by EK...

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:20

      and why would Air Arabia make more sense? o_0 (especially in Hrvatska *giggle*)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:22

      Because it offers connection with Etihad through Abu Dhabi.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:47

      I really wonder what it means "especially in Hrvatska"? :-)

      Delete
    7. Anonymous06:31

      He probably believes they are too good to be served by an LCC from the Middle East.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    I never trust politicians when they announce new routes. I will wait for the official announcement.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:08

    Great addition!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    this will be very popular with people from neighbouring countries as well

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      If you mean Kosova and Albania, yes. This is not the case for Serbia and Bulgaria.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:18

      Why? All neighboring countries have their own Dubai flights. BEG has them and so do SOF and SKG.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:10

    W6 will also run three charters each way SKP - OTP in June for Euro 2021

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      Seats are also being sold on their website.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:10

    So SKP is going to get AUH flights yet here we are in Ljubljana, promised each year how Gulf flights are right around the corner for us but they never seem to happen. Good job for SKP!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      SKP will not be the only airport they will launch in the newest expansion so you can stil hope but the said something like they won*t fly to VIE because its too far away for their A321 ...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      Yeah, we love LJU management. I wonder if they will ever reduce costs.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      I think VIE is just an excuse. FZ flies or used to fly to BTS which is right next door. If B737 can make it then sure an A321neo can as well.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:26

      thats the case with FZ. W6 must produce at lower costs then FZ

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:26

      its not a question of range

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:07

      It's a question of competition. Vienna is not a poor market which is why EK send the B77W and A380. Imagine Wizz competing with that.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:16

      Imagine Wizzair offering 150€ return vs. 500-600€ with EK?

      thatswhy Ryanair and easyjet are big in WEST Europe because its not a poor market!

      Delete
    8. Anonymous06:32

      There is also a reason why legacy carriers did not go bust like they did in the old communist east. People can afford to pay €600 to fly to Dubai or Chicago or Singapore. That's why airlines like Norwegian collapsed on the long-haul market.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:12

    This is how politicians killed some of the last piece of connectivity in SKP.
    I doubt FZ will return in this case.

    Really sad

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      lol

      politicians have nothing to do with it dude. Its the airline that wants to fly.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      dude or dudette, this route is clearly subsidized

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      @9.21 lol sure

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:25

      If you read the article, this route has everything to do with politicians because they are the ones who have to sign the agreement with Wizz Air. What we do not know is what will be included in it.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:25

      Yea, sure... "politicians have nothing to do", dont be ridiculous.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:31

      and again they SIGNED WITH THE AIRPORT not with that Bocvarski

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:46

      It may be a political route as well such as BUD-NQZ.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:48

      Political route between MKD and UAE?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:04

      political, read subsidized

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:08

      Actually politicians are smart here. Look at the mess Wizz made in Tirana. So much fanfare and celebration, three A320s, dozens of new routes... a few weeks later almost all of them were moved to spring. Same with Vienna, until 12.12 they have NO flights from there.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:28

      No, this comparison is bullocks.
      Here we are taking about an event with a political presence, we don't see Varadi or any press from W6 which is a clear indication that this is a political and subsidised route. Nothing wrong about it, though.

      Delete
    12. Nebuloza10:35

      @10.28 please give it up for once mr.notorious

      Delete
    13. Anonymous10:36

      "event with a political present" :D :D made my day!!

      Delete
    14. Anonymous06:35

      Nebuloza, can you for once come and present a valid argument in stead of just calling people mr. notorious? Your comments make absolutely no sense since all new W6 routes from SKP were subsidized including Turku, Larnaca and so on. Why would AUH be any different?

      Delete
    15. Anonymous10:55

      whining at the end of 2020 that some airport is subsidizing flights is like being stuck in the last century

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:12

    wow nice!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:14

    Hmmm, W6 was delaying AUH several times for the existing destinations. Flights are to resume in mid-January but it's still doubtful. I don't think W6 will be successful in AUH.
    EK/FZ already well covered Europe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      SMFH . delaying because of the pandemic

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      It says in the article why they are being delayed.

      "Although the carrier is operationally ready, its launch has been delayed time and again due to strict entry conditions currently enforced by authorities in Abu Dhabi. Foreigners travelling to the Emirate must be tested for Covid-19 at the airport and then undergo fourteen days of mandatory self-isolation, which is tracked through a medically approved wristband given to each arriving passenger."

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:25

      Meanwhile Air Arabia has been expanding and launching new flights from AUH, more recently they introduced flights to Oman.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:29

      Yes, the difference is that Air Arabia is launching flights within the GCC and Middle East where there are fewer entry restrictions and massive expatriate communities.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:29

      When I say fewer restrictions, I mean fewer for citizens/residents of UAE.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:09

      That's because Air Arabia is more realistic. Wizz has illusions about their global importance. That's why they will fail like they failed in almost all of their newly launched bases. Even Oslo is scaled back.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:22

      well most of their ExYu and none of their SKP routes failed so far so they better keep looking at this part of the world

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:30

      Because they have a 5 year paid agreement . The airport and the airline.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:34

      @10.30 utter fake news

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:49

      Ok, not 5 but 3.

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/11/macedonia-to-invest-17-million-in.html?m=1

      Delete
    11. Anonymous11:11

      Dude this is Wizz Abu Dhabi

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:20

    Which airport in ex-Yu has the best connectivity with UAE?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      At the moment it's BEG as it has FZ and soon EY will be back. FZ also increased BEG to 5 weekly this December.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      Belgrade and Sarajevo are currently the only ex-Yu cities with flights to the UAE.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:26

      Thank you

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:24

    Wow great!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:43

    Wizz knows it all: the geographical position of SKP is a winning formula for them. Even if a route seems thin at first they know they can get additional pax from anywhere in that region (Tirana-Pristina-Nis) to make it work and get popular. count newly created lowcost inbound traffic from the Emirates and you got it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:38

      SKP offering subsidies is a winning formula for them

      Delete
    2. sound of a broken record15:24

      @13.38 Yawn!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous06:36

      It's not a broken record if the tune it sings is true. LCA, TKU as well as the last round of expansion were all subsidized by the government.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:43

      a winning formula is a winning formula

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:21

      Exactly, no one is doubting that. But people are acting like this is some well studied super strategic route from Wizz lol. They're using every subsidy opportunity they can get

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:53

    I think Skopje will work. it not only serves the Macedonian market. due to its location it basically can serve everything from Tirana to Nis

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:54

    Although Flydubai and Qatar have not had so much success, I think Wizz would be different due to brand visibility in Macedonia and the fact that they have a relatively large base in Skopje.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:57

    great! now please St.Petersburgh (once this pandemic goes down)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:02

      Or Russia in general

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:06

      yes but Wizz can only offer LED for the time being

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:16

      True because Russia let European LCCs fly from any other European country to LED. Other airports are under bilateral air agreements.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous22:13

      Macedonia is included in the list of allowed airports that LCCs can operate, which means that they can fly between LED and Skopje. Very likely that soon there will be a flight between SKP and LED once the pandemic goes down. Come on, Wizz!!! We can't wait.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:01

    Wizz flew to Dubai sometimes for €20-30. With those sort of prices they could easily fill a plane from SKP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:07

      thats what im talking about!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      wow that's cheap

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:06

    Will Wizz offer the possibility of connecting flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      No, you can buy two separate tickets.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous11:36

    I'm really surprised by Wizz Air with this decision to open base in Abu Dhabi. Hope it works out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:41

      It's smart that they got the local government to splash out money for it (with 51% ownership).

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:47

      Wouldn't be Wizz if it were any other way.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous11:39

    Is there any plans for wizz to fly in some Asian cities from AUH? India?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:48

      Varadi said in some interview that there is a possibility for them to serve India.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:06

      Without expansion on the east (India, Kazakhstan,Thailand, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia) I really dont see reason to open wizz AUH base.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:10

      As if anybody needs them there.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous19:15

      You would be surprised.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous15:04

    Wondering if this will be a red eye

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:15

      I think the majority of their Europe to Dubai flights were.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous15:04

    What sort of frequencies can we expect?

    ReplyDelete
  25. With no any connection from AUH this is mission impossible

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:14

      What do you mean?

      Delete
  26. I prefer eastern europe ex sssr expansion over middle east

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous20:59

    "Foreigners travelling to the Emirate must be tested for Covid-19 at the airport and then undergo fourteen days of mandatory self-isolation, which is tracked through a medically approved wristband given to each arriving passenger."

    The world has gone mad

    ReplyDelete

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