Ljubljana Airport eyes charters for travel recovery


Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport is anticipating increased demand for charter flights to drive its recovery. It follows the first winter leisure service from the Slovenian capital this past Saturday on which 160 passengers flew to Teneriffe on the Canary Islands with Trade Air. Ljubljana Airport’s General Manager, Zmago Skobir, said there are plans for additional charter flights to be operated, noting there is strong interest for destinations such as Dubai, the Seychelles, Maldives, Zanzibar, the Caribbean but also Sarajevo due to nearby ski resorts. Ljubljana Airport is looking to offer more charter destinations that were historically popular with travellers in the 1980s.

Several Slovenian tour operators joined forces and managed to organise the charter to the Canary Islands in a short period of time, presenting a model for future cooperation. The Kompas travel agency said tickets to Tenerife were sold out within days, noting that demand was “enormous”. “There is currently a great deal of interest, especially to warmer destinations like the Canary Islands, Zanzibar and the Maldives, with passengers choosing to book their holidays at the last minute”, Kompas said. It comes despite Slovenians being warned against non-essential travel. During the coming summer, Tunisair will launch regular charter flights from Ljubljana to Djerba and Monastir, while SunExpress will commence services from the Slovenian capital to Antalya in Turkey.

Demand for scheduled flights is expected to take much longer to recover. Yesterday, Transavia delayed its service resumption between Amsterdam and Ljubljana by a month until late April, while easyJet has deferred the reestablishment of its flights from London Gatwick from late March until May 1. Furthermore, its planned new service from Luton to the Slovenian capital has also been postponed until May. Wizz Air has also pushed back the resumption of its Charleroi - Ljubljana service for April 30, while Brussels Airlines has delayed its return onto the Slovenian market until May 1. On the other hand, the Slovenian Minister for Infrastructure, Jernej Vrtovec, met with representatives from LOT Polish Airlines in Warsaw on Monday to discussed the carrier’s return to Ljubljana, which has been slated for March 28.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:08

    This just goes to show that there is a lot of pent up demand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Yes, but for charter flights and for destinations that do not require any special conditions for entry

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:07

      Still, one shpuld capiatlize on that. i.e Ljubljana Airport.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:09

    Didn't Adria fly to the Seychelles in the 90s? :D would be exotic to have some charters to there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      They did. One of the most odd flights

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:16

      In 1990, an Adria Airways A320 flew non-stop from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean to Athens in Greece setting a new record for the longest flight ever made by the A320 at that time.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:16

      Had no idea. Really interesting

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:44

      Does anyone know the routing of these Adria Seychelles flights. It was via Athens?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:02

      I think @Pozdrav iz Rijeke might know. I remember him talking about these flights a while ago.

      Delete
    6. Sorry, don't have detailed information. I know flights were operating for several years, it was charter flight, not scheduled, but operated regularly, once weekly. Also I remember Djibouti was technical stop, however it seems stretched to fly nonstop on the route between LJU and Djibouti, especially way back. Maybe tech stops were both Athens and Djibouti, but then why 2 stops if you can make it with just one? Maybe Djibouti eastwards and ATH westwards. Maybe someone who knows better will explain

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:08

      Such an odd route. Especially for 1990 Yugoslavia.

      Delete
    8. Why would it be strange for Yugoslavia, country with open borders and living standards better than half of the Europe (Eastern and Southern)?Do you know anything about Yugoslavia 1970-1990?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous21:32

      Unfortunately it fell apart

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:10

    So in the end, Trade Air may be the airline that finally links Ljubljana to the Gulf ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:09

      The route can't survive on P2P demand alone. So for these flights to work it will have to be a Gulf airline. The only destination in the Gulf I would imagine there is some P2P demand is Dubai.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:14

    Kind of odd that the minister is meeting with LOT representatives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Maybe they want to establish a base in LJU or its about the future national airline.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      That would be nice

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      I highly doubt it. The minister was in Poland and met with managers from several companies. I think it was just some quick talks, nothing else.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:21

      09:15 That must surely be the explanation

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:39

      Well I just find it odd that a minister would meet with airline executives about the resumption of flights (which are planned anyway). So that can be my only explanation.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:10

      It would be nice if they are considering a base in LJU but somehow I doubt it.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:17

    Very sad about all the delays. Chartres alone won't allow for any meaningful recovery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:11

      Better to have some flights then none all.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:17

    Good news for Trade Air

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:12

      What does the plane that is permanently based in Ljubljana do? This flight to Canary Islands must have been the first charter in ages.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:19

    If we had a national airline, all of these flights could have been operated by it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      At least the money would stay in Slovenia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:33

      Adria flew a lot of charters.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:34

      National carrier for charters... What's next, national carrier doing ACMI?

      Oh, wait...

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:13

      Yes national carriers fly charters. I don't see anything odd about that.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:23

    They should have done more to attract Fly Dubai which has launched several new routes in the last few months, meaning they are looking at any opportunity they can get.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:14

      I don't think there is anything that can be done. FZ has looked at Ljubljana and probably realized the route won't be commercially viable, based on their cost structure.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:28

    160 pax is pretty good

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      How long is this tour group on the Cabary islands?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      *canary

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      7 days

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:14

      Lucky them :D

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:33

    So maybe there will be Ljubljana-Sarajevo charters?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      Well Jahorina is one of the few ski centres open in Europe.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:16

      That would be cool. Once upon a time not so long ago there were double daily flights from Ljubljana to Sarajevo.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:35

    Will these people have to be quarantined when they come back?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      I think all do a test on arrival in LJU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:16

      No

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:37

    In my opinion this is quite sad :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:39

      Better something than nothing

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:43

    Last night there was a flight to Tallinn, today to Barcelona. Are these charters?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      Which airlines?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:48

      Tallinn - Trade Air
      Batlrceloma - Enter Air

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:50

      These are not tourist charters

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:57

      There is also a flight from Stansted.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:57

      The Barcelona flight is not Enter is, it is Air Nostrum.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:58

      The Stansted flight is Enter Air.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:58

      Vaccines?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:16

      It is sports PAX. Going to competitions.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:08

    Extremely strong demand to the warm destinations. QR will be sending their Dreamliner to OTP & SOF by the end of the month because of demand to Asia in countries with less restrictions.
    No surprise that Slovenes want the same.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:15

      But LJU could net QR even at the best of times. I doubt it will be any better now.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:15

      Yes, there seems to be demand. BEG is also getting upgraded to A321 at the start of March for a few flights.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:14

    If they are relying on charters things won't get better any time soon.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:26

    I seem to see easyJet having flights listed for March 30 for both routes to LJU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:30

      Yes but click on those flights and you will see it says "No flights" until May.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:33

      Ah true :( that's unfortunate.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:36

      Considering easy jet was one of the few airlines that got no incentives from the Slovenian government for flying to Slovenia, I don't blame them.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:34

    What are the most popular holiday destinations for Slovenians in general?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:36

      Croatia

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:38

      Interestingly charters (or scheduled flights) to Croatia seem to have failed from Ljubljana. Last year Trade Air had to cancel Dubrovnik and in 2019 I remember Adria cancelling Dubrovnik and Brac.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:50

      Because most go by car to Croatia.

      Delete
    4. With charters for sure Greece. But with cars Croatia as guys said before me.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:25

      For sure we love Greek islands - perfection!

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:35

    They should be eyeing LCCs. The recovery would be much faster.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:45

      +100

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:46

      Don't count it.

      Transavia, Wizz and easy are constantly delaying their return to LJU. They have no inventive to fly here.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:31

      Nah, LCC's carry holidaymakers mostly. And Slovenia just isn't in the picture enough as a holiday destination for the rest of Europe. And most LCC's fly B738 or A320, which are just too big to operate a base in LJU. I think as an airline, you do need business passengers and/or connecting passengers in order to be able to operate lucrative flights to LJU. So I think the only viable LCC's to create a base at LJU are EasyJet for their focus on business passengers and Volotea for their plane size and their Mediterranean network. The only other viable carriers are network carriers and the subsidiaries that participate in their network.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:40

    Would be nice for them to open the new terminal this summer with a departure to Seychelles :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:46

      Let's just hope we have some scheduled flight by then.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:45

    So many airlines have launched flights to Dubai in the past few months, Belavia being the latest because entry restrictions are relaxed and the cirus situation is under control. I'm surprised tour operators have not worked with Trade Air to get some regular charters to there. I'm not going to even mention LJU/Fraport not trying to attract Flydubai. They even started flights to Grozny!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:55

    Well there is a plan for Slovenia to establish a charter airline
    https://www.delo.si/gospodarstvo/novice/slovenija-je-dobila-novo-letalsko-druzbo/

    Personally, I'm very skeptical it will happen at all but you never know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:57

      Me too, not holding my breath. Sounds nice but I don't think it will become a reality.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:10

      I see no difference between them and Trade Air.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:25

      It's the same, that "new" airlines clearly stated that they will focus on charter and ACMI. So that's not solving Slovenia's issue with connectivity..

      Delete
  22. Anonymous11:09

    Does Trade Air have a plane based in LJU?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:41

      Yes, 9A-BTH, sometimes also BTI.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:55

      I've flown with Luka in November. His is not generous with leg space :)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:02

      I'm really wondering what the cabin is like on these planes. You didn't happen to make a photo? :)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:32

      I'm curious too

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:33

      I love their livery :)

      Delete
    6. Anonymous13:45

      Pretty bland :) I'm 186cm fyi.

      - https://i.imgur.com/AWiTXJA.jpg
      - https://i.imgur.com/MlQe0SZ.jpg
      - https://i.imgur.com/9Nya98v.jpg
      - https://i.imgur.com/E7KNDIo.jpg

      The pilots were Slovenians.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:52

      Thanks for the photos! You should do a trip report :)

      Delete
  23. Anonymous13:29

    Slovenia needs Aviogenex :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:34

      Used to be very busy at LJU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:34

      It needs Inex Adria ;)

      Delete
    3. I think best to say we all need JAT :) :) :)

      Delete
  24. Anonymous13:32

    No charters to Egypt?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:35

      Surprising since they don't have many entry restrictions and it's cheap

      Delete
    2. The problem is to come back from Egypt since it is 3rd country for Slovenia and it complicate things.

      Delete
    3. FlyEgypt starting april 28.
      LJU - BUD FEG3104; 17:30 - 18:45
      BUD - HRG FEG3104; 19:30 - 23:15
      HRG - LJU FEG3103; 12:45 - 16:45

      Delete
  25. Anonymous13:33

    So it seems people are allowed to travel, despite what people wrote on here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:58

      Yes, to select destination and by complaining with a lot of rules. We won't see any kind of mass travel until the restrictions are lifted.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:45

      But the places listed in the article mostly have no other restrictions other than PCR test which seems compulsory everywhere nowadays and is easy to get at Ljubljana Airport.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous18:06

    I'm not surprised about the interest for charters. There is a lot of pent up demand. easyJet has seen UK bookings surge within hours of the UK PM setting out his roadmap for travel. Flight bookings for the summer season increased by 337% & holidays bookings rose 630%. It will be the same everywhere else as soon as people are let out of prison.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:46

      We can only hope that the economic impact of this crisis won't be as big as predicted so people will have enough money to travel.

      Delete

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