Lufthansa Group to launch six new routes in former Yugoslavia

The Lufthansa Group of airlines are preparing for a difficult summer season after reporting a combined loss of 6.7 billion euros in 2020. It expects for the summer to be dominated by leisure destinations as Europeans look for an escape following a long winter spent in lockdowns. Overall, Lufthansa’s airlines are prepared to deploy up to 70% of their 2019 capacity levels in the short-term. The group envisions that it will return to 90% of pre-crisis capacity levels by 2025. This summer, the group will discontinue a number of routes to the former Yugoslavia but will also launch six new services..

The below summary of its planned operations in the region is based on July's timetables. At this point, further revisions are likely.

Lufthansa

The German national carrier will reduce its operations out of Munich, suspending flights from the Bavarian capital to Sarajevo, Ljubljana and Zagreb this summer season. Services are not due to resume before October 31, at the earliest. Over the peak summer period, the airline will maintain thirteen weekly flights from Munich to Belgrade, eight weekly to Dubrovnik, two weekly to Pula, one weekly to Rijeka, eight weekly to Split, one weekly to Tivat and three weekly to Zadar. From Frankfurt, the carrier will fly double daily to Belgrade, daily to Dubrovnik, three weekly to Pula, triple daily to Ljubljana, six weekly to Split, one weekly to Tivat, four weekly to Zadar and double daily to Zagreb. Lufthansa will introduce a new service from Frankfurt to Sarajevo, which will run on a daily basis, as well as a one weekly rotation to Rijeka.

Austrian

Austrian Airlines plans to serve nine cities in the former Yugoslavia from its hub in Vienna. This includes 24 weekly rotations to Belgrade, ten weekly to Dubrovnik and Podgorica, thirteen weekly to Pristina, double daily to Sarajevo and Skopje, daily to Split and Zadar, as well as thirteen weekly to Zagreb.

Swiss

Swiss will operate flights from both Zurich and Geneva to former Yugoslav markets. From Switzerland’s largest city and its main hub, the airline will run three daily services to Belgrade and daily to Ljubljana (through its wet-lease partner Helvetic Airways). It will also introduce new flights to Sarajevo and Niš twice per week during the high season. From Geneva, Swiss will serve Pristina four times per week, while operations to Dubrovnik will resume following last year’s seasonal launch with one weekly service. The carrier will commence new summer flights between Geneva and Split, operating twice per week. Swiss’ sister company and leisure airline Edelweiss Air will run two weekly services from Zurich to Dubrovnik and Ohrid, twelve weekly to Pristina, one weekly to Pula, four weekly to Skopje, and six weekly to Split

Brussels Airlines

This summer, Brussels Airlines will operate two weekly flights to Dubrovnik, six weekly to Ljubljana, as well as one weekly rotation to Split.

Eurowings

Eurowings will have an extensive presence on the Croatian coast, as well as Pristina over the upcoming summer. The airline will fly from Stuttgart to Pula once per week, Pristina five times per week, Sarajevo, Zadar and Rijeka twice per week, daily to Split, and five weekly to Zagreb. The low cost carrier will also inaugurate a new three weekly service between Stuttgart and Belgrade. From Munich, the airline will run five weekly rotations to Pristina, while from Hamburg it will serve Pristina, Dubrovnik and Zadar once per week, Rijeka three times per week and Split six weekly. The budget airline will operate one weekly flight each between Hannover, Pristina and Split. Pristina will also be maintained from Frankfurt with three weekly flights. From Dusseldorf, the Kosovo market will be served with five weekly rotations, while services will also be maintained twice per week to Tivat. The airline plans to make a comeback in Mostar with one weekly service from Dusseldorf, while two and seven weekly flights are planned to Dubrovnik and Split respectively. The airline will also fly from Dusseldorf to Rijeka and Pula twice per week, as well as Zadar with three weekly rotations. From Dortmund it will maintain a two weekly service to Split. Out of Cologne, the carrier will operate three weekly flights to Sarajevo, Rijeka, Pula and Zadar, one weekly to Dubrovnik, daily to Split and six weekly to Zagreb. Finally, Eurowings will fly out of Berlin to Dubrovnik once per week, while services from the German capital to Rijeka and Split will operate twice weekly.