Fresh calls for new Slovenian national carrier


The former Slovenian Prime Minister, Alenka Bratušek, who was the Minister for Infrastructure at the time flag carrier Adria Airways declared bankruptcy in September 2019, has said she would establish a new national airline - Air Slovenia - if her party were to be part of the next government. The campaign promise comes just five months ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections. The European Union yesterday confirmed that Slovenia saw the biggest drop in passenger numbers during 2020 among its 27-member states, as it was impacted both by the coronavirus pandemic and Adria’s demise. Its passenger numbers tumbled 83% year-on-year followed by Slovakia and Croatia.

Ms Bratušek previously said she repeatedly warned against the sale of Adria Airways to the German capital fund 4K Invest, noting that the then government of Slovenia should have found a strategic partner within the aviation industry that would have ensured the long-term existence and development of the carrier. Key people at 4K Invest are under investigation over their role in Adria’s collapse and are accused of fraud and theft. However, it was during Ms Bratušek’s reign as Prime Minister that Adria was listed among fifteen state-owned companies for privatisation. The current government recently said it was still looking into ways to fill the void left by Adria. Its attempt to set up a new national carrier using European Union Covid-19 recovery funds were dropped earlier this year following the block’s objections.

Since Adria Airways’ bankruptcy, a number of routes served by the airline in its final year have not been restored from the Slovenian capital. These include Copenhagen, Prague, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Tirana and Vienna. Ljubljana Airport had previously maintained the position that the establishment of a new national airline would be too costly, however, the airport’s new General Manager, Babet Stapell, said over the weekend, “We will support any solution that is sustainable and improves connectivity”. The Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, said, “If we want to have better air connectivity in Slovenia, we will have to do something in this sector and find a way forward to enable progress, in cooperation with a private stakeholder. Currently, we do not have a national carrier, and air traffic is severely affected by the pandemic”.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    Too late for new national airline now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      Why to late? timing is actually perfect! I am just afraid that this statements as one of per-election which never happen then...

      Delete
    2. I think it might be too late as well. Many of the people who previously worked for Adria have moved to other airlines and jobs. I feel bad for Slovenia. It used to be a shining example of progress and prosperity in the region. However, over the last decade or so, it has lost its direction. The current PM is another wannabe Trumper and establishing of a new airline is just one of many divisive topics the country can't agree on.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    Ironic that people who desreoyed Adria are now the first ones that want a new airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      I would even forgive her if she establish Air Slovenia. But unfortunately there are not many chances this is gonna happen...

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:06

    So many routes that were previously served remain without an airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Only CDG/SVO are fully covered, partially FRA and that's it...all others remained unserved...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      Well Zurich and Brussels have also been covered.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      With few flights per week and even those flights are in the middle of the day so you can't connect to any further flights at BRU/ZRH. So I don't agree that they are covered at all..

      Delete
    4. Don't forget MUC too. LJU has lost a lot of connectivity, especially when it comes to flying outside Europe. During Adria times, you could connect from North America via multiple hubs such as CPH, ZRH, FRA, MUC, VIE, BRU and even AMS and CDG. If you try booking now, the only viable option with normal connection times is FRA.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:07

    Fully support this. Hope it happens.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Matt Shatt Tampa FL09:08

    Elections are coming!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:08

    Slovenia needs a new national airline ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      That was obvious from September 2019!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:12

    This would be too expensive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      I think it costs Slovenia more not having a national airline.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:14

      100 mio for 4-5 aircrafts right? :)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:05

      It's an investment that is probably not seen in direct returns. So it all depends how they're planning to position the new airline and who is it going to serve. Will it have good impact on tourism & hotels being busier, will there be more business investments made due to better connectivity? Not to mention there's also loss in half of Slovenia traveling to Trieste/Zagreb/Venice to catch flights - it's called opportunistic cost - instead of keeping flight customers in Slovenia we let them spend their available budget outside of Slovenia (that is actually an expense for country). Don't just look at investment & direct returns and shout about how it's too expensive - Bigger picture is important here.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:13

    Well like it was reported recently, this is the best time to establish a startup.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:15

    How come Austrian never started VIE-LJU like the rest of the LH group. Makes no sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      Who's the rest of LH group? SN/LX with few flights per week? And even those flight are in the middle of the day so you can't connect anything from BRU/ZRH.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      But still they started flying while there is no Austrian at all. Just wondering is there a particular reason.

      Delete
    3. I guess you need a 50 seater for LJU-VIE route, max 70. OS doesnt have that

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:22

    Are they part of current government?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:23

    Horrendously horrible livery, imo. What is this? Why not stick to the Slavic and Balkan colours? This sounds like Pragusa or whatever their name was. Slovenia is in a heavy aviation crisis, that's for sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      They can put monkey's a** on that livery if you ask me. It's more important that they actually establish national carrier and we put Slovenia back where it belongs!

      Delete
    2. Looks like it's copied from their National Tourism Board. They use something similar like "I feel sLOVEnia" and those green colors in their campaign of promoting the country.

      Delete
    3. +1 That livery looks dreadful

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:39

    Fingers crossed.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:58

    Bad idea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:17

      It's much better to let market solve all the problems itself. that was very good idea after JP demise...

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:59

    Whatever they do, it will fail ... or will be heavily subsidized in order to survive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      And which airlines is receiving subsidies? at least they have connectivity / passengers...we could just close airport and it would be the same as it is now.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:59

    Here we go again

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:04

    let's just forget about it...we are talking here about same people that are responsible for collapse of Adria :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      4k was responsible for demise of JP and I doubt they are participating in this project.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:04

    What was the point of closing Adria then? Better to have given money and let the company stay afloat. Now you have to secure new leases, staff, IATA desingation etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:05

      It would cost 100m just to pay off Adria's debt. Plus a large amount for it to survive during 2020.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:10

      They really should have just kept Adria, kicked out 4K and found a partner.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:16

      Who would invest in a small airline with 100m debt and zero track record of ever making profit?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:18

      And who would cover 100m+ debts?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:05

      Gouverment, you idi*t. Like croatia has financial support and air serbia. She killed adria and belive me if anyone is doing airline she shouldn't.

      Nothing will happen with this idea anyway :/

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:05

    Slovenia as a small market needs a national airline that will operate with small profit or even small loss. If they want to have good connectivity and not only most profitable routes (that have already been filled with LH, SN, LX) they need to set a national airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09

      PSO is a much more economical way of having necessary, but unprofitable routes.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:19

      We saw huge interest and improvement when tender was published! #sarcasmOFF

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:29

      Ah, the unicorn, national airline in a small market that operates with a small profit or a small loss.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous07:39

      Ah, let's leave it as it is, market will take of itself! When we come to 2019 figures (which were already very low due to JP demise) other ex-yu airports will already have direct flights to Moon...

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:05

    i hope Šarec and Bratušek won't get another chance of screwing air connectivity again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      can it be more screwed than it is now? It can't! and this government did not do anything to improve connectivity!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:07

      Hahahahahaha, yes I agree, but šarec and bratuškova killed adria.


      Who didn't want to pay debt, who sold adria, who said it's not worth it.

      They said and they won't do nothing as soon as they will be voted they will do nothing or the will just steal all of money.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:09

    Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:09

    Very expensive idea with uncertain return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      We are paying much more for lack of connectivity. Those 5 mio per year is drop in ocean compared to situation as we have it now

      Delete
  22. Anonymous10:09

    I don't think it is such a bad idea.

    ReplyDelete
  23. End here we go again…

    ReplyDelete
  24. First she sells Adria for pennies and then she wants to set up a new carrier?!! Does she think it costs 100k to set up an airline or what??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      it does not cost 100k but it does not cost 100m either..

      Delete
    2. Yeah well she still doesn’t know how to handle money

      Delete
  25. Anonymous10:17

    Hope they set up the new company on some healthy foundations and I wish it much luck in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous10:17

    Very good idea, all balkan airlines have to be government owned, since their markets are too small for them to ever be profitable, so tax payers will either subsidize a loosing strategic airline or LCC flights. But each country needs a national airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:24

      Of course they need it, just check what happened with Slovenia in two years. From one of the busiest airport in Ex-yu region we are not even in top 10 anymore. Disaster!

      Delete
  27. Anonymous10:18

    I would love if they would have this logo :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Me too :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:07

      Adria was a better name in my opinion.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous10:23

    totally supporting this!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous10:27

    The saga continues.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous10:28

    Surprise Surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous10:30

    Why doesn't Slovenia just do what Macedonia did? Invest 2 million per year into Wizz Air to open a base and launch routes. It would be much more beneficial for the public. It has already been confirmed that Wizz Air submitted an offer to the government but were rejected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:53

      Because Slovenia would need to pay much more per seat as Macedonia do. Main reason is that Macedonia (and Kosovo as huge percent of Wizz pax is from Kosovo) as itself is country created for Wizz needs. They have huge amount of gastoz around EU and country as itself offers great tourist attraction. Slovenia does not have gastoz and their tourist potential is very limited. In my opinion Wizz would fly to SKP even without those subsidies, of course with less capacity but still they would be present.
      And don't forget that most Macedonians have huge issues with finding suitable flights to major EU hubs (FRA/ZRH/MUC/BRU/VIE/CDG) so they connectivity is far away from perfect.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:10

      North Macedonia has a higher Albanian population and diaspora. That helps them enjoy flights similar to Pristina. Also 120k people have a Bulgarian passport and it is very easy to travel in Europe.

      Delete
    3. Slovenia and Macedonia are two very different markets.First of all, the size of population and the catchment area of each airport. The entire Slovenia has about 2 mil people and so many alternative airports people can easily reach just outside the border (TRS, VCE, ZAG, VIE and even MXP). The only viable alternative to SKP is PRN. Secondly, the type of passengers in Slovenia consist mostly of tourists and business travelers while in Macedonia, it is primarily VFR. Serving Slovenia with A320 or B737 is too much capacity and that's why low-cost carriers can't be so efficient here. At least not until Slovenia decides what it wants to do with its tourism. They have great potential there to attract even more visitors. However, they seem not to be sure whether they really want all that mass tourism. Even before the pandemic, some of the places like Bled, Ljubljana, Kranjska Gora, Piran, Postojnska Caves felt overcrowded and overpriced. There was just way too much traffic and insufficient infrastructure to accommodate the demand. Like I said, the potential is there. However, Slovenia has to decide if they want to remain small and far away from tourist asses or go big and bold and build needed infrastructure (parking facilities, LJU air connectivity, better road connections with CRO such as highway to Rijeka, reducing border-crossing times with Croatia, etc.).

      Delete
    4. Sorry, I meant tourist masses not asses lol

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:53

      Sam:"At least not until Slovenia decides what it wants to do with its tourism." - i guess only mass tourism counts for you? don't forget it is second most visited ex-yu country.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:56

      "better road connections with CRO" - slovenia has second biggest highway network compared to country size. why would a road to rijeka increase income from tourism in slovenia?

      Delete
    7. I am not disputing that Slovenia is the 2nd most visited place in ex YU. It is a beautiful country and it can go even higher if they expand tourist facilities and improve connectivity for people to come or transit through be it to Croatia, Italy or Albania. Let’s be honest, Slovenia never prioritized connectivity with Croatia. While most traffic in the country goes North-South (Austria to Croatia), Slovenians were prioritizing every other direction. It took them forever to build the last stretch of highway connecting LJU and ZAG and even that wouldn’t bee finished if it weren’t pushed by EU. Additionally, after long delays they just recently started building the 2nd Karavanke tunnel. Keep in mind that Austrians already finished it, while the Slovenian side is delayed once again. Slovenians also never took the initiative to build the remaining stretch of highway to connect Ljubljana with Rijeka. Croatia already built the highway from Rijeka all the way up to the Slovenian border years ago. Slovenia would have to build less than 40 km of highway from Postojna to the border, but apparently, that would benefit Croatia only. Isn’t the whole point of being part of EU to have good connections with your neighbors and making the flow of goods and people more efficient? You can’t complain about tourists creating traffic jams and paralyzing border crossings and yet not doing anything about it. I know Croatia is not an angel either but both countries are part of the EU and should be working together for the greater good and the generations to come.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous07:11

      "While most traffic in the country goes North-South (Austria to Croatia)" - maybe in summer definitely not every day. because we built highways for us and our daily needs they are full everyday and not just in summer season.

      It took them forever to build the last stretch of highway connecting LJU and ZAG" - this is nothing else but a lie, on a main highway cross last part being built was between Kranj - Jesenice (Peračica tunnel), definitely not Ljubljana - Zagreb. Maybe you are talking about Zagreb - Maribor?

      "Slovenians also never took the initiative to build the remaining stretch of highway to connect Ljubljana with Rijeka. Croatia already built the highway from Rijeka all the way up to the Slovenian border years ago." - another lie. DARS in planning this highway, main problem is proximity with Škocjan cave which is under Unesco and at the moment traffic there is too low to support full highway. that's why it's not top priority (3rd axis is main priority - more than a billion worth project)

      "You can’t complain about tourists creating traffic jams and paralyzing border crossings and yet not doing anything about it". - because there is a boarder control, not because there is no highway. traffic jams are often also on highways. it will change when Croatia is part of schengen.

      on the other hand, we are building a highway from Novo Mesto to Metlika which will be connected to croatian highway network. Today there are 2 highway links to Croatia, 2 to Italy, 2 to Austria and 1 to Hungary. In near future there will be 5 or even 6 to Croatia (as i said new one at Metlika, might get extended to Vinica, new from Postojna and new from Koper). All this is planned and confirmed and it will be build in the future but when traffic volumes will be high enough through out the year and not just in summer. while other countries will stay at 2 or even just one link (ok, Austria might get one more).

      other thing that was top priority in past years was normal flow of traffic. no more stopping for cars nor trucks. everything electronic, no more stickers, they removed all obstacles from the old system etc. when you compare highway network to other Ex-yu countries it is definitely the most advanced and the most profitable per kilometre.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous10:40

    The more time passes the less of a possibility there is to establish a flag carrier.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous10:41

    I see opinions are quite divided here. I'm wondering what does the general public feels in Slovenia? Should there be a national airline?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:46

      I believe that majority is against that, but on other hand majority is as well against many infrastructure projects which are crucial for Slovenian government. And I believe that public opinion is more or less the same in every ex-yu countries.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous10:46

    If anyone in our gouverment shouldn't do it, that's her. She killed adria and everybody know she is black mamba.

    That's deffientpy just f9r campain.

    I would love to see new airline but she shouldn't do it as it will case in 2 years time.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous10:56

    If we have 72 mio for one transport army aircraft which will be used twice per year (when contingent in Kosovo is replaced with new one) then I don't see a reason why not to invest in national carrier...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:11

      I do agree with you. Adria would fly 7 years for that money.

      But she doesn't give a shit about aviation. She will just steal all the money or do nothing.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous11:03

    It's a very expensive idea with uncertain return.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:43

      Certain return is only that LJU is not among top 10 airport in ex-yu (and we were third few years ago). How much does it cost for Slovenia is impossible to calculate, but even basic calculations show that we are losing much much more then we would have to invest in national carrier.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:31

      Agree with above anon. And it's not just connectivity we are losing. We are losing tourism, hotel stays, business travel, MICE travel, etc

      Delete
  37. Anonymous11:03

    They should just spend the money to subsidise any missing routes. They can scale up or down or pull out at any time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:22

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:41

      and do you think that this would be cheaper? and what do you mean with missing routes, is now ZRH and BRU covered if they fly on few days per week and even those flights are in the middle of the day.
      Or let's say how much would cost if:

      -LH base 2 aircrafts at LJU (FRA/MUC)
      -SN base 1 aircraft at LJU (BRU)
      -LX base 1 aircraft at LJU (ZRH)
      -AF base 1 aircraft at LJU (CDG)
      -OS base 1 aircraft at LJU (VIE)

      then flight where it does not need to base aircraft:

      -SK for CPH
      -ZB for TIA
      -W6 for SKP
      -OK for PRG
      -and one airline to cover PRN as well.

      If you calculate all that then we would need to pay 50 mio per year for subsidies. Slovenia need its own national carrier and not to subsidy foreign one to operate few flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:33

      You don't need based aircraft, all you need is an airplane overnighting, so you can get an early departure to the hub. That's not a base, but basic modus operandi in a hub and spoke airline.

      OK? Have you seen the news recently? They are left with like 2 aircraft in total...

      Delete
    4. Anonymous07:33

      For some routes you would need to base them as JP flew to FRA/MUC/ZRH 3x per day.
      But ok let's say that they would "ONLY" need to overnight in LJU. How much do you think we would pay for all that? I bet it's much more than we were paying for JP in yearly basis.

      And yes I'm aware of OK situation very well, i just wanted to point out the routes/frequency which are missing compared to H1 2019.

      Delete
  38. Anonymous11:22

    Adria's bankruptcy didn't catch anyone by surprise and everyone knew they would go bust. Why didn't the government act in time to secure Slovenia's connectivity?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:44

      Because they thought that market will take of itself and that foreign carrier will fight for LJU. This is a story for little kids, if Slovenia won't do something by itself then it will remain as it is.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:25

      But even some foreign carriers want to do something with Slovenian market with investment from government. But government doesn't seem to want to do anything.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:00

      They published tender for few mio EUR and we saw what happened. Nothing has changed!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous21:49

      Not only has nothing changed but they managed to muck up the entire process and never even launched the tender for the 3 and final round of subsidies while the 2nd round tender was launched but never completed and no one got the money.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous12:08

    This idea will never get off the ground.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:23

      Why?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:48

      No one will be able to find the funds to finance this project with a questionable return.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous07:30

      but on other hand there is no problem to pay 72 mio for military transport aircraft which will be used twice per year? with that amount of money we solved our issues with connectivity for 10 years

      Delete
  40. Anonymous13:23

    What are the chances of this party being in the next government?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:02

      They will be in the next government for sure, it only depends how other parties (Levica, LMS and SD) in coalition will accept such ideas.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:47

      You would think as left leaning parties they would.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous07:28

      yep, but we saw what happened when they were in coalition. Im afraid something like that could happen again..

      Delete
  41. Anonymous22:15

    Meanwhile SJJ overtaking LJU as this flag carrier saga continues since 2019....Slovenia seems to be lacking way behind. Guess who holds the first position in EU of air transport change:

    https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Air_transport_statistics

    Yep, you got it right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:59

      because there is no air connection flight between slovenia and italy

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:59

      Katera letala bomo imeli

      Delete

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