Nordwind to launch Ljubljana and Sarajevo service


Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines will enter the markets of Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina this winter season by introducing flights from Moscow to Ljubljana and from St Petersburg to Sarajevo. As previously reported, flights to Ljubljana will operate once per week, each Saturday, with the airline maintaining the same schedule as initially filed back in October of last year, although the carrier will deploy its 220-seat Airbus A321 aircraft on the route instead of the originally planned Boeing 737-800. Services will commence on February 5. Slovenia recently resumed issuing tourist visas to Russian nationals for the first time in almost two years, resulting in increased demand as Slovenia is one of just a handful of European Union member states to recognise the Sputnik vaccine, which is the only type available in Russia. Later this month, Rossiya Airlines will inaugurate flights from St Petersburg to Ljubljana.

Nordwind will also introduce a two weekly service from Russia’s second largest city to Sarajevo starting March 3, with flights operating each Wednesday and Sunday with the 189-seat Boeing 737-800 jet. As previously reported, Nordwind Airlines and its sister carrier Pegas Fly received permits from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency to launch services to Sarajevo back in October of last year. Nordwind was granted approval to introduce flights from St Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Rostov-on-Don, while Pegas Fly gained the all-clear to commence operations from Ufa, Perm and Yekaterinburg. Russian regulations state local airlines must first ask for approval from the Federal Air Transport Agency before seeking a permit from the destination country. Airlines are not obliged to introduce all or any of the routes they requested approval for from the local regulator.

Nordwind will complement Aeroflot’s service between Moscow and Ljubljana, which has been increased over the holiday period but will be maintained four times per week for the remainder of the winter season. On the other hand, Sarajevo will see its first flights to Russia in almost nine years. Services were last maintained from Moscow to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital by Moskovia Airlines, however, the carrier grounded its flights and declared bankruptcy just three months after inaugurating operations to Sarajevo. Further flight details for the new Moscow - Ljubljana service can be viewed here, while additional information for the St Petersburg - Sarajevo flights can be found here.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Good for them, both airports are struggling to attract new carriers and destinations

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      Sarajevo is struggling to attract new carriers and destinations?

      Just in the last year Wizz Air opened a base and Swiss, Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Gulf Air, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Salam Air all launched flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:42

      Sarajevo is truly growing into a great airport with great prospects.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Fantastic to finally see flights between Sarajevo and Russia. I don't understand how there is no interest. Bosnian passport holders don't need visa to enter Russia. You would think there would be more demand.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    To me it seems like one step forward for LJU, two steps back. Yes, it's great to get this one weekly flight and a one weekly flight to LED by Rossiya. But we just lost Brussels Airlines and Wizz Air with several weekly flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      Crumbs unfortunately. In any case we should be happy with any new arrival.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:32

      It's for Russian tourists so it is enough.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:06

    Nordwind's expansion has been quite remarkable in the region. They now fly Belgrade, Zagreb, Skopje and soon Ljubljana and Sarajevo. If there was no embargo on flights to Montenegro they would be flying to Podgorica too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      And before the pandemic no one even heard of Nordwind in this region.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:33

      Who would have though this airline would become the main Russian airlines between ex-Yu and Russia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      They still have a bit to go before overtaking Aeroflot as the main Russian airline between ex-Yu and Russia ;)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:40

      But they fly to more EX-YU destinations than Aeroflot.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:53

      Who knew Covid would create so much demand.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    This is good news. Ljubljana really needs all the airlines it can get.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      Indeed.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:04

      Good news for spotters too :D

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:12

      They sent their B777 to Ljubljana last year. I believe it was for vaccine transport. That was a nice sight :)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:11

    It would be interesting to see all those flights launched between Sarajevo and Russia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      Let's first get these ones off the ground :)

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:12

    Very good news for both airports. What happened with their stopped SKP flights and how long did they last?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      Flights launched in June of last year. Flights haven't stopped. They have them scheduled until 11th of January and after that from 1st of March twice per week.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      Pity that they didn't consider Ohrid from Moscow

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:31

      They are already in talks for that. (according the Agency for tourism in MK).

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:44

      Hopefully next summer.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:54

      If (when) Russians discover Ohrid, it could become a superb tourist destination for them.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:17

      Charters are planned for this summer
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/10/nordwind-plans-ohrid-charters.html

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:16

    I find it interesting that they went for St Petersburg - Sarajevo and not Moscow - Sarajevo. Any particular reason?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      Maybe they have tour groups from LED for Sarajevo.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:22

      But the good thing is Nordwind offers connections

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:17

    So all of ex-Yu will now have flights to Russia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      Not Montenegro

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:10

      That embargo makes no sense.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:15

      It is for political reasons. Not health reasons as they claim.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:19

    Good. At the moment anything new you get is good news.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:19

    This is great and not too unexpected.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:23

    I don't think these flights will be on free sale. They are just operating them for tourist groups.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:14

      They will put them for sale closer to launch date and will probably just have few tickets available which will be very expensive.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:24

    I'm not sure they will be very competitive against Aeroflot in Ljubljana but let's see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      They carry different types of passengers. Nordwind are mostly tour groups of Russians. They have survived against Aeroflot in BEG and ZAG without a problem.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:27

    Another addition for winter 2021-2022 :) good to see

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:13

      After many airlines cancelled flights for the winter.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:28

    How about Moscow-Maribor?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:38

      I think there used to be charters.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:13

      I don't think so. There were charters from Ukraine.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:29

    Let's how long these last.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      * let's see

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:41

      Out of all the routes they launched, they only cancelled Rostov-Belgrade and St Petersburg-Skopje.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:31

    Well done Nordwind!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:32

    Great to see more and more connectivity from the region to Russia.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:33

    I think this airline is running out of market and don't have the possibility expanding in the EU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      Seems like it :D

      Delete
  20. Anonymous09:34

    Impressive. Let's hope they launch it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous09:35

    Moskovia Airlines... well there is a blast from the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      I liked their livery

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:37

      https://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/91760/vq-ber-moskovia-gromov-air-boeing-737-700/

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:39

      Anyone remember what equipment they used to Sarajevo?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:41

      Sukhoi Superjet 100.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:44

      This was the schedule for those interested. It was one weekly

      3R371 DME1110 – 1100SJJ SU9 5
      3R372 SJJ1200 – 1750DME SU9 5

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:04

      Pity they didn't last.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous00:17

      The route didn't last because the airline went under.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous09:39

    It is excellent they will go to 2x weekly to Sarajevo in order to have option for a 3-4 day trip.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:45

    Have there ever been flights between LED and SJJ?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:54

    Anyone ever flown with Nordwind?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:55

    What's up with Nordwind scheduling flights less than a month before they start. I mean how can they get a good result?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      They are filled with tour operators well in advance. If there are any tickets left they will put them on sale.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous09:57

    Hope these will be year round

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous10:13

    Now that they have started flights to almost all ex-Yu markets, the next step should be increasing the low frequencies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      I don't think it is possible at the moment because of frequency caps by Russians.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous10:19

    Bravo Nordwind !

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous10:44

    So, according to Slovenia Info, most tourists in 2020 were mainly Germans followed by the neighbouring countries but Russia does not even come anywhere on the top:

    https://www.slovenia.info/en/business/research-and-analysis/tourism-in-numbers

    The percentage of tourists going to the mountains and seaside is huge compared to the capital.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous12:37

    So there will be 6 flights in total between Ljubljana and Russia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:43

      Yes
      4x per week Aeroflot
      1x per week Rossiya
      1x per week Nordwind

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:50

      Exactly 6 more than between LJU-BRU/MUC/CPH...

      Delete
  31. Anonymous12:37

    Will these be year round?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:09

      They are planned until the end of March but will probably be extended into summer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:12

      Fingers crossed.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:12

      Sad truth

      Delete
  32. Anonymous13:21

    I just saw on fraport website that Flydubai is planning to increase Ljubljana to 6 weekly from february. is this true?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:23

      It is just for one single week in February.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:24

      according to fraport website is more than just one week.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:33

      Well it is wrong...

      Delete
  33. Anonymous13:36

    Can we already book the flights?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:43

      Not yet and it is questionable whather they will be on sale at all as they might be only old through Russian tour operators.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous18:56

    This is all nice but LJU is missing some major European cities and it already has Moscow flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:28

      We should be happy with what we get.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:29

      Situation is improving. Today Air Serbia restarted Nis. We are getting Rossiya, Nordwind, Windrose, Israir and Transavia from Orly this year. So it's not all bad.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:25

      At the same time there are Wizz, Transavia, Swiss, Brussels, Easyjet and Finnair cutting frequencies and i believe Israir already started last year. I wouldn't call this improving.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous00:08

      I don't think Finnair is cutting frequencies. Quite the contrary, I think it will be increased.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous00:16

      I also believe they are increasing it to six weekly (in peak summer).

      Delete
  35. Anonymous00:10

    Hopefully this will lead to more Russian airlines launching SJJ in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous00:12

    I really don't see how these one weekly flights make any sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:16

      It makes sense to bring tourists who are on 7 night package tours.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous00:16

    I am surprised Wizz Air is not launching any flights from St Petersburg to the region. They have exclusive rights for it from LED if they wanted to.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous00:17

    So we can expect Sarajevo-Moscow soon too?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous13:14

    Ljubljana/Slovenia is dead country

    ReplyDelete

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