Sarajevo Airport set for busiest summer on record


Sarajevo Airport is expected to register its busiest summer season, outstripping its pre-pandemic performance with a number of new carriers set to launch flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. So far this summer season, the airport has already seen new flights to London Luton and Treviso launched by Wizz Air, with the low cost carrier driving much of Sarajevo’s passenger growth over the past year. This summer, the airport will also welcome Air Cairo with scheduled flights from Hurghada, LOT Polish Airlines with services from Warsaw and Royal Jordanian Airlines, which will inaugurate seasonal operations from Amman.

Several carriers will be increasing their frequencies to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital this summer. Notably, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will double its operations from two to four weekly flights starting next month. Furthermore, Qatar Airways has announced its return to the Bosnian market with three weekly flights to be restored this June following a two-year hiatus. “We are excited about the resumption of flights to Sarajevo. As the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city is the favourite gateway to the country for business and leisure travellers. With three weekly services, passengers from Sarajevo will be connected with over 140 destinations via our hub in Doha”, Qatar Airways’ Regional Manager for Southern Europe, Matte Hoffmann, said.

During the first quarter of the year, Sarajevo Airport welcomed 177.288 passengers through its doors, representing an increase of 1.6% on the record-breaking pre-pandemic 2019. It registered its best March on record, handling 70.292 travellers, up 3.5% on 2019. “We have launched several initiatives with the authorities to subsidise airlines, in order to increase our passenger numbers, aircraft movements and destination count”, the airport said. It added it was exploring opportunities to boost connectivity with Italy and Spain. Based on OAG data, some of the busiest unserved routes from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital include Ankara, Amsterdam, Izmir, Tel Aviv and Prague.




Comments

  1. Nice to hear, however jetbridges are also needed.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      I agree. At least with the expansion they have added one.

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    2. Anonymous10:06

      That's just three in total.

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    3. Anonymous10:31

      If they continue with swift traffic growth they will need more soon.

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    4. Anonymous10:33

      You have airports with much more traffic than Sarajevo that have no airbridges.

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    5. Anonymous12:31

      Remember that LCCs usually don't use airbridges because of the price.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    Really happy Sarajevo has woken up finally

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      It took a while but it is finally happening!

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  3. Anonymous09:05

    I think they will have way above pre Covid numbers this year

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      Definitely

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    2. Anonymous10:07

      Yes summer will be much better than 3 years ago.

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  4. Anonymous09:06

    So FlyBosnia won't happen?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      They have started and stopped flights so many times , no one should take then seriously.

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    2. Anonymous10:07

      It was a money laundering scheme from the very beginning.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:31

    Great but I still can't believe that the small terminal expansion is taking over 2.5 years to complete.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09

      There is one investigative site that covered this expansion. It is marred in corruption on every single level. Primarily involving former management, but current one isn't innocent either.

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    2. Anonymous10:30

      Interesting. Is there a link to the article?

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    3. Anonymous10:34

      So when will this terminal expansion finally be finished?

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  6. Anonymous09:38

    Opportunity for Anadolujet to start Ankara flights.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      And it would be nice to finally see Transavia begin Amaterdam-Sarajevo!

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    2. Anonymous09:48

      Or even KLM

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  7. Anonymous09:44

    Encouraging figures and announcements for SJJ!

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  8. Anonymous09:48

    Should be a good summer.

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  9. Anonymous09:52

    Who could operate the Spain flights?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      Wizz would be the most obvious choice.

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    2. Anonymous10:11

      Vueling could give it a go too.

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    3. Anonymous10:29

      Spanish airlines can't see anything East past Croatia.

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  10. Anonymous09:54

    It's great to see Sarajevo Airport finally with a proactive management.

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  11. Anonymous09:55

    Those European markets mentioned seem ideal for Wizz - Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands and Czechia.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:58

      Poland isn't mentioned since it is going to be served from this summer by LOT :)

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    2. Anonymous10:29

      Is LOT's Sarajevo route year round?

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  12. Anonymous09:55

    I wonder how the new Treviso flights are performing. Is there really demand from Sarajevo to that region?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:59

      Well I doubt Wizz just randomly launched the route. There must be demand.

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    2. Probably it is related to Međugorje.

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  13. Anonymous09:59

    Good luck Sarajevo! Wish them all the best

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  14. Anonymous10:00

    Let's hope Aegean comes back

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:28

      Considering they are pushing back ZAG flights, I doubt SJJ are a priority for them.

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    2. Anonymous13:22

      Soon or later they will return as ATH-SJJ was pretty successful for Aegean. If not in 2022 i believe in 2023 they will return to both SJJ and SPU.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:32

    How many planes does Wizz have based in Sarajevo now?

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    Replies
    1. In December last year they had 2 planet based in Sarajevo. I don't thing this has changed.

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  16. Anonymous10:34

    How many passengers could SJJ have by the end of the year?

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  17. Anonymous10:35

    What about long haul. I'm sure some seaspnal flights to US could work.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:40

      The management said last year they were working on it.

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  18. I was there thursday, SRJ-EHV, 70% full wizzair flight and no one at the airpot, 1 flight then a while nothing then another, not even 2 at the same time. For a 'capital' it's realy poor and the airport was empty 2, 1 plane

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    Replies
    1. True. Bih govt should attract somehow more tourist from eu

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  19. Anonymous12:22

    Good for SJJ, can OU and JU do more there?

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    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL15:30

      JU could definitely do more. Great opportunity for them to introduce a second daily on a split schedule:

      JU110 0700 0750
      JU112 0820 0910

      JU114 1800 1850
      JU115 1920 2010

      Perfect schedule for them to connect SJJ onto LHR, LCA, JFK, AMM, ZRH, ATH, OTP, SOF, SKG, SKP, TIA and setting the route for a 3rd daily.

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  20. I am glad to see how SJJ performing well.

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  21. Anonymous15:00

    They could really increase their numbers by having flights to Moscow to capitalize on the transfer traffic. Bosnia hasn't imposed sanctions.

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    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL15:34

      Transfer onto what? SJJ isn't designed for transit, which means all pax clear BiH customs and passport control. No airline based in SJJ offers transfers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:39

      Thanks, but no thanks

      Delete
  22. Maybe wizz could Start flights to TLV ?????

    ReplyDelete

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