Slovenia’s second busiest airport, Portorož, is in the final stages of talks with Air Serbia over the introduction of scheduled flights from Belgrade. At a presentation marking the airport’s sixtieth anniversary over the weekend, its General Manager, Bernard Majhenič, said the service, which would be operated by an ATR72 aircraft, would be subject to weight restrictions due to the length of Portorož’s runway, which would limit passenger numbers on the flight. Air Serbia recently said it was looking to expand its regional network and boost frequencies on existing routes to feed its developing long haul destinations. This winter, the airline will operate two daily flights from Belgrade to Ljubljana, and a two weekly service from Niš to the Slovenian capital.
The potential launch of Air Serbia’s flights to Portorož would mark the carrier’s return to the city after thirteen years. Its predecessor, Jat Airways, maintained services between the two on a seasonal summer basis for two years - in 2009 and 2010. Furthermore, in 2010 it was granted approval by both Slovenian and Italian authorities to commence operations between Portorož and Rome. However, the flights never materialised due to low interest and poor sales. If an agreement is reached, Portorož would become Air Serbia’s sixteenth destination in the former Yugoslavia. Portorož Airport’s single-largest shareholder is the Serbian MK Group, which also runs the nearby Kempinski Hotel.
Portorož Airport has also signed a letter of intent with Czech carrier Van Air Europe for a two weekly service from Portorož to Prague, Brno and Budapest. Over next three months, the Slovenian coast will launch promotional campaigns in the three cities to evaluate the potential of these routes. "We don't want a repeat of previous years when flights were co-funded by local tour operator and had just three or so passengers", Mr Majhenič said. Van Air Europe boasts a fleet of five nineteen-seat Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft and had maintained domestic Public Service Obligation flights within Croatia on behalf of Trade Air up until June of this year. Portorož Airport has handled over 20.000 passengers so far this year, although it lacks scheduled commercial flights.
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They are probably going to get paid to fly to Portoroz.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the payload restrictions?
ReplyDeleteDepends which ATR type they use.
DeleteIn my opinion they should fly to all 3 airports in Slovenia. Portoroz only during the season, MBX year-round 2pw or more, if the demand proves to be sufficient.
ReplyDeleteMaribor: Plaža daleko...
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be too much considering the close distance from Pula?
ReplyDeleteNo. Portoroz needs Belgrade flights
DeleteWhat is the distance between PUY and POW?
DeleteAround 90km
DeleteTrieste is even closer and JU flies to Trieste. It is just 35km!
DeleteIs there a ferry between Portoroz and Trieste?
DeleteFerry? Why ferry if you have a road that brings you quicker to the destination?
DeleteMaybe they don't have a car if they are just visiting Portoroz for tourism purposes.
DeleteIt is not 35 km: Airport Trieste - Portorož 76 km
DeleteI think 2 weekly seasonally could work. Especially since they would probably get some incentives for these flights.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
ReplyDeleteinteresting, but there are so many open questions. good luck.
ReplyDeleteSuch as?
DeleteWhat really interests me is whats the MTOW for the ATR72 departing POW.
DeleteThe 200 variant, which was already flying to Portorož in the past, had a limitation of 40-50 pax. The 600 variant has a much better takeoff performance and might even make it to Belgrade on full pax. We'll see.
DeleteThanks!
DeleteHere is a video of ATR72 landing in Portoroz.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/DLbC2tiYTKM
Looks good. Does the plane only land from the middle of the runway in POW because of the displaced threshold.
DeleteEven 72-600 version would face limitation at Portoroz with current runway length
DeleteAnyone knows what Jat's numbers used to be on this route?
ReplyDeleteJU750
DeleteDo they use this flight number for another route now?
Delete@10,39
DeleteThey don't, however JU changed the flight numbers for flights back in 2013 so a potential relaunch of flights to POW won't get that flight number. Most likely it'll be something between JU280-298
I wonder why JU changed flight nr JU350 they always used for FRA and gave it to flight to BER.
DeleteThere is a few that didn't make sense, FRA as you mentioned. IST flight numbers were changed when they relaunched the route in 2019 (JU552/553 were the previous flight numbers). Im guessing JFK will also need to have flight numbers adjusted, JU500 for the 7am departure and JU502 for the midday flight.
DeleteIt seems like JU had a plan with flight numbers back in 2013, and then just gave it up half way through. Apart from BER and FRA they also switched ZRH from JU330 to JU370 in 2013 for no apparent reason and crammed LHR's JU380 in that range, eventhough it was obvious that Germany will be targeted with much more flights. It made sense to move IST to JU800 and LCA to JU880 but now, it's a mess all over the board. Not that it matters really, the only one who care are us, enthusiasts.
Delete@ Eight
DeleteWhat I can get is that the logic is:
001-999 BEG
1000-1999 INI
2000-2999 KVO
9000-9999 charter
100-299 Balkan flights
300-599 Western Europe
600-699 Central and Eastern Europe
800-899 LCA + MENA
Exception being JFK as JU500/501 due to that being the previous JAT flight numbers for JFK. In that case, 500-599 should of been kept for long haul. JU530/531 for ORD and JU560/561 for YYZ. Instead, FCO has JU530 while VCE has JU560.
Then there is also PMI which is JU690/691 which doesn't fit with the other Spanish routes (MAD JU570-573, BCN JU580-585, VLC JU590-595).
Portoroz - JU can fly there if they get paid to do so
ReplyDeleteMaribor - JU can fly there if they get paid to do so
It seems that only Portoroz is ready to open the wallet unlike Maribor.
I would expect this to work.
ReplyDeleteThey will also completely renovate the terminal in the next 8 months. More info here: https://www.si21.com/f/docs/Gospodarstvo/Trajnostna-preobrazba.pdf (pages 10 to 15)
ReplyDeleteGood news for POW
ReplyDeleteHow long is the Belgrade-Portoroz route?
ReplyDeleteI mean how long is the flight?
DeleteProbably the same as BEG-LJU.
DeleteHell no, this ain't profitable even if JU gets paid to fly there. There's no local demand, that's the problem with so called ''airports'' who can't attract a single airline to fly there, same story with Maribor, Mostar, Brac etc.
ReplyDeleteIt's better to stay completely out of it, just losing a time and wasting the aircraft block time during the high summer season instead of utilizing it on some more profitable and urban destination than airfield in Secovlje.
I too think POW would be a waste of an aircraft considering the airports around it that could better handle the ATR. Bringing PUY up to 5-6 pw for example would be better. If TRS isn't working for them, I doubt POW will.
DeleteHowever, I do think that we will eventually see JU in both OMO and BWK. OMO year round and BWK seasonal to compliment SPU.
If JU had the ATR42 it would have been perfect for this route.
ReplyDeleteIt would allow them to start routes like Brac and Mostar too, in my opinion.
DeleteDuring the Yugoslav era they flew to Portoroz with the ATR42.
DeleteBrac will be great...
DeleteBrač would be great, not will.
DeleteATR42 was the shortest lived aircraft in the JU fleet, barely lasting 3 years (YU-ALM just over 2 years). There is a reason why they went for the ATR72 and why 3 times more ATR72's were produced. What ever the ATR42 can do, the ATR72 does better.
DeleteATR72 is no problem for Brac. Listen, JU promised 100 destinations, they'll add all these regional airports in the network in next 3 years. They are cheap to reach and operate, there are pax at least in season and we'll see more and more people in the region travelling hopefully.
DeleteAnd once the 100 destinations are complete and the big celebrations are finished, JU will cut all unprofitable routes.
Delete@19,22
DeleteI don't think JU will be going after every other village on the Balkans just to show they fly to 100 destinations. Nothing from JU has indicated that, nor has JU done that so far. JU would drastically need to add ATR's in their fleet to do exactly that.
Where you will see the destination count grow is a few of the charter routes becoming summer seasonal routes plus some additions (ORD, CAI, OHD so far as practically confirmed). What comes to mind is CTA, HRG and possibly 1-2 routes in Greece (IOA expressed interest in having JU, CFU, HER, RHO).
@23,32
JU is quite quick in cutting routes that don't work for them. TRS has been talked about all day after being launched 4 months ago. GVA, NCE and HEL were also new routes cut quickly. The last couple of years shows no indication that they would just launch routes to have a number for celebrations.
I see JU launching new seasonal flights to Portoroz and Ohrid next year.
ReplyDeleteMost likely
DeleteLast time around, Jat got subsidies amounting to 300.000 EUR for this route.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to see Portoroz Airport with flights.
ReplyDeleteIf the price is reasonable, I would love to visit Portoroz.
ReplyDeleteI also think Maribor would be much more sensible considering Air Serbia flies to Trieste which is right next door.
ReplyDeleteTrieste most likely won't come back next summer. We will see.
ReplyDelete@9.35 That's a lot of money, especially since they flew it just 3 months during the year. So it's around 100,000 EUR per month.
ReplyDeleteGreat news and will work with reasonable price. Hope it attracts many new passengers. Portoroz has become Slovenian Las Vegas. Good luck
ReplyDeleteSlovenian Las Vegas?
DeleteYes, it is very popular with gamblers
DeleteIt makes perfect sense to open Portoroz before Maribor especially if the whole point is to transport tourists, and especially if they sign a deal with the tourist organisation and get incentives from the airport.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia has good coverage of ex-YU region, now all they need is to increase the frequencies
ReplyDeleteThey are doing that
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/09/air-serbia-schedules-europe-wide.html
Yes but very slowly. They will need to add more flights.
DeleteIt is so interesting that Portoroz airport is so close to Croatian broder. Something like 500m.
ReplyDeleteIt would make sense to operate it as BEG-MBX-POW-MBX-BEG with the 5th fridom on POW-MBX section. I believe Slovenian government would grant the rights and the route would have enough passengers even in winter.
ReplyDeleteHow long would the MBX-POW flight be?
DeleteAround 30 mins
DeleteNot a bad idea at all.
DeleteSo Slovenia would have first domestic route?
Delete1980's has long past where triangle routes and multiple stop flights on short sectors was the norm. JU hasn't operated these types of flights since becoming Air Serbia.
DeleteSo JU will serve 4 airports with 200km of each other (TRS, LJU, PUY and now POW) - surely that's competing for passengers and saturating the market?
ReplyDeleteThey all cater for different passengers types.
DeleteTRS will be probably cut off.
DeleteIt's not 4, it's 6 in 200 km range, you forgot RJK and VCE. And I agree with @10.17, I believe Potoroz might be flown instead of Trieste
DeleteZAG is also competitor in the pretty much same area, especially with Croatia joining Schengen this winter.
DeleteZAG is definitely not competitor to Portoroz
DeleteSchengen is not confirmed yet.
DeleteUnless something really really unexpected happens, it should be confirmed end October
DeleteDid Adria ever fly from Portoroz?
ReplyDeleteA lot of very nice four star hotels in Portoroz, not much more expensive than those in Montenegro or on Croatian coast.
ReplyDeleteIf JU are getting subsidised, why not, as long as the route is brining in profit.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone interested what Jat's schedule was on this route
ReplyDeleteJU750 BEG0825 – 1000POW AT7 7
JU750 BEG1245 – 1420POW AT7 4
JU751 POW1035 – 1210BEG AT7 7
JU751 POW1455 – 1630BEG AT7 4
Was this JAT's schedule?
DeleteAs far as I remember Jat Airways did not have ATR42.
This is Jat Airways schedule. Aircraft type is AT7 (ATR72). the 4 that is written is the operating day (Thursday)
DeleteAnd this was for the planned FCO route
DeleteJU750 BEG0800 – 0935POW1010 – 1145FCO AT7 7
JU750 BEG1120 – 1255POW1330 – 1505FCO AT7 4
JU751 FCO1225 – 1355POW1430 – 1605BEG AT7 7
JU751 FCO1545 – 1715POW1750 – 1925BEG AT7 4
They would have to change those times now if they are expect some transfer feed.
Delete@anon 10:24, you are right, sorry, my bad.
DeleteCorrect, the deal signed with tour operators and casino operators was 100,000 EUR compensation per month if flights don't sell.
ReplyDeleteWhich they didn't, might I add.
ReplyDeletePeople here put in co-relation Potoroz and Maribor. Instead, Potoroz and Trieste should be put in co-relation. Potoroz airport is closer to Trieste city than Ronchi, which is 35 km away. Kempinski Istria on croatian side, is managed by serbian company and attracts some tourists from Serbia, exactly as northwestern part of Istria (Umag, Novigrad, Buje), which is again closer to Potoroz than to Pula or Rijeka. In my opinion, Potoroz with all these could easily be replacement for Trieste, which is JU service which allegedly performed the worst of all.
ReplyDeleteGood point, I agree too.
ReplyDeleteGood move
ReplyDeleteEven more, both Kempinski and Portoroz airport are owned by the same Serbian company MK.
ReplyDeleteIf they get paid to fly there POW will replace Trieste, and if they'll fly with 72-600 (which they will), the limitations wouldn't even be that much, as take off lenght was reduced with -600 veriant
ReplyDeleteActually it would be good decision to replace Trieste with Portoroz taking in consideration low results in TRS.
DeleteBy flying to Portoroz they would cover same area, but they would get compensated if results are bad.
Wizz would name it Portoroz/Trieste in the booking system.
Delete@13,04
DeleteCompensation/subsidies doesn't really mean a lot. How much would be enough? I'm sure TRS was offering subsidies to JU being a new carrier on a new route. JU had a whole lot of routes subsidised in INI and ended up pulling BUD immediately, while almost all routes never came back in.
Partially owned.
ReplyDeleteCompare, not put in co-relation.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen anyone comparing POW and MBX, neither did I compare POW numbers, services or finances, or whatever else, with those of TRS. So, in my opinion it's about co-relation, not comparison. Of course, you are more than welcome to use "compare" and continue thinking it's correct.
ReplyDeleteIf JU steps in POW, will Ryanair consider it as well?
ReplyDeleteB738 can't fly there.
DeleteFR announced they will open an A380 base in Portoroz.
DeletePortoroz is a great choice, especially considering it is a beach town and the fact that tourism will grow. And as I already visit Las Vegas every year, I would probably fly to Portoroz twice a year, assuming there will be year round flights in the future. Perhaps a weekly flight off season can work.
ReplyDeleteActually its airport Sečovlje. Even from Koper to Trieste is far away, need highway. Dont check map, but roads. Nobody goes through Muggia from Koper to Trieste, just cyclers over that hill. And Koper to Sečovlje is still some 20-30 km.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I know. Everyone who says Trieste airport is alternative to POW obviously hasn't driven on these roads, especially during summer. Even LJU could be a better alternative with rent a car ...
Deletein near future there will be direct highway ling between Trieste and Portoroz
DeleteThe point is that Trieste airport is too far from Portoroz. This is min 1h 30 drive during season. ATR72 can takeoff there with not much limitation so POW deserves to have some scheduled lines.
Delete