Banja Luka Airport has announced the launch of flights to Athens and the Tunisian coast next summer season. It noted that additional details, including the operating carriers, would be revealed soon. “Our aim is to serve half a million passengers next year, while the figure will stand at around 300.000 in 2022. All of our routes have good loads, while flights to Tivat were most popular this summer”, the airport said. In addition to Ryanair and Wizz Air, which jointly serve thirteen destinations from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city, Air Serbia maintains flights to Belgrade, while Air Montenegro and Air Cairo operate seasonal services to Tivat and Hurghada respectively. Furthermore, Freebird Airlines runs summer charters from Banja Luka to Antalya.
Over the first three quarters of the year, Banja Luka Airport handled 250.918 passengers, making 2022 its busiest on record as it has already surpassed all previous end-of-year results. The figure was achieved despite the airport being closed throughout most of February for urgent runway repairs, resulting in it handling just 45 passengers that month. The airport previously said, “For us, it was important to open up to the world in 2019 and for some flights to begin. We must now seek out new airlines and partners and expand our destination network. Prior to the coronavirus crisis we discussed the possibility of an airline opening a base in Banja Luka. We will see what will happen in the future in that respect”.
The airport’s passenger terminal is becoming increasingly cramped due to the rise in traffic. In late 2019, operator Airports of Republika Srpska began tendering procedures to select a contractor for the expansion of Banja Luka Airport’s terminal building. However, the project never materialised due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the airport has completed work on the construction of new cargo facilities, which are 900 square metres in size.
Will Ryanair operate the Athens flights?
ReplyDeleteRyanair hates ATH so I don't see that.
DeleteThesaloniki SKG and Corfu CFU and Athens would work only as summer route.
DeleteSKG I understand but why ATH?
DeleteThere is not demand for all year around because this would be covered by leisure passengers.There is no bussines traveller,no gastos and how to fill the plane with what type of passengers if we exclude tourists.
DeleteThe year-round flights from ATH are all covered from Aegean that have a huge year-round network. They managed to ‘win’ Ryanair on all routes.
DeleteAegean will operate flights from BNX to Athens
DeleteWell done BNX. Impressive performance so far this year and encouraging trends for 2023.
ReplyDeleteTunis will be with kontiki.ba
ReplyDeleteIt will probably be a Tunisian charter airline operating the flights.
DeleteNouvelair probably
DeleteIncredible achievements. BNX has already surpassed OHD and reaching INI levels. I like how they have a healthy balance between both Ryanair and Wizzair. Athens will be a very good addition and makes sense. It also makes sense for TK to launch flights.
ReplyDeleteIt is also nice to see that they have a balance between gasto and leisure routes.
Delete@anon 09:10, can you please tell what a gasto route is? I've seen the term a few times and tried to search it but came up empty handed.
Delete@anon10:10 routes that cater mostly for people who work or migrated abroad. From the German gasterbieter meaning guest worker.
DeleteThank you 10:21!
Deleteaka every single route launched by Wizz and Ryan
DeleteI wonder what the maximum number of passengers Banja Luka Airport could see. Up to a million?
ReplyDeleteWill the Air Cairo flights come back next year?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteThey really need to expand the terminal ASAP.
ReplyDeleteLong overdue
DeleteAegean?
ReplyDeleteAegean has already announced their new summer routes so I doubt it. We will see.
DeleteAegean adds flights last minute so it's not impossible.
DeleteGood to see they are not giving up and that more fights are coming.
ReplyDeleteGiving up? I don't see the reason to give up lol, they are having really good results
DeleteWould be nice if Swiss or Edelweiss launched flights from Zurich.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago Edelweiss started ticket sales to Banja Luka but flights were cancelled before the launch.
DeleteAnd it is still unknown was it because of poor sales or the management at the time chased them away.
DeleteAt the same time Edelweiss also planned to start Podgorica and they started sales too but cancelled it before it started.
DeleteSales probably were not good for either route.
DeleteINI-ATH-BNX-ATH-INI would make the most sense. ATR is the best aircraft for this highly promising route.
ReplyDeleteGood news. Wish then success
ReplyDelete*them
DeleteHopefully we see London, Malmo, Paris, Zürich in the future.
ReplyDeleteThere are already flights to Malmö
DeleteWell done Banja Luka. A big transformation from a few years ago
ReplyDeleteSlow and steady growth, that's good. No need to force anything.
Delete300 thousand is a serious number for a regional airport like BNX...
ReplyDeleteBNX has the potential from its catchment area to grow a lot.
DeleteThey have a lot to invest if they want to continue operating. BHDCA nearly closed them this year because of the runway, which is why they had to shut and do urgent work.
ReplyDeleteWhich other routes from Ryanair network could work from Banja Luka?
ReplyDeleteParis and London
DeleteATH sounds amazing good connections to islands and Aegean's great network. Well done!
ReplyDeleteIs Sky Express a possible carrier for BNX-ATH flights? That would be great to have Sky Express in Balkans.
ReplyDeleteThey recently launched Sofia last week and read on Facebook that the bookings are going quite strong with full flights. Even bookable for summer 2023.
DeleteBut yes, I think Sky Express are a possible option. ATR is perfect as a start.
That's what I thought with Sofia already on their network BNX would be a great addition their ATRs would be full I don't know if Ryanair for example launch these flights can fill their B738.
DeleteIt would make sense for them to enter the ex YU market in BNX. I don't think they can make it in BEG with JU and A3 being super strong.
Delete"All of our routes have good loads"
ReplyDeletethis statement encouraged me to look at the german numbers (September).
HAM to BiH (both BNX & SJJ) had LF of 67% (both around the same nr of pax)
NUE to BiH (FR to BNX and W6 to TZL) had a LF of 62.4% (BNX more pax then TZL )
in opposite direction there's only pax numbers and it is some 15% more (gastos returning from hols)
Not sure if a lcc is happy with such LF in a busy month like Sept. but at least the airport manager is.
I have the impresison there is a slight overcapacity in BiH market... maybe a reason why SJJ base was closed.
That building expansion needs to happen asap if they are aiming 500k passengers next year
ReplyDeleteThis is a big turnaround. I'm very happy for Banja Luka.
ReplyDeleteBanja Luka would be the perfect base for Wizz Air
ReplyDeleteSo far unfortunately there is no terminal capacity
DeleteGood work Banja Luka. And good luck in the years to come.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia
ReplyDeleteThose are amazing numbers for a small airport and fairly new routes! Good job!
ReplyDelete