Slovenia fails to reach deal with Wizz Air, Ryanair


The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has said that no agreement has been reached with either Wizz Air or Ryanair over the introduction of new flights to the country. It noted that preliminary talks took place with both airlines, however, no arrangement was made with either of the two budget carriers. "At these meetings, there was no talk of specific routes, but we offered them the possibility of flying to Maribor Airport, which has lower fees than Ljubljana", it said. Both carriers have shown interest in concluding cooperation agreements with the country’s Ministry for Infrastructure and the Ministry for Economic Development and Technology concerning the launch of new routes. Wizz Air currently operates a single year-round service to Ljubljana along with one seasonal summer route, while Slovenia is the only European Union member state not to be served by Ryanair.

The Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has said it is preparing a long-term solution to improve the country’s air connectivity which has suffered since the demise of former national carrier Adria Airways in 2019 and the subsequent coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Slovenia’s aviation sector is still one of the slowest recovering markets in Europe from the Covid-19 crisis. “For a long-term solution to the aforementioned problem, we are preparing to undertake an air connectivity analysis, both from a traffic and economic point of view, which will form the basis to determining the long-term goals for ensuring adequate aviation connectivity", the Ministry for Infrastructure said. It conceded that subsidies, which have been offered to carriers already serving Ljubljana in order to maintain their services to Slovenia, have only been partially successful. “To some extent, we did manage to preserve routes operated by foreign airlines, encourage the re-establishment of scheduled flights that were suspended due to the pandemic, and encourage new airlines to fly to Slovenia as well”.

The Ministry said it was important to improve the country’s air connectivity. "It is of vital importance for Slovenia to be included in global trends. As an export-oriented economy, we can only compete by being physically present on global markets, which is precisely what regular and reliable airlines provide. Solid air connections are even more important for the tourism sector, as we want to attract as many foreign guests from more distant markets to Slovenia as possible. This segment is also of great importance for congress tourism". It added, “Additional short-term measures need to be implemented, namely subsidising additional new routes and incentivising an increase in frequencies to the most important destinations for our economy and tourism”. 

Data shows that with exception to flights to Istanbul, frequencies on all other existing routes out of Ljubljana are lower than prior to the pandemic. The Ministry said it is unlikely the majority of flights operated by Adria Airways to the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans will be re-established, as these routes primarily catered for transfer passengers. However, it also noted that frequencies and schedules to many points in Central and Western Europe are still unsatisfactory. The Association for Transport at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce estimates that Ljubljana Airport will reach its 2019 passenger levels in 2026. The airport’s operator, Fraport Slovenija, has previously given the same forecast.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    As expected, no outcome from these talks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      Interesting that neither of the two airlines wanted to fly to Maribor.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:29

      They have their lord LH, and they do not fly much from nearby airports.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:27

      It must be in the interest of the whole region that its flights to first hand all capitals and second to other cities

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    Sounds like that the idea of air slovenia is still being discussed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:02

      It seems the opposite. In all their solution they don't even once mention a national airline. But who knows. Let's hope for the best.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:04

      For a long-term solution to the aforementioned problem, we are preparing to undertake an air connectivity analysis, both from a traffic and economic point of view, which will form the basis to determining the long-term goals for ensuring adequate aviation connectivity"



      This sounds like they will do analysis of establishing new airline, the effects of it and the costs of it

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:06

      Fingers crossed.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:16

      You will see that they will conclude it is too expensive. Just like the last time they did the same 'analysis'

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:20

      Interesting how many former Adria executives now have top jobs in government yet no consensus over national airline.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:27

      They will still be considering whether to set up a new airline in 2050.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:35

      @9:20
      They probably realize that their previous modus operandi (fraud and embezzlement) would be very difficult if not impossible.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:45

      The main reason there is no new national airline is because the EU doesn't allow it. They already wanted to set it up but EU struck it down.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous11:17

      They only said they wont let Slovenia use EU recovery funds to start up an airline; if Slovenia wants to use their own resources they are free to do so.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:43

      And every Slovenian government knows its electoral suicide to burn taxpayers own money to establish a loss-making airline.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:00

      Taxpayers own money. This one cracks me up every time I hear it. :D
      You do realize that your money is being burnt in more ways you can imagine? And you get absolutely nothing in return (but other people do)n. With a national carrier at least you would have decent air connectivity.

      Delete
    12. notLufthansa14:59

      "Slovenia fails to reach deal with Wizz Air, Ryanair". Read: Slovenia has not agreed to extortion sum requested.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    The ministry has only now decided to prepare to draft a long term plan? Are they kidding with us?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      I can only imagine what kind of aviation experts are sitting at the ministry deciding on these things.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:02

    Hopefully now Ryanair will introduce some new routes and increase the frequencies on existing routes in ZAG, for example EIN, flights are always overcrowded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      It is clear what Ryanair’s goal is in Zagreb, at least for now: that is to enjoy lower taxes and not introducing routes nor frequencies but reducing them probably breaching their incentive contract and when the incentive ends, be aggressive for even more discounts and they leave if things don’t go their way.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:04

      Apart from not making sense, your comment is also incorrect. Ryanair is boosting frequencies next summer. And it's operating way more flights to Zagreb this winter than last winter.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:30

      What routes have more frequencies next summer than this summer? And what routes have more frequencies this winter? All I know is that they downgraded 3 routes to seasonal and also decreased frequencies this winter. Btw, they still haven't put Dortmund on sale. I think we'll see additional decreases as was seen in most of this year , lastly in August.

      Delete
    4. Since FR launched ZAG, and it's been very recently, with pLandemic restrictions all around, I flew Bergamo, Dublin, Paphos and Sofia. Only Sofia was some 50 % LF. All others were full house, full house, full house. So I doubt we would see additional restrictions in ZAG by FR

      Delete
    5. Anonymous08:11

      @pozdrav iz Rijeke
      So what? FR has left airports where it had consistently sold out flights many times in the past.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:06

    This is really becoming a joke.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    All LCCs have seriously reduced their presence in LJU in the last year. Easyjet with 1 route, Wizz has made 1 route seasonal, Transavia is barely operating Amsterdam...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      I wouldn't be surprised if Wizz Air completely leaves or just keeps flying the London route.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:55

      Me neither. They haven't actually launched a new route to Ljubljana in over a decade.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    Didn't expect anything else to be honest.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:13

    And Slovenia remains the only EU country where the largest European airline doesn't fly to. Bravo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:04

      The problem isn't that one specific airline doesn't fly there, the problem is that almost noone flies there.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:14

    Seems they are satisfied with the status quo.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:14

    TGV

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:14

    Also Air Dolomiti, Solinair...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:15

    expected to hit pre Covid numbers in 2026... wow

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:21

    I was really hoping we would see some improvement in Slovenia's aviation sector with the new government. But so far absolutely nothing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      It doesn't seem as if anything will improve.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:58

      Well, one thing will for sure. Budget deficit. That's what you get when communists are in charge. People fall for it every time, but at least they stopped dancing.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:22

    Basically we a condemned to this status quo :(

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:22

    Unfortunately, we will be stuck with this until everyone starts using neighboring airports.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:28

      Most people already are.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:23

    I fail to see how subsidies to airlines that already flew to Slovenia helped LJU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:28

      It's just a tactic to give money to Lufthansa Group. They already get 80% of the subsidies.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:27

    Terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:29

    If Fraport really wanted a new airline we would have had one by now. They would have lobbied the government in every way possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:35

      Of course they could, but why would they take passengers away from Lufthansa? It's not in their interest.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:30

    Surprise surprise

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:30

    Well that’s the end of that chapter.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous09:30

    Expected! But I wouldn't blame government only, actually I'm really interested how much money they (LCC) were looking for..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      I doubt it was more than the losses Slovenia is currently producing due to its poor flight connectivity.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:46

      I agree, but I think it was more than what national carrier would cost. Ok we have to take in account how many routes, timings of flights etc etc. But at the end we would get much more with our own carrier.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:05

      @9:30:
      Unless you're Mrs. Black Mamba or Serpentinsek, I really don't see how this can be anyone's fault but governments.
      Could you remind me again who sold Adria Airways to German crooks?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous17:07

      @11:05 You wouldn't be suprised. The person who sold adria for pennies is now a secretary for TRANSPORT at the infrastructure ministry. Lol

      Delete
    5. Anonymous07:20

      Adria wasn't worth more than pennies at the time of sale anyway, there were hardly any assets left, and it made a miniscule profit one year out of previous 20.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous09:34

    This makes me angry

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:34

    +1

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:35

    At least it's good to know someone was interested in Ljubljana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      WAS

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:08

      Scratch "Ljubljana" and change that to " in money from government."

      Delete
  25. Anonymous09:38

    Didn't get my hopes up anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous09:38

    The current subsidies make absolutely no sense and are ineffective. They are going to have to try harder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:44

      It's not about the money. There is a reason almost nowhere can you find subsidies which are aimed at keeping airlines to fly the same routes and frequencies. Most are aimed at attracting new airlines and getting more frequencies and routes.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous09:41

    All of this could have been avoided had they just helped Adria at the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:45

      The airline was in huge debt. It was very expensive and questionable if the EU would even allow it.

      Delete
    2. Just look across the fence : Has OU been in huge debt for years? Is EU allowing it?

      Delete
    3. JATBEGMEL20:05

      @09,45

      JP's debts were nothing too major that it wasn't able to be fixed, that is up until being sold to 4K. Funny how we have heard very little of them since the bankruptcy of JP.

      JP's biggest financial issues were the brand new aircraft it purchased for their fleet, which it couldn't afford.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:28

      @JATBEGMEL

      For us uninformed folk, could you elaborate a bit on JP's fleet? I wasnt aware that they actually owned some planes. Im guessing it was either the A320s or CRJ's?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:41

      @10:28:
      AFAIK, it was S5-AAP/R (A319). Most likely some CRJs as well. Of course, large commissions were involved (Mr. Tadej Tufek and other caviar socialists).

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:47

      Adria was approx hundred mil below the threshold on approx 160mils turnover, no liquidity. Just before C19. Would need half a bil to rerun. Even Saudies couldnt help. Peeps, have a walk.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous16:49

      And BTW…was screwed way over before 4K even existed. Either you are too young to remember or ignorant.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous09:42

    For all those people that were saying we don't need Adria and that the market will take care of itself - enjoy

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous09:44

    "The Ministry said it is unlikely the majority of flights operated by Adria Airways to the former Yugoslavia and the Balkans will be re-established, as these routes primarily catered for transfer passengers."

    hmm...that's how aviation is working guys! Do you think LH/TK/AF is carrying only p2p passengers on their flights to/out of LJU!?!? Majority of them are transfers and I could bet that route like LJU-FRA is barely (if it is) profitable, but that kind of flights bring contribution to other flights and that what makes other routes profitable at the end. It's a real shame that something like that comes out of a government where one minister was CEO of JP. Real shame!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      Unfortunately Slovenian aviation will continue to stagnate for many more years.

      Delete
    2. And 15 % of market share of OU in Croatia, with tendency to drop further. In both cases : Danke Deutschland!

      Delete
  30. Anonymous09:50

    So many routes that were previously served from Ljubljana still remain without an airline, and not just ones to Balkans or ex-Yu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      Not that many. Just Copenhagen, Prague and Vienna as far as I'm aware. The rest were in the Balkans.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:57

      They should just spend some money to subsidize any missing routes.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:15

      I would say that there are many more (ZRH, MUC, AMS, CDG) and then all the Balkans. So quite a lot..

      Delete
  31. Anonymous09:53

    Grand total of 9 departures today from Ljubljana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      If it's any consolation, Sarajevo isn't much better. 10 today.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:17

      At least Sarajevo is doing something about it and trying to find an airline to base a plane there.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous09:57

    I cannot think of another EU country with such dire aviation stats.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous10:11

    And what is even more sad is that Slovenia is being advertised as a destination on the TUI UK website with packages for May 2023 but in the flight details flight depart from Gatwick and arrive to Salzburg.

    https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/europe/slovenia/holidays-slovenia.html

    I don't understand why not Ljubljana? Even charters like TUI are being prevented from operating?
    Something very fishy is going around with Ljubljana. If airlines like Flydubai had a great success, there is no reason for others not to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:16

      And this after LJU declared it wanted to become a "hub for charters".

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:10

      Haha forgot about that :)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:20

      According to the official LJU Fraport website concerning charters:

      For the autumn school holidays charter passengers will be able to fly to Egypt (Hurghada), Turkey (Antalya), Spain (Vitoria, Bilbao) and to Malta. Until the end of the year Slovenian travel agencies will also be offering charter flights to Albania, Madeira, The Azores and Lapland.

      Who will operate those charters? Trade Air, or?

      https://www.lju-airport.si/en/info/news/12-carriers-to-14-destinations-from-ljubljana-airport-in-the-winter-timetable/

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:22

      Trade Air. Their charter to Albania (Ljubljana) is tomorrow morning.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:37

      Got it, thanks. Bilbao is quite a surprise. The whole Basque Country region is super beautiful and green and home to very wealthy Spaniards by the way. It used to be a quite industrial city in the 70s and now it transformed a lot. Who knows? We can see some seasonal flights to Bilbao in the future. Although, neighbouring city San Sebastian is more "posh". Northern Spain is just a true hidden gem especially Santander, also super elegant city with spectacular beaches.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous10:17

    Ministry (MZI) directly employees about 30 people directly just to cover the field of aviation. Add another 80 plus with the CAA, DRI about 30 for MBX. We have a university department FS and a military aviation unit. That tells me a lot about our so called aviation experts, they continue to do what they do best: " they will analyse further". At the end they will produce something like this http://pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=RESO48

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:24

      30 people directly in charge of aviation and this is the result? What do they do all day?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:55

      If you want you "work" from home, if you want you "work" from the office. It's an extremely leisure job. It's a vacation not a job ... I have a friend who got a job there and he can't believe that you can be paid for doing "nothing". In his previous aviation job he has lower salary and ...he has more work to do in a half day that at MZI in one week. Go figure!

      Delete
  35. Anonymous10:23

    A complete shambles. That surely signifies the end for Maribor's airport, but it really needn't be so. Utter incompetence at every turn, with no measured plans or any obvious attempt by all concerned to pursue a joined up approach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:25

      Why are none of these airlines interested in Maribor? It isn't that far from LJU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:41

      Considering the airport's future is up in the air, I don't think many want to commit to flying there. We saw the Chinese debacle in Maribor already.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous10:40

    And what is Fraport doing in all of this? Have they attempted to attract any airline?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:42

      They always say they are in talks with airlines. In last 2 years only new airlines are Flydubai and Aegean. While Iberia and Finnair left, and Easyjet is down to one route.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous10:48

    From a UK perspective there are no direct flights to LJU from anywhere north of London. As someone has already mentioned TUI (and Inghams) have to send their guests to Bled, Bohinj, Bovec, and Kranjska Gora via Salzburg, involving a four-hour transfer. Once upon a time not too long-ago Adria flew Wednesday and Saturday between May and September from/to Manchester. Now, there is absolutely nothing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:11

      Even connectivity to London is horrible, which used to be much better with more Easy and Wizz frequencies.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:14

      Unfortunately, in Slovenia the concerned taxpayer brigade (gauche caviar, also known as Friday cyclists) is in charge and they only support businesses from which personal gain is to be made. Since Adria was no longer serving that purpose, they decided to sell it to a straw buyer and drain the remaining assets out of it.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:24

      But on other hand, they know they made mistake and they wanted to correct it. Every party (except GS) in coalition support idea of new national carrier. I bet you already know what is JJ opinion regarding that, right?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:33

      I agree with the UK dude, MAN is a very important UK airport with serious traffic and also has a big catchment area. So sad that LJU lost this connection.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:57

      @11:14:
      Well, if they realize they made a mistake (which only a naive halfwit would believe), then it's alright. So I must thank Cmerar, Black Mamba and Serpentinsek for destroying the only Slovenian carrier (and thus my only option to work in Slovenia).
      I will take JJ (or anyone with half a brain right of center) over you caviar communists.

      Delete
  38. Anonymous15:28

    Its the year 2060. After Slovenian government failed to reach agreement with Ryanair to establish a base at LJU for the 500th time in 40 years, they will subside Lufthansa for an aditional weekly flight to FRA.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous16:27

    How is it that Slovakia can be well connected to Europa, plus charters, without a national airline, but Slovenia is not?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And Schwechat half an hour from Bratislava

      Delete
  40. Anonymous18:31

    So if Adria was a lossmaking shambles mainly focused on transfers, why would the government want to set up a new airline that didn't actually bring much benefit in bringing in pax to the country to spend money?

    ReplyDelete

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