Slovenia launches second review into new state carrier


The Slovenian government recently launched a feasibility study through an expert task force to determine whether it should establish a new national carrier, with its findings to be presented to the cabinet during the summer. It marks the second time in two years that the government has commissioned such an analysis. Slovenia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, said, “My opinion on the matter is not as important as to what these studies will show. Our country has already had one bad experience with its national airline. Not only was it purchased by a catastrophically bad buyer, which led to its bankruptcy, but a few years beforehand, Adria registered huge losses and continued to do so year after year. We had to provide state aid, and, of course, all of this has to be put on the table so that the government knows all the facts when it decides which way to go. But we can hear the voice of the economy, which of course says that Slovenia needs such a carrier back".

In 2021, the Slovenian government launched a similar study to determine whether to establish a new carrier. Its finding pointed in favour of a new airline, but the state’s idea to use means from the European Union’s Covid recovery fund was shot down by the block, after which the government gave up on the idea. Ajda Cuderman, who was the State Secretary at the Ministry for Economy at the time, says the study from two years ago made firm conclusions that the state would benefit from a new national airline. Furthermore, Ms Cuderman claims the Slovenian export and development bank SID was prepared to provide funding for the new carrier. She accuses select people at the ministry for failing to present full details on the airline to EU officials. She adds the study from two years ago is still available and can be found at the ministry.

As the government awaits the findings on whether it should establish a new national airline, it is preparing to provide airline with seventeen million euros over a three-year period to subsidise the launch of new routes from the country. Last month, Slovenia’s Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, said, “If we subsidise rail and bus passenger transport, we shouldn't be afraid to start our own airline and subsidise it as well. Public transport is much more than economic logic. A new national carrier is being considered, but before we get to that, we cannot stand idly by. That is why we are trying to improve Slovenia’s connectivity by subsidising routes".


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    Bratusek seems far from confident that the new airline will be launched compared to her pre-election promises.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      You should check video where she gave that statement. From what I saw yesterday I am 90% sure that something is already going on in the background.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:51

      Where can we check the video?

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    3. Anonymous10:00

      I don't know if moderator will allow me, but it's on N1info.si

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    I'm almost certain there will be no new national airline launched. If they decided to invest 17 million into subsidizing new routes, why would they invest in a flag carrier?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      Haven't you thought that new national carrier could get most of those subsidies? It's just a way how to push money into carrier and I certainly support that!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:24

      I can easily imagine the scenario where (1) there is not a lot of interest in the spring government incentive call (2) this is used as additional justification that a national airliner is needed (3) when established the national airliner takes most of the unused budget.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:42

      17 million subsidising for just one year. It takes a while to establish a new carrrier.

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    4. Anonymous13:09

      17 millions for 3 years.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    Looking at it now, it was cheaper and easier if the government just gave Adria 50 million 4 years ago and saved the airline.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:57

      Remember the EU state aid rules. It would likely be determined to be illegal later on.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:00

      And 50 million a year after, 80 million in 2022 and another 50 this year. Sure, much cheaper.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:50

      Adria's debt was around 88m EUR, and that was before Covid. Had they not gone bankrupt, there would also be a huge loss made in 2020, 2021 and most likely even 2022 due to the pandemic, especially with their business model before bankruptcy (huge focus on ACMI).

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Even if they decide in favor of a new airline which I doubt it will take at least until summer 2024 for it to launch, at best.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      Not unless they partner with another airline. Remember several were interested in establishing a new airline. Solinair was one.

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    2. Anonymous09:14

      It is definitely going to be a long road ahead if they decide to establish a new airline. Getting IATA code, sourcing planes, getting a distribution system, staff, planes, slots... Summer 2024 would be doable if they started straight away.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:42

      What happened to the banana king as potential partner?

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    4. Anonymous09:43

      He is still producing bananas.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:50

      This cooperation with Solinair would be the best solution for Slovenia and Slovenians.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:27

      Why? Do you think we prefer to fly cargo planes? Seriously, a partner with experience in scheduled passenger operations would be much better.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:51

      Solinair has no experience with direct-facing customers, they don't even handle their own cargo sales, but just fly wet lease for DHL.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:06

    The saga continues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:49

      Televisa presenta

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:06

    The fact that they already have a study and are choosing to waste time, money and resources on another says a lot.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Welcome to government bureocracy. No different than anywhere else in the world.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:50

      They'd better get their act together very soon and hopefully all goes well

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:00

      Puno se prica i malo radi...

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:28

      Have you seen the study? There is a reason why the idea was not taken seriously in Brussels. And the reason is the quality of the study and the way how it was presented.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:07

    For someone as a outsider, what is the general mood in the government for this idea? Will they go for it?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      Most of parties are supporting idea (SD & Levica & SAB - which was merged with Svoboda). The biggest one (Svoboda) are not against it, but first they want to see what subsidies will bring. If noting special will come out of subsidies program then I think they will go for it.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:07

    It's a big political decision, that is for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      Will the EU allow it though?

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:15

    Say they decide to launch an airline, what is going to be the concept? They will compete against Lufthansa group on the most profitable flights to Frankfurt and Munich? They will start unserved routes? They will try to be a new Adria by connecting Balkans to the West?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      Good question

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:27

      They wouldn't compete against Lufthansa group. There would be more than enough space for the new airline to launch flights like Frankfurt and Munich since the routes are underserved.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:30

      And why LH did not start FRA/MUC when JP was there? They are full and very profitable now as they are only one departing in the morning (except 3 day AF), but what happens when you have 5 additional departures to EU hubs (ZRH / BRU / VIE / CPH / AMS)? It change situation completely and I believe that LH group would be for cooperation as they had with JP in the past.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:50

      There's simply no market for many of the routes, including most of the Balkan.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:02

      I agree that for most of the Balkan there isn't enough demand, but certainly is for most unserved capitals (PRN / TIA / SKP / SJJ / TGD).

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:31

      There is a sustainable P2P demand for PRN and SKP, but not for TIA, SJJ and TGD.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:58

      Have you seen TIA figures lately?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:23

      Yes, I have seen figures of pax demand from LJU to TIA, back in 2018 and also now. There is very weak P2P demand from LJU to TIA. Slovenia is not Switzerland.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous14:10

      I believe that a nice walkthrough Ljubljana will change your mind. Albanians are everywhere! Of course it's not so strong as in Switzerland but still I don't see any issues to fulfill one flight per day. Not to forget that TIA is also known as tourist destination + transfers..More then enough demand.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous15:08

      Based on historical and O&D figures those people are mostly generating PRN and SKP demand.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous15:16

      More then TIA of course, but there are still a lot of Albanians living in Slovenia, and they are not in small numbers. I believe that TIA was even best performing Balkan route within JP schedule.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous15:44

      What Albanians are living in Slovenia? Only from Kosovo

      Delete
    13. Prepelica20:21

      Most of the Albanians living in Slovenia are actually from Macedonia, and then from Kosovo. I met many of them, none from Albania.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:18

    Really hope it happens!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:19

    Slovenia needs this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      Would be nice to have an airline based in Slovenia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      True, but somehow foreign airlines are not interested in it. Now we need Air Slovenia!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous04:07

      Air Slovenia. It has a ring to it. I feel like Slovenia can attract more people if it was set up more like a vacation airline. Bringing in more tourism.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:24

    Adira 2.0 incoming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:25

      Adria never dies.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      If they decide to launch a new national airline I wonder if they will buy back the Adria brand. It was bought by some investor from the UAE.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:35

      The brand is dead. Why waste money?

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:26

    Let's say Adria is relaunched, which routes could be started from LJU?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:57

      Morning/evening flights to EU hubs, mid rotation to Balkan destinations.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:28

    Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:34

    It would be great to have a local airline back in business

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:52

      If the government is now willing to create a new airline, why did it give up on Adria? Why didn't it bail it out?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:57

      Adria bailout would be more expensive. Around 100m just to cover all the debts.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:36

    If launched correctly I think it could be successful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:40

    The government has tried to give money to foreign airlines and it didn't produce fantastic results. Now it is time to try and get a national carrier to start flights.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:41

    If there is a demand Slovenia should support Slovenian air company and not foreign

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:41

    Now it's just a question of who will prevail.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:41

    I doubt the government will choose this option in the end. It is more expensive then giving subsidies for foreigners.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      We can see in the yearly results what is the outcome of relying on foreign carriers. Slovenia desperately needs it's own national carrier.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:51

      Is it more expensive? Now we are wasting millions and in return we get peanuts. With national carrier we will spend millions as well but in return we will have excellent connectivity!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:33

      Taken into account all costs and benefits, a national airliner is probably cheaper solution compared to the planned incentives (if given to foreign airliners).

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:42

    This is the best chance for locals to get new employment opportunities. So I really hope they agree to provide some funds to set up an airline.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous09:49

    Slovenia is a beautiful country and they deserve to have good national air carrier connecting Ljubljana but also Maribor to the other European cities.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous09:50

    This is the first time after Oct 2019 that I actually think it's going ahead. Let's see what they'll do... Just please don't bring back MRJ900s

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:52

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:00

      Why not MRJ900?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:11

      If it didn't work before, why would it now? Go for a mix of atrs and embraers at the start and then up it up with a few a320s

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:54

      Three different types of aircraft for maximum profitability :)

      Delete
    5. MRJ is cancelled as a project.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:54

      Mitsubishi bought CRJ and renamed it to MRJ

      Delete
    7. Anonymous19:11

      No they didn't. They just added ''Mitsubishi'' in front of the CRJ. Still, no one calls it like that

      Delete
  24. Anonymous09:59

    Does anyone know when the government's subsidy plan for airlines will be sent to EU? They need to approve it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:02

      They said they would submit it to the EU asap.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:35

      It's already submitted, but not approved yet.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous10:00

    I hope it materializes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous10:01

    I doubt a new airline could be profitable, at least in first few year, but that carrier can bring so much to Slovenian economy that it's loss is drop in the ocean compared to all other benefits.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous10:02

    If they go for it, please bring in a professional management. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They should do anything possible, head hunter on the highest level, maybe even diplomatic activity, secret services, anything, just to get Jasmin to the CEO position. Success guaranteed 😃

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      Obsessing for a change?

      Delete
  28. It was very easy to likvidate (ok, not so, thay had to hire german "specialists" to do that), but now we see, how is hard to make new one.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous10:25

    It will only work as a money losing venture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:28

      We are losing it much more now!

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10:28

    Ex-Yu area is too small and too poor for all these micro national airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:29

      So we (in Slovenia) should simply accept that and start travel with horses again?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:19

      Yap, stable boy.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:22

      Unfortunately (for you) this won't happen and national carrier will be established :) yihaaa

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:33

    Hope they set up the new company on some healthy foundations and I wish it much luck in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:33

    I love how people are shortsighted; even if airline is losing money, it would bring MUCH MORE to overall economy; From turists to business

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous10:45

    Hope it happens! Makes much more sense than paying foreign airlines to fly out of LJU. This way, the state can collect taxes from the company and the employees.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous10:45

    What was the point of closing Adria then? Better to have given money and let the company stay afloat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:02

      Because they thought that after JP demise foreign airlines will fights to step in Slovenia market and they can see that nothing has happened for almost 4 years.

      Delete
  35. Anonymous11:06

    Meanwhile they removed the last symbol of Adria a few days ago. The Adria sign was taken off from the bus station in the city :(

    ReplyDelete
  36. YU 2.76mil. pax in 2022.
    Serbia is a country of 6.6 mil citizens
    22 Aircraft in fleet.

    OU 2.17mil. pax. in 2019
    Croatia has 3.87 mil.citizens
    13 Aircraft in fleet.

    Air Montenegro 325 000 pax. till 4th November 2022
    Montenegro has 620 000 citizens.
    2 Aircraft in Fleet.

    Slovenia (I would also say Macedonia) both countries with 2 Mil. citizens, if they are ready to experiment and/or invest would probably be able to maintain 4-6 aircraft fleet (A220/A320 E170-195).

    What would you create?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous14:48

    Ne treba biti puno pametan, po svemu viđenom sigurno vredi stara poslovica, uzdaj se use I u svoje kljuse.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous16:32

    So those subsidies are intended to finance the foreing airlines and improve connectivity until Slo government decides and launches a new national carrier ( if they will of course) I mean if they succeed with this and lauch a new carrier this would be great but there is a lot of if’s in this. And it seems like Slo government has a lot of money as they are splashing it like nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous18:42

    It's time for her to wash what she messed up. Who's the group of experts?

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous18:48

    It was a catastrophically bad buyer of a company, chosen by a corrupt state property regulator, which had a decade-long history of nepotism.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous21:30

    Why is Bosnia not establishing a new airline????

    ReplyDelete

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