Sarajevo Airport has signed a contract with a carrier over the opening of its base in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. According to the “Klix” portal, the airline, which is yet to be officially named, will station its aircraft in the city as early as next month or in May at the latest. Sarajevo Airport noted the carrier in question must now secure permits and the contract must be ratified based on local laws. The airline will be granted a range of incentives in line with a public call issued by the airport late last year. The development comes just five months after Wizz Air closed its base at Sarajevo Airport, citing inflation and commercial viability.
Although the airline has not been officially named and the airport had not confirmed any reports, local media in Bosnia and Herzegovina had previously reported that Ryanair was the only carrier to have applied in Sarajevo Airport’s public call for an airline to establish a base in the city in return for incentives. Sarajevo Airport is expected to extend its work hours this summer in order to be operational past midnight, a demand reportedly made by the airline which will open the base. The airport undertook a similar tender in 2020, which was won by Wizz Air. It was the only one to have applied at the time. The renewed call was not limited to low cost carriers and neither did it require for the airline to base two aircraft in the city, as was previously the case.
Under the terms issued by Sarajevo Airport in its public call, the interested carrier must open its base in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital this year in order to qualify for the incentives. The subsidies are limited only to the number of passengers carried, however, the airline will qualify for the incentives regardless of how many travellers it handles. The more departing passengers it welcomes on board its aircraft from Sarajevo, the greater the financial support, however, the exact amount of funds have not been made public. Ryanair entered Bosnia and Herzegovina’s market in 2018. Based on existing capacity, it will hold a 17% market share in the country during the first month of the 2023 summer season (April) compared to 36% held by Wizz Air.
Imagine if it's wizz lol
ReplyDeleteIt says Ryanair was the only one to apply.
DeleteThose are just speculations. Someone mentioned it is an easyJet. But probably it is RyanAir
DeleteJordan Aviation Company (JAV)
DeleteCome to Ohrid as well :D
ReplyDeleteOr SKP
DeleteExcellent news for Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many routes/ aircraft we could expect
ReplyDeleteI hope that Ryanair will consider some leisure destinations
DeleteFlights to Spain would be a nice addition.
DeleteI'm guessing they will base a Lauda A320 in SJJ
DeleteI think Lauda has the lowest cost structure but am not 100% sure.
DeleteNot Lauda but Buzz
DeleteNice but FR usually looks at getting everything for free.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a good year for Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteSJJ is open 24/7
ReplyDeleteNo, it is not.
DeleteIt will be open 24/7
DeleteFrom what I head it won't be 24/7 but until 3AM.
DeleteThat would make sense. I assume their last plane will arrive at around 01AM
DeleteNo itd austrian on 22h30pm
DeleteBosnian aviation is getting pretty impressive. I like how SJJ is not giving up and actively working to secure new flights.
ReplyDeleteRyanair seems like the logical airline. Once they enter, it will be very beneficial for SJJ. Interesting times ahead...
+1
DeleteRyanair are hardly reliable partners.
DeleteIn a statement for slovenian media FRAPORT has already congratulated SJJ operator and added that they are extremely satisfied with FR decision to base their AC at SJJ. The number of slovenian pax who fly with FR from ZAG proves how popular is this carrier in the region. On a side note FRAPORT told the media they are extremely happy that ZAG has been recognised at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards by ACI as this means better service for those slovenian pax who cant fly from LJU.
Delete🤣🤣🤣
DeleteThere is no Bosnian aviation sadly… only Bosnian airports for now…
DeleteHow would a base in Sarajevo impact Ryanair's operations in Tuzla and Banja Luka?
ReplyDeleteI think they will pause expansion from Tuzla (similar to what Wizz did). Banja Luka shouldn't be affected.
DeleteTuzla might be slightly impacted but Banja Luka not at all. Each airport has its own area.
DeleteRyanair's presence in Tuzla isn't huge and I assume they just won't grow much from there if they start Sarajevo.
DeleteEach airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina are places strategically. So, they are covering own regions.
DeleteFingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteWell a deal has been signed :)
DeleteYes, but deal was signed woth Wizz and we.know what happened.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see Wizz Air's reaction.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they expand from Tuzla more.
DeleteWould make sense, although their growth from Tuzla has kind of stalled in the last few years.
DeleteTuzla is hardly to be considered as serious airport. It is a low cost, but not suitable for any growth..
DeleteThe only solution for SJJ.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this was the only solution for SJJ. I just think that the airport went down the "subsidies for LCC" path. I think Sarajevo, being a European capital, a developing tourism destination and having a good base of diaspora traffic, could have attracted a number of European legacy carriers.
DeleteThey are cutting it fine if they plan to start flights in just a month or two.
ReplyDeleteMost bookings are now made last minute. Plus they will probably offer 10 euro fares.
DeleteThey are still loading their summer timetable, as we saw with Osijek being added today.
DeleteBut will FR have more success than Wizz?
ReplyDeleteI would say yes. Wizz is not focusing on Eastern Europe at the moment. Plus, Ryanair seems quite successful in Tuzla, so why not in SJJ?
Deletelol Wizz core competence is stil carrying gastos between West Europe and their east european homes. If they didntnt have success in this ...
DeleteFantastic news for Sarajevo!!! :)
ReplyDeleteIf it is is Ryanair, SJJ will be one of their only non EU bases.
ReplyDeleteFR only in Morocco has 3 bases.
DeleteOther than Morocco and UK they don't have bases outside of EU.
DeleteTrue but they have extensive operations from both those countries ;)
DeleteI'm surprised at how quickly they managed to find a replacement for W6.
ReplyDeleteIn comparing to Management of Mostar Airport, it seams they know how to work. Management of Mostar Airport had a 5 pasangers in February.
DeleteWould have been better if they managed to reach a deal with a non LCC.
ReplyDeleteWell none applied.
DeleteLCCs can't be trusted as we already saw in Sarajevo. They should not go in bed with them again.
DeleteThere are no legacies who open the bases left and right, they usually stick to their own markets or regions (Scandinavia i.e). Do we have legacy in region with foreign bases? No. Do we have legacy in wider region with foreign hubs? Yes, Aegean has one (and yes, in Larnaca). So which non-LCC should open SJJ base, do you have some best practice example?
DeleteI think Ryanair can fly to Baden-Baden, Memmingen and Düsseldorf Weeze in Germany
DeleteWhat routes do you guys think Ryanair could launch?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will introduce flights from London, especially with Wizz Air exiting this route.
DeleteEveryone has failed on the London-Sarajevo route so far. Let's see if Ryanair can be any different.
DeleteHow many airlines have tried it?
DeleteBritish Airways, Fly Bosnia and Wizz Air.
DeleteIn terms of new routes, I expect Scandinavia to be featured front and center, then flight to London, Paris, German airports and maybe Rome.
DeleteI think Ryanair can fly to Baden-Baden, Memmingen and Düsseldorf Weeze in Germany
DeleteWhy do they bother with these tenders? If they already made an agreement with Ryanair, which everyone thinks they did, why the sham tenders? They did that with Wizz Air last time too. Everyone knew they had already made an agreement with Wizz Air.
ReplyDeleteTo look above board.
DeleteFor any public company, tenders are mandatory by law.. In most branches you have to have at least 3 offers for it to be even valid. So.. this with airport is, I think, exemption of the rules, just to get anyone.
DeleteWatch and learn Fraport!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope they will be more successful this time.
ReplyDeleteDon't remember FR ever flying to Sarajevo.
DeleteI meant the airport considering their past experience with Wizz Air.
DeleteWill that mean that SJJ will be ahead of LJU? Since the beginning of the year more than 110 thousand used SJJ...
ReplyDeleteIt's already ahead of LJU and will be this year too.
DeleteSJJ had 118.047 passengers in first two months while LJU apparently had 122.808.
DeleteLJU has not published its passenger numbers for February.
DeleteIt is on Sierra5.
DeleteThere is a lot of potential from SJJ.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAnd a lot of unserved routes.
DeleteSarajevo had more passengers in February than in 2019. And thats without LCC
DeleteThis is impressive
DeleteSarajevo really went through a renaissance with Wizz Air. I hope the same will happen this time.
ReplyDeleteYes but let's hope the final outcome is not the same. With LCCs you never know.
DeleteWizz (in the region) is more reliable then Ryanair
DeleteGreat news for Sarajevo. It really needs a major LCC.
ReplyDeleteRyanair will definitely come
ReplyDeleteHow does Sarajevo finance this?
ReplyDeleteThey constantly get money from the government plus the tourist board will be involved.
DeleteThe airport is operating profitably. But, for this project, subsidies come from the government.
DeleteWell it is good that the government finally came to its senses. It is being done like this everywhere.
Delete"constantly get money from the government" - what do you mean, SJJ funded OMO and TZL with a 10€ tax until 2021. The only subsidies it had were Wizz to Budapest, it's only now they'll get some help
DeleteIf it is FR they will probably announce 10 aircraft base within 3 years of launching flights. Just like they did in Zagreb even though it never happened.
ReplyDeleteBy the time Sarajevo opens it new 'terminal' one base airline will already have left and another will open a base. How long does it take to complete such a miniature project of the terminal extension? It has been over 4 years since they started construction. Entire airports 50 times the size of SJJ have been built in that time.
ReplyDeleteThe new part is already in operation.
DeleteI don't think so.
DeletePrije tri dana sam letio iz Sarajeva. Tako da je iz prve ruke:-)
DeleteOther airports like BER ;)
DeleteAll the best of luck to SJJ. Definitely an underrated destination.
ReplyDeleteDont wanna know how much they are getting for this
ReplyDeleteThe tender is probably fixed so they don't want to reveal the money as it has already been agreed upon, likely Ryanair. They fixed the tender with Wizz Air too.
DeleteCan't wait for the announcement.
ReplyDeleteFantastic news, well done Sarajevo! And that was a fast reaction.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope for a success story this time.
ReplyDeleteGreat news for SJJ. I think this airline is likely to be Ryanair. Whoever comes is beneficial.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the routes finally be announced?
ReplyDeleteSoon
DeleteThe airport is waiting for the airline to give them the all clear.
DeleteSJJ will boom this year! So much potential for that airport
ReplyDeleteHopfully!!!!
DeleteWould it not have been smarter for the government and airport to work together to establish a national airline?
ReplyDeleteIt is way too expensive to start from scratch. Plus the government has proven to be a very unsuccessful shareholder in BiH airlines in the past.
DeleteFor a city the size of Sarajevo Ryanair is probably the best choice .
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately this and Osijek flights mean that Ryanair has lost focus on its Zagreb base .
I Hope basel..because wizzair flights from.basel was allways full
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI've heard it will be Royal Jordanian...
ReplyDeleteWell i heard it is Royal Brunei 😂
DeleteBiH airlines, come back, this time without the atr lol
ReplyDeleteCorrection: This time without the corruption and some self-destructive old staff and management…
DeleteLot rumours : among some : Jordanian and Eurowings....
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that a Jordanian company would be unable to operate any other flights from Sarajevo other than Amman? Who comes up with this nonsense.
DeleteWhat if they register as Bosnian company?
DeleteIt's easyJet! Go to the eJ website
ReplyDeleteand type "Sarajevo". Routes have not been announced yet as they are still waiting for the local permits.
It isn't. Easyjet bas been selling Sarajevo as part of worldwide partnership for years and has been listed on their website for years. Unfortunately it is a no name airline and will bweannounced. Next week.
DeleteIt's confirmed! Eurowings will have a base in Sarajevo. It will be announced by Friday next week.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure because a lot of people saying RyanAir or EasyJet
DeleteIf it is Ryanair, are we likely to get a UK (probably London) to Sarajevo flight?
ReplyDeletelast year I had my first flight with WizzAir and was very happy to have a comfortable and regular way to see my family. Three month later I found out that the line had been discontinued and that there isn´t any other flight without stop overs from North germany. I can no longer travel to Sarajevo by bus. My mother is not getting any younger and I am becoming more and more clumsy. Besides, the many journeys have traumatised me. PLEEEEEASE Ryanair I put all my hopes into you.
ReplyDeleteI am sure it will be Ryanair. I booked a fly from FMM-TZL in August and I check in the App they cancel it and I read on a site that they are canceling from TZL all three destinations Vienna, Stockholm and Memmingen is only bookable until end of May so for sure it will be Ryanair but let’s see
ReplyDelete