Slovenia reveals list of up to fifteen subsidised routes


The Slovenian government has presented the Program for Greater Aviation Connectivity of Slovenia until 2025, which includes a list of up to fifteen routes the state plans to subsidise in order to secure new destinations. The government will provide a total of 16.8 million euros in subsidies to airlines over the next three years to launch new routes. The incentives will amount to up to 50% of the carrier’s airport fees in Slovenia. It is hoped the government’s plan will help kickstart the country’s aviation sector which has been hit by both the demise of national carrier Adria Airways in late 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic.

Ten routes have been listed as of utmost priority. The first group are larger hubs that can provide onward connectivity. They include: Vienna, Copenhagen, Athens, Madrid, Amsterdam and Helsinki. The second group of destinations are those aimed at point-to-point passengers. They include: Charleroi, Skopje, Prague and Berlin. The third group of destinations, marked as “supplementary”, will only be subsidised if there are enough funds left following the first public call aimed at the abovementioned ten priority routes. The supplementary destinations include: Rome Fiumicino, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, Lisbon, Pristina and Paris Orly. If the Slovenian government receives the all clear from the European Commission to subsidise the new routes, it will launch a thirty-day tender on March 24 to find carriers willing to operate the "priority" routes. The new flights must be launched by the 2023/24 winter season at the latest. Only airlines from the European Union or the European Common Aviation Area will be eligible to apply.

"Priority" routes that will be subsidised

"Supplementary" routes that will be subsidised if there are enough funds

Ljubljana Airport has supported the government’s push to subsidise airlines to either maintain or launch new operations to the Slovenian capital. Regardless of the state’s plans, the airport anticipates a strong summer ahead. “The start of the year has been encouraging, with a significant increase in passenger traffic. The summer season will offer more destinations and flights. We are happy to soon welcome back Helsinki and Athens to our flight network. These popular travel destinations also serve as important hubs and will broaden the possibilities for our passengers to continue their journeys to the Middle East and Asia. We are also excited to see the third daily Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and other frequency increases, which will substantially raise seat capacity on flights from Ljubljana Airport”, the General Manager of operator Fraport Slovenija, Babett Stapel, said.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    My only bet is that Skopje is among them. As for the rest, not sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:44

      Yes SKP is included.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    Great news!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:02

    I predict it will be 10 routes in total. Let's see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      I think that is way too much for just 3 million in subsidies per year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      it's 5,6 mio € per year

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:17

      There is enough money for 10 routes with moderate capacity and frequency.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    Lodz will be among them :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      Seriously?!?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:07

      And Szczecin :)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:16

      Well if they are fixing the list for Wizz and/or Ryanair then it will include these.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:07

    Hoping for the best

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:09

    Makes you wonder whether OTP and SOF had transfer or P2P traffic with Adria. They used to perform well. Tirana should work quite well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      OTP, SOF and TIA are not any more among top unserved routes. The figures were driven by Adria routes and partly transfer pax (especially TIA). I would say there is future potential in those routes, but the figures are very low at the moment and a direct route success is questionable.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:45

      Back then the LCC presence in OTP, SOF and TIA was much much smaller.
      Now these airports are almost fully connected to the major European markets.
      I don't see now how a LJU based airline could offer a competitive alternative.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:12

    And they are still waiting for EU to approve this program. Hope it happens sooner rather than later.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      EU has been approving far, far larger subsidies to airlines the last few years.
      There won't be any problems with approving that plan.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:54

      WZZ is already operating TIA TRS by July which is 1.5h drive from LJU. So i don't 4hunk they will target LJU at all

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:17

    It will be a bunch of secondary airports with aim of Wizz or Ryanair starting flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      We will find out soon.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:55

      WZZ is already operating TIA TRS by July which is 1.5h drive from LJU. So i don't 4hunk they will target LJU at all

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:37

    So it depends on destinations if LCC will fly or?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:43

    Another fail by the Slovenian government. In the "priority" list they put two destinations that will be served this summer. So they basically fixed subsidisies for Finnair and Aegean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:44

      3 routes in the priority list are operated. You forgot Amsterdam.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:49

      Seems they are aiming for consistent year round service. So yes, KLM, Finnair and Aegean would be incentivized to keep these routes at a respectable frequency during winter.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:56

      It is probably the reason why Finnair and Aegean scheduled flights to Ljubljana this summer.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:59

      No it wasnt the reason. The reason were numbers.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:37

      I think you need to be flying year round to be able to get founds

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:45

    The fact that there is no Bucharest listed just shows the lack of competence

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:00

      Yes. You are right, but the numbers dont agree with you. So, are we gonna change the numbers?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:36

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/p/ljubljana-airports-top-unserved-routes.html

      The numbers agree with OP

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:46

      This was true in 2019, but in 2022 OTP is not even in TOP 15.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:08

      And what is the top 15 for 2022?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:24

      Mostly destinations from the program.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous19:49

      where can I see the list of the top unserved destinations from Lju for 2022

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:45

    So Transavia, Finnair and Aegean have secured subsidies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:52

      Possibly we could see a return of KLM.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:46

    I am bit disappointed that there are no subsidies for the morning and the evening flights to BRU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      No worries you'll have Charleroi instead 🤦

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:49

      But even Charleroi is on the list that will be subsidized if there is money left. So little chances of it happening.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:39

      The comission is not eager to approve subsidies for increased frequencies. Only for new routes.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:48

    I am surprised they put Charleroi and not BRU

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:49

      It is tailor made for FR.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      I really hope it will be FR rather than WIZZ flying the route. I like WIZZ, but they have become very unreliable.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:08

      One or the other, better than noone

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:51

    Why on earth CRL would prioritized ahead of BRU?
    The EU business alone could support such a route.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:53

      But there are already flights to Brussels.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:55

      Yes, but the timeslot are quite bad (and will get worse in the summer season) especially for daily meetings.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:53

    So we could see potentially Iberia and Austrian return to Ljubljana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:56

      And SAS could be coming

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:56

      ^ I see Norwegian as being the more likely option.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:21

      Doubt Austrian will launch VIE-LJU. Its more likely we see Lauda Europe on this route.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:10

      What about Wizz on the VIE-LJU? Also Vueling instead of Iberia on MAD-LJU?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:10

      If anything Vueling would launch Barcelona but as of Madrid that will surely be operated by either Iberia or AirEuropa

      Delete
    6. Anonymous21:20

      If this does not bring back Aviogenex to LJU, nothing will

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:58

    Let's go route by route: Madrid: Ryanair/Iberia, CRL: Wizz/Ryanari, AMS: KLM/Transavia, CPH: SAS. Ryanair, HEL: Finnair, BER: Easyjet, Ryanair, PRG: Ryanair, Smartwings, VIE: Austrian, SKP: Wizz, ATH: Aegan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:16

      I think that FR and W6 will play a major role. There is a reason they talked to them so much in the last year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:07

      Check criteria first

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:03

    The only destination I am excited to see is Madrid. The supplementary list I didn't even take into account because it probably won't happen.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:05

    I'm happy to see Vienna on the list!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:06

    No UK destinations :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:12

      Surprising

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:41

      Not allowed. UK is not EU, neither ECAA area.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:11

      Stupid EU rules

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:06

      Anon 13:11
      Nope, stupid Brexit.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:09

    Overall not bad and kind of expected. I just wish they didn't include routes that are already operating.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:09

    Most of these, if not all, will be served by LCCs.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:10

    With these 10 routes (not including supplementary) LJU should reach pre Covid passengers levels starlight away.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous10:12

    So I guess we can conclude that the government will decide not to set up a new national airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:18

      Highly likely

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:42

      Just the opposite.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:58

      https://siol.net/novice/slovenija/bo-novi-program-izboljsal-letalsko-povezanost-slovenije-s-svetom-vzivo-601302

      Delete
  25. Anonymous10:17

    Who came up with this list?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous10:21

    Well it is something. Whether they will be able to find an operator for these routes is another thing but with the 10 additional routes, we should be well connected to all parts of Europe again

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous10:23

    So if they don't cover all of the ten priority routes they will move to the supplementary ones?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous10:23

    Nice but they should have done this at the start of last winter season so these routes could launch at the start of the 2023 summer season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:31

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:35

      True. But the did have to pass the law in the national assembly first.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:39

      And they have to wait for EU approval.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:04

      I don't believe that should be a problem, as countries can subside airport fees. Also, Bratušek pointed out in the press conference that they are subsidising fees, not tickets which are not allowed per EU laws (26:48 from the stream https://www.youtube.com/live/P0HDv2-3Tjg?feature=share&t=1608 )

      Something similar Amelia said yesterday
      https://www.delo.si/gospodarstvo/novice/v-dveh-mesecih-bi-lahko-z-brnika-leteli-kamorkoli/

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:09

      Indeed the approval is expected as they followed EC guidelines strictly. There is not increase of frequencies included in the program (BRU etc) as that would be against the guidelines.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous10:31

    Not bad at all, although I wish LIS, FCO and BCN were also on the priority list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:13

      I mean they are still in the "second" list.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10:32

    GP Aviation will start flight from Pristina to Ljubjana on 31march each Monday and Friday
    Operated by tourOperator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:39

      Yes, no one mentions it!
      This time I think it will work!
      GP Aviation is successful, until now they do not have a suspended route from Pristina.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:53

      Even the TradeAir charters were a success, filling the plane upwards of 80%, without any marketing etc. So this will surely work!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:27

      Full a320 PRN-LJU, almost empty a320 LJU-PRN, that's not 80%.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:40

    If I remember correctly, they said that also time of departure/arrival will be one of the conditions to get subsidies. I am really interested how many flights will be operated in morning/evening rotations..

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:50

    Why not Sarajevo?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:02

      Too low P2P demand, even at Adria times there was a lot of transfer pax on that route.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:33

      And there wasn't on FRA/ZRH/BRU/VIE? I really don't understand you guys, every legacy airlines have transfers, without transfers you would not fulfill other flights and get additional revenue.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:34

      man if you have to take a flight to Rome FCO at the time of Adria from Sarajevo, i doubt there will be very much travellers who will connect to ZRH or Vienna to reach FCO. They could easily connect to LJU

      Delete
  33. Anonymous11:04

    So, the same idiots that decided to sell Adria to 4K crooks are now considering setting up a new airline (siol.net/novice/slovenija/bo-novi-program-izboljsal-letalsko-povezanost-slovenije-s-svetom-vzivo-601302)? Given I might be given the opportunity to be based at home once again, I would like to thank all the dimwitted Slovenes who voted for these idiots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:34

      Be happy that they are doing something regarding that. All other idiots were openly against new national carrier.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:33

      Like I said, I'm happy. But it makes ni sense to liquidate an airline and after 3 years set up a new one. Aircraft leasing rates have gone up considerably since the covid. Also, people got jobs elsewhere. Not to mention lost slots. Complete idotism which only Slovenian Steve Jobs and Black Mamba understand. And their voters.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:46

      But what happened can not be changed, we can only look forward. I still don’t understand if you agree that Slovenia establish national carrier once again or not?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous18:00

      @15:46:
      I agree with you. But it pis*es me off when these idiots are destroying everything and yet, they keep coming back.
      Honestly, I don’t know if I’m against the idea of establishing a new carrier. Since there might be something in it for me, I would like to see one (even though there is no guarantee the new airline would want me or I would want to work for the airline - Adria’s conditions were far from perfect, the biggest issue being fatigue).
      On the other hand, I think that boat has sailed 3 years ago and setting up a new airline today makes no sense whatsoever. Unfortunately, due to stupid politicians (who are again in charge - some new faces, majority of them we already know), aviation in Slovenia is nonexistent. And I think it should stay that way for the next few years. But as I’ve been saying since 2019: if Slovenia wants air connectivity, we (the taxpayers) will have to pay for it.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous00:43

      Feeling fatigued in JP seriously?

      Delete
  34. Anonymous12:27

    Airlines are already done with the Summer 2023 schedule. If routes need to launch at latest by next winter, I think Slovenia will struggle. Most airlines start new routes during a summer schedule, especially now that they are scaling up operations after Covid. Operations will clearly not be scaled up ahead of a loss-making winter. At this late stage, routes can only be expected to launch by Summer 2024.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous12:53

    That means Aegean and Finnair getting subsidies so LJU-ATH and LJU-HEL will be year-round routes??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:54

      LJU-ATH will be year-round but I think something like 2-3 weekly

      Delete
  36. Anonymous13:08

    I think the list of destinations is pretty good because there are some important destinations currently not served from ZAG such as BER, PRG and LIS. MAD is a very good consideration. Finally some hope for LJU to return to the European radar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:19

      So Black Mamba is not that bad?

      Delete
  37. Anonymous14:15

    All of them can be served by Ryanair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:45

      can they? even if they dont base a plane?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:38

      im just reading slovenian media ... airline will receive additional points if they fly between 6am and 9 am - which means they would like to get someone to base a plane in ljubljana

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:31

      Does LJU have enough check-in counters to support more than LH+AF+TK morning flights?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23:13

      They have 22.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous22:50

      And they can use an old terminal. It was used and probably will be again for charter flights. Once upon a time there was even an idea to use it as a low budget flight terminal. Nevertheless, it will be in use.

      Delete
  38. I wish Lauda moves its 320 fleet to be based in LJU and ZAG gets Ryanair 737 metal instead, with combined frequencies from both bases to offer daily connections to various destinations. Probably will remain just my wish but think would be beneficial for FR, both airports, Lauda flight crews based in ZAG who are mostly Slovenes, and above all for the passengers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:33

      If Ryanair decides to step in I think this is the most probable outcome for both airports.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous18:24

    No Lagos ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:07

      Well, our PM did say we’ll be going to outer space in the very near future. So I guess Lagos is still on the table.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:53

      And there were talks about two daily flights to Mars but they are waiting for Eu to approve it

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:04

      LJU hub of the solar system!

      Delete
  40. Why is helsinki so important for slo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:06

      asian tourist groups

      Delete

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