Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, has rejected criticism from parts of the Slovenian government that it has not done enough to improve the country’s connectivity. Ljubljana Airport has recorded one of the slowest recovery rates in Europe compared to the pre-pandemic era, however, unlike most, it is also dealing with the fallout from the collapse of its main customer, Adria Airways, which declared bankruptcy less than six months prior to the global health emergency. “Ljubljana Airport is recovering well, although one needs to take into account its specific circumstances. We differ from other airports in the region in that we don't have domestic traffic. We also have no ethnic traffic, and we are not a Greek island, meaning we are not a mass tourist destination, which makes our recovery slower", the General Manager of Fraport Slovenija, Babett Stapel. said.
Slovenia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka Bratušek, recently noted that Fraport needed to increase traffic at the airport, adding that at times she feels as if Fraport does not share the government's goals. The country’s Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Matjaž Han, added, “It is necessary to engage much more in bilateral talks with carriers and attract them to start flying to Slovenia. This is also Fraport's job. However, this can make things more complicated or simpler since Fraport is owned by Lufthansa. Therefore, one could interpret this in different ways”. Lufthansa has an 8.4% stake in Fraport Slovenija’s parent company from Germany.
Ms Stapel argues that Ljubljana Airport is on "a very good path to recovery". Responding to critics, the General Manager noted, "I wish that authors of such accusations would contact us first, so that we could explain to them how the numbers show something completely different”. Ljubljana Airport expects to welcome 1.2 million passengers this year, while pre-Covid figures should be reached in 2026. Ms Stapel pointed out that discounts are offered to new carries launching flights to Slovenia and that Fraport Slovenija's fees are competitive. She further noted the company employed 130 people in the past two years and ample investment is either ongoing or planned.
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| Ljubljana Airpot summer 2023 network |
Commenting on the Slovenian government’s plans to set up a new national carrier, Ms Stapel said Fraport was not included in discussions on the matter but added that any airline is welcome in Ljubljana. “This decision will have to be taken by the state. It would be important for us that this airline increases connectivity and is sustainably managed”.
Now again negative articles and comments about the airport and Slovenia.
ReplyDeleteIMO the airport have great number of passengers and now we have full p2p resumption?!
How is the article negative?
DeleteWe have positive news about LJU, A3 starts ATH, charters are growing, many airlines lunches new frequencies. We don't have only Negative news.
DeleteThe article about Slovenia is bad as always.
DeleteWhy?
There is also positive news, in the other ex-yu countries there are also flaws, but there are no such bad comments as about LJU?!
^ really stop talking nonsense. I clicked on the "Ljubljana" tag and these are the last 5 articles that are related to it:
Delete- Aegean returns to Ljubljana after seven years
- Ljubljana Airport sees improved May performance
- Transavia to boost Ljubljana capacity
- airBaltic sees new opportunities in Western Balkans
- Ljubljana plans airport to city rail link
The biggest negativity here is always about Zagreb. And Zagreb is doing way better than Ljubljana.
DeleteYou people are really sad. Last 5 articles about Zagreb:
Delete- Zagreb Airport sees busiest May on record
- Croatia to boast 483 routes by 57 airlines during peak season
- Former Yugoslav airports handle over 6.7 million passengers
- Qatar Airways boosts Zagreb service
- airBaltic sees new opportunities in Western Balkans
Anon 10:01
DeleteTrue dat!
And why is it important if the negative coments are about LJU or ZAG? Childish
DeleteLjubljana is the most best airport in the world. It has the most amazingnest connectivity and as many destinations as atoms in the Universe.
DeleteAnd Croatia Airlines is the most best airline in the our Galaxy with CEO Jasmin who is even better than most best and his performance and results are the best in neighbouring Galaxies as well. Btw, @ Positive comment, you made my day. Thanks for that! ☺
DeleteThe government should take over the airport from Fraport. It is clear that Fraport is destroying the airport either intentionality or just by ineptitude.
DeleteThey can say whatever they like. Numbers speak for themselves. Ljubljana is at the bottom of all capital cities in Europe.
ReplyDeleteWhy ?
DeleteLJU have 20 flights per day, connections with balkan cities, flights to main airports as AMS, FRA, MUC, IST, BRU, ZRH ?
We only don't have transfers, we have only p2p, this is a normal.
P2p are on Adria times levels.
DeleteMinsk.
@anon 9:15 Are we speaking about the same Ljubljana? balkan connections? P2P recovery?? Still FAR from it.
DeleteNow Tirana beats everyone, no matter what we say! Haha
Delete09:26
DeleteDon't forget that any Macedonian or Albanian flying SKP/TIA-LJU-FRA (for example) is counted twice, so p2p is set at 90+%
Stop running this "counting twice" story. You are making stories out of pure assumptions. But we have the data. The balkan hub passengers accounted 15% of all LJU pax in 2019. Now check the figures again... Yes, even if you deduct them, the LJU recovery is still the worse in Europe.
DeleteYes, P2P has recovered so well that the London route, which had no transfers because it was not served by Adria has recorded 55% decline in passengers during first quarter of this year compared to 2019. Ljubljana was number 1 destination in ex-Yu with London passengers in 2019. Not anymore.
DeleteMinsk is well connected, for the difference from LJU there p2p is 100% restored. Transfers and laborers from Ukraine are missing. However, the airport is well connected there are flights even to Beijing. Over 20 daily flights to Russia, tourist flights have also been restored.
DeleteBut Belavia losses all EU ops.
Based on the last assessment Belarus has the worst post-COVID seat capacity recovery with Slovenia second last. This was published some weeks ago here: "Capacity levels in Montenegro and Slovenia will not reach pre-pandemic levels this summer, with the latter to record the second biggest decrease in available seats in Europe, exceeded only by the sanction-hit Belarus. " So please STOP spreading fake news only to defend FRAPORT.
DeleteLjubljana is not doing that badly. It doesn't have a national airline. What is Frapprt supposed to do?
DeleteStop acting like cartel with LH group. Stop doing everything they can to prevent establishment of a new national airliner.
Delete09:51
DeleteNeither the Slovenians nor the Belarusians care about any Ukrainians or Macedonians who fly through them for an hour and then move on to another destination. p2p is in resumed (over 90%) both in Slovenia and Belarus.
@anon 9:51 I sure you can show us the real numbers about P2P recovery if you constantly claim this is the case?
Delete@anon 9:51 is making up stories. P2P recovery in LJU (Q1-2023 vs Q1-2019) is 48%.
Delete“Ljubljana is at the bottom of all capital cities in Europe.” True for many dimension, with a lot of sarcasm, Vaduz, still one of the Capitals in Europe, might be even lower then Ljubljana.
DeleteOn the other hand, (almost) every European capital, has US Embassy. But if we count the number of staff at those embassies, you will find that one in Ljubljana is among the smallest in Europe, if not the smallest. But hey, Vaduz even does not have one, they are covered from Bern.
Are you for real? To compare Ljubljana to Vaduz? How many inhabitants Liechtenstein has? How many airports? Your comparison is joke of the day ☺
Delete@09:31 can u explain me why would we fly to LJU with Wizz Air in order to catch another flight from there to the very poor route network of LJU airport? For sure i will not fly to LJU in order to fly with Transavia or Air France to AMS od CDG when i can sinply book direct flight from SKP to EIN or BVA. For those who dont want to fly to secondary airports, JU, OU, OS and TK are here for them. And for TIA, TIA is super connected now with WZZ. It doesnt make sense! The only think that does, is that Slovenians will fly with W6 from LJU to SKP in order to coonect in SKP for FCO, MLA, CPH, GOT,...
DeleteIf you don't have a sense of humor and you're just bitter, you just don't understand. Even if you write it down: "with a lot of sarcasm,". not so difficult to understand that with Vaduz, also in Rijeka
DeleteUnlike many others, I admit when I make mistake. I simply omitted to read sarcasm part. Just skipped it, don't know how. Sorry about that, and my apologies. ☺
DeleteWhat charters will have this summer? Turkey and Greece only?
ReplyDeleteNo. There is a whole article about it
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/03/ljubljana-airport-anticipates-busy.html
Thank you!
DeleteHow many times to Latvia and Faroe Islands ? One charter?
One or two for many destinations... and even those charters are there only because travel agencies can not book seats on scheduled flights...
DeleteOK. Thanks.
DeleteHigh relative share of charters at major airport is actually indication of underserved (scheduled) market.
DeleteI could see only 19 destinations on the network map. Great network for an airport like of NI or BNX but for EU countfy capitol city....
ReplyDelete*INI
Delete**country :-)
DeleteBecause Slovenia has a smaller diaspora!
DeletePassengers from Slovenia have plenty of options. They are just a short drive away at many nearby airports.
DeleteFor Slovenian air travellers, leisure is making the biggest chunk.
DeleteSo true, for around 50% of Slovenians nearby airports are closer than Ljubljana airport. Not mentioning highest prices for departures from Ljubljana and parking at the airport.
Come on, not every Slovenian wants to go to Ljubljana or is based in the
country central region.
The article is fair and objective. But "the numbers" are more supporting government statement at the momement...
ReplyDelete“Ljubljana Airport is recovering well, although one needs to take into account its specific circumstances. We differ from other airports in the region in that we don't have domestic traffic. We also have no ethnic traffic, and we are not a Greek island, meaning we are not a mass tourist destination, which makes our recovery slower"
ReplyDeleteTotally concur.
The map shows the connectivity of LJU and most major European hubs are there. (some regional airports could be envious).
What could be improved is better presence of LCCs. That in turn could improve the numbers as well (major comparator for many here)
Btw, the new terminal building also looks pretty nice
+10000
DeleteAlso, many would envy big companies like Transavia, Air France, Brussels, LH, Swiss, flydubai. Many in the Balkans do not have this!
DeleteCan you tell us which regional airport would be envious of Ljubljana?
DeleteYes, my primary airport is SKP, and I would love to have all those options to major European hubs like LJU has. Situation has improved somewhat with LH and FRA, but we still don't have LHR, AMS, BRU, CDG, MUC.. and don't have DXB anymore.
DeleteSo, yes, you are in a very good shape in terms of connectivity.
We can agree on that. SKP has very bad connectivity to hubs (and further network). The only market properly addressed is "diaspora population". But being based in LJU we are frustrated when comparing current situation with 2018 and before...
DeleteDuring Yugoslavia, Ljubljana had direct scheduled services to New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Tunis, Malta, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Barcelona, Madrid, Larnaca, Belgrade, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Losinj, Sarajevo, Skopje, Ohrid. It was more destinations than today, not to mention long-haul. And charters were more as well, both emitive and recepient. So sad that 40 years later Ljubljana, and Zagreb as well, have less than they had long long time ago.
Delete@pozdrav iz Rijeke There are 2 important factors that need to be addressed with such comparison. The road connectivity with larger airports like VCE, MXP, VIE, MUC,… was much worse in those times, which means flying from them was usually not an option. Also, there were no LCCs so LCC hubs like TSF, BGY,… didn’t even exist. On the other hand however, the percentage of population that considered flying for leisure was certainly much lower. So your point definitely still holds.
Deletepozdrav iz Rijeke
DeleteIsn't that a bit early for raki?
@9:43 As a Macedonian I am curious for what do you need all these hubs. A extra hub in west europe as AMS or CDG would be nice though and ofc 1 extra hub in the middle east, but I think we don't need more. As someone from the diaspora I like to use Wizzair, sometimes I use austrian even though I have direct flight to SKP from the city I live in due to expensive fares. I understand that Wizz doesn't flight to the most attractive destanations. But still a plenty of options.
Delete@10:53 I am not the one from 9:43 but the answer is simple: connecting flights, especially longhaul.
Delete@10.53
DeleteAt the moment I am in Jeddah, KSA. So, no raki available. But maybe it's time for your mAdikejsn
Jeddah!? Cool! Have a great time
DeleteMoldova is one example of a small market but very well connected with small domestic airlines, Fly One, Hi Sky. Most likely, Air Moldova will also resume flights. Wizz Air will also return.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point of comparing Slovenia to Moldova. Slovenia does not have a massive diaspora because its economy is strong. It has loads of airports nearby like Venice and Zagreb. It has rail links to loads of places and roads that can get you anywhere in a day. And it has the Adriatic coast an hour's drive away. Of course Ljubljana won't have many passengers.
Delete@10:01 at the end of the day you are right. As a non Slovenian I would rather have a good economy as Slovenia with a bad air connectivity than vice verca. Air travel should be a fraction of the economy in a country with a strong economy.
DeleteAnon 10:45
Delete+1000
10:45 Disagree on that point. If you have more passengers, you will have more money for hotels, shops, business, tourism and more. Do you think a businessman fancies paying 400€ to reach LJU when many European capitals and cities today are cheaper to reach especially Zagreb lately. Go to any search engine and see how expensive it is to reach LJU.
DeleteEconomy might be good but so is the economy of Ireland. A Slovene today will pay a lot more travelling from LJU and would naturally fly from ZAG, VCE or some Austrian airport.
Anonymous 12:03
DeleteI would be a bit worried for my business if my business partners would have a problem to pay 400€ for a return flight to Ljubljana. It would mean that he is looking for real bargains in business since his business demands from him to be so cost sensitive but unfortunately, I can’t afford to be so cheap to help him out. What would be more a real consideration related to flights to LJU “within business community” is time.
Anonymous 12:03
I would be a bit worried for my business if my business partners would have a problem to pay 400€ for a return flight to Ljubljana. It would mean that he is looking for real bargains in business since his business demands from him to be so cost sensitive but unfortunately, I can’t afford to be so cheap to help him out. What would be more a real consideration related to flights to LJU “within business community” is time.
I would be a bit worried for my business if my business partners would have a problem to pay 400€ for a return flight to Ljubljana. It would mean that he is looking for real bargains in business since his business demands from him to be so cost sensitive but unfortunately, I can’t afford to be so cheap to help him out. What would be more a real consideration related to flights to LJU “within business community” is time.
The same goes for my business travels. If I would have to watch out for 200€ of difference in flight then the purpose of the trip is not enough profitable to take such a trip.
GP Aviation Switzerland listen to me, start online booking! It doesn't work with the mafias
ReplyDeleteCan somebody help me? What percentage of passengers traveled from Trieste are Slovenians? Also via Klagenfurt?
ReplyDeleteI don't know exact numbers, but whenever I come to Ronchi (Trieste Airport), I see a lot of slovenian car plates on the parking. I would say roughly 20 percent, but of course I might be wrong, it's just my estimation
DeleteThis data is not disclosed by the airlines.
DeleteJU520 BEGLAX
DeleteKLU and TRS offer LCC flights to Spain or Italy. AZ 4 x daily TRS to FCO
DeleteI am sure its used well by Slovenians
Thank you very much
DeleteAll Slovenians here on this blog complaining the numbers, stop complaining and fly more and if u fly, fly from Brnik. Fly 8 and not just 2 times a year and u will see the numbers going up. Fraport is right, Slovenia is no greek island and has no ethnic traffic. Ethnic traffic to ex YU is a strong push for numbers. Tickets in Switzerland to Belgrade with our buying power are so cheap, that people fly 5-6 times a year to visit their relatives.
ReplyDeleteAnd again here my friends and family number of the past 4 years: 10 never travelled, 9 used Italian airports and 2 used Italian and LJU airport. My cousins son and her daughter are both on a school student exhange week. The son in Alicante (he flew from Treviso) and the daugther in Tuscany by bus.
Two good examples how Slovenians from Ljubljana city travel. Either via Italy or by bus, cause Slovenia is so close to touristic highlights such as Italy, Austria, Budapest, Bavaria, Slovakia mountains
Still, I wished LJU would have scheduled flights to Spain. This is really missing on LJUs network map. My personal wishlist is IB to MAD, Vueling to BCN, AZ to FCO and SK to CPH or ARN
And yep, I wouldnt wonder if LH is trying to impact Fraport to their own benefit.
Some departures from nearby airports have a majority of pax from Slovenia. Ryanair from Trieste to Barcelona is always full of Slovenians. It's an absolute, not relative, majority on many flights.
DeleteGive a convenient price and they will fly everywhere:cheap air travel obsessed. Air ticket price is deciding their next escapade sort of. Italian destinations ex Trieste are so popular for them too.
I live in Netherlands and most travel max 3 times with a plane. I go 3 times a year on vacation so 8 is a bit too much. especially if you have a job and are not a digital nomad. You are right that Slovenians should fly more often from LJU even if that means paying more money(to destanations they already have. I mean it's understandeble that a Slovenian is gonna fly to Sevilla from Tresivo if the fare is €100 when the fare with Lufthansa to Sevilla would be €500(same for mallorca,ibiza,tenerife,fez,amman etc)to the destanations it's almost impossible to find a cheap fare from LJU. Besides some airport tax the Slovenia economy benefits minimal from flying with Lufthansa. You can better save €400 and spend that later in you own country. Last in my opinion the Slovenian government should but their ego aside and let raynair open a base, becasue that is clearly what Slovenians want (cheap flight).
Delete@JU520 BEGLAX
DeleteFraport is not right, they did everything they could to destroy Adria and Ljubljana.
as a result Slovenians are going to Zagreb which is served by all Lufthansa group or they go to austria to catch a lufthansa group airline flight.
Lufthansa is perfectly happy with the situation,
Sloveniens do travel, everyone knows they have the income and do travel, except the germans dont want it to be from Ljubljana.
and finally the guy who destroyed Adria is on the way to do the same in Montenegro.
@Slav.Man
DeleteSince I believe that this portal is serious portal, one would expect that statement like »Fraport did everything they could to destroy Adria and Ljubljana« would be accompanied with a few examples of efforts of Fraport to destroy Adria.
Also, statement that the Germans don't want Slovenians to fly out from Ljubljana would really need heavy argumentations. Accusation of the whole nation (Germans) is a bit too much.
@Slav.Man
DeleteThey probably do, but they just underestimate Slovenians.
There are probl 100Ks travelling to/fm Slovenia via GRZ KLU ZAG TRS VCE BGY and Treviso. On the other hand if I visit Trieste and Coast area fm ZRH, I also fly to VCE, but not cause of price, but because of pleasure and interest. We visit Friuli, stop in Udine, go taste Prosciutto and wine, before we head to TRS etc.
As regards Minister Bratušek's statement quoted in the article that "Fraport needed to increase traffic at the airport, adding that at times she feels that Fraport does not share the government's objectives", let me just add a modest observation.
ReplyDeleteThe Minister Bratušek is also responsible for Maribor Airport, which is a state-owned airport operated by a state-owned company, so it would have been more appropriate for her, perhaps, also to talk about the Maribor Airport operator and the need to increase commercial passenger traffic at Maribor Airport, perhaps also about the fact that the Maribor Airport operator does not share the Government's objectives. I do not know who is stopping the state from demonstrating how easy it is to increase traffic at an airport with the boom at Maribor Airport.
I agree with you. Show with Maribor that you can do something useful, it's not expensive, than we will talk further on.
DeleteYou cant take politicians for serious. Those who are might still human, are soldiers and have not much impact. Those on government level you can smoke and are useless for the majority. They are useful for their own pocket and the elites. Neither I vote them, nor I listen to them.
DeleteThe solution is so obvious that it hurts!! What does every airline say about lju? High fees, expensive fuel. That's it! So, Fraport, lower the fees. It is your job to do it. And the fuel? Slovenia, wake up!! Kick the petrol management in the face, lower the fuel cost. And also let the ryanair as the biggest player (by far) make a deal, and let them in. It is an unbelievably huge company with 550 airplanes and 80+ bases. Don't even have to open a base in Ljubljana to be able to cover 80+ destinations from there. For instance BGY before ryanair was nothing, a small cargo airport. Milano already served by other main airports. And look at what happened, now there are 20+ planes based just there. And Treviso as well. A brilliant example of what can be done,
ReplyDeleteLet's see what the Slovenian Statistical Office has to say about the large number of Slovenians rushing to all airports, in the period of the last quarter (October, November, December) of 2022:
ReplyDelete"In the last quarter of last year, the population of Slovenia made around 1.2 million tourist trips. Of these, just over 1 million (90%) were private trips.
Half of these trips were made domestically and half abroad. Once again, Croatia was the most popular foreign destination. Most tourists used private motor vehicles for transport (85%), 5% travelled by bus and 8% by air.
On average, a domestic tourist spent €90 per day on a private trip. In Slovenia, the daily expenditure was €62, while abroad it was €107."
I admit that October – December is probably not the most popular travel time, never the less – even if we are looking at statistical survey – the fact that only 8% (out of 1,2 millions) travelled by air tells about current “air passengers” potential in Slovenia. No matter from which airport they fly out.
Ljubljana badly needs direct line to Brussels. The best with frail operator.
ReplyDeleteI thought Brussels Airlines flew to LJU. Have they stopped? If so, perhaps the route will come back soon given that they now have access to smaller aircraft again through the revived wetlease partnership with CityJet?
DeleteBrussels Airlines flies to LJU normally.
DeleteFraport nor slo govt have any idea what connectivity means- it actually means, that you can fly to different places without a need to camp for a day at transferring airport. Its not only direct connections, but also where one actually can get in reasonable time.
Delete