The national carrier of Cyprus has held talks with the Slovenian government over its potential entry onto the market through a Slovenian subsidiary. It comes as Slovenia looks to set up a new national airline through a Public Private Partnership agreement. Representatives from Cyprus Airways and its shareholder ArcosJet held an introductory presentation at the Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure in Ljubljana earlier this month. “The Cyprus Airways model is based on the use of the former Cyprus Airways brand in a new operating environment with the most modern fleet and a highly sophisticated commercial/digital platform, as they have strong technical support for commercial activities. With this model, they can operate in any region of the world and under any brand. They intend to expand in the wider region, so they are interested in establishing a company in Slovenia and possibly in some other countries in the region in the future”, the Ministry for Infrastructure said.
The Ministry presented Cyprus Airways with its own plans to establish a new flag carrier following the demise of Adria Airways in 2019. Cyprus Airways itself declared bankruptcy in 2015. Following the collapse of Cyprus' biggest airline, a different company, legally known as Charlie Airlines, obtained permission to use the Cyprus Airways brand name. In 2016, this new airline emerged under the familiar name of Cyprus Airways but as a separate entity from the former flag carrier. When it first started, Charlie Airlines, operating under the trade name of Cyprus Airways, was a joint venture between Russia’s S7 Group, which held a 37% stake in the airline, and local investors, who held the majority of the remaining shares. However, five years after its establishment, Russia's S7 sold its 37% stake in Cyprus Airways to the SJC Group, "a Maltese group with operations across Africa and the Middle East, incorporating a number of different activities including commercial helicopter flight operations and maintenance from dedicated hangars within Malta International Airport”.
Cyprus Airways currently operates just two Airbus A320 aircraft but plans to add ten A220s into its fleet over the next five years. It will also expand its route network, with plans to serve up to thirty destinations by 2026. This growth will allow the airline to connect travellers to a broader range of destinations and enhance its position in the market. Currently, the carrier serves nineteen destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East out of its base in Larnaca, including key cities such as Paris, Rome, Athens, Beirut and Cairo.
This is wild
ReplyDeleteBut welcoming!
DeleteWell that was unexpected!
ReplyDeleteAt the end everyone will want to open a base in Ljubljana BUT Croatia Airlines
ReplyDeleteand nobody will
DeleteCroatia Airlines is perheaps the only airline in the world that has absolutely zero logic in opening a base in Ljubljana, as it would thus create a competing hub for its own, situated at an 1 hour driving distance...
DeleteZagreb is OU's hub for Ljubljana.
So what if OU has a hub 1 hour away in Zagreb? if someone uses an OU flight to go to Zagreb or Ljubljana, they're still getting money and earning either way.
DeleteThis is called monopolizing, and it makes the most sense.
Only issue is that its extremely uncommon for a flag carrier to have a base and serve routes outside of its on country.
which is why Cyprus would create a subsidiary in Slovenia with a different brand.
Well, Austrian has no base in Bratislava, nor would Air Serbia have one in Novi Sad, if it had an airport (and it is a bigger city than Ljubljana).
DeleteIt is not 'monopolizing', as anyone can start flights, it is weakening one's own hub, which is a complete and utter nonsense.
Bratislava is majority seasonal flights, very very few year round routes. its not trying to grow and develop so there is no competition or need for Austrian to expand to Bratislava.
Deletestill not same situation.
Give one example where legacy carrier has a base an hour away from its hub (except cases where you have larger cities with multiple airports).
Delete@Slav.Man.
DeleteIt is not the same situation - right so! - Bratislava being a city twice as big as Ljubljana, and also among the wealthiest in the EU (easily fact-checkable for disbeleivers!), has much more potential for air travel than Ljubljana.
That being said, Zagreb is not Vienna, and for that reason there's space for an airline to start business at LJU, but certainly not for OU.
Twice as big?
DeleteBratislava municipality 367km2, 475,503
Ljubljana municipality 275km2, 296,228
1,60x
475k vs 296k
Bratislava region 2,053km2, 719,537
LUR ljubljanska urbana regija-osrednjeslovenska regija 2334km2, 561,407
1,28x
719k vs 561k
Ha you really showed that anon above that Bratislava is not 2x, but rather 1,6x bigger than Ljubljana! And as we all know the area of the city is detrimental to the potential of its air travel.
DeleteHis whole argument falls apart now and he should cover his head in shame
So what? 170k more people is nothing for aviation business. Also catchment area is not only vithin city limits. And catchment area of both cities are very similar.
Delete@10.14
DeleteAir Baltic - bases Vilnius, Riga, Tallin - profitable
Croatia Airlines - base Zagreb (no Ljubljana, no Sarajevo....) - loss making
And please, stop defending and advocating corrupt incompetent loss making feeder OU
Latvian government has put nearly a billion euros in Air Baltic. So, not exactly profitable
DeleteVery interesting that they say that Cyprus Aiways want to exapand in the region.
ReplyDeleteI read it as possibility of operating in Slovenia and Croatia.
DeleteSomething also tells me this could include operations in Croatia too. Let's see.
DeleteOne or two of their new A220s would be great for LJU base. But this came quite unexpected but surely welcoming. Hoping for the best or at least Ljubljana- Larnaca flights.
ReplyDeleteWhy Croatian tax payers need to cover Slovenian capitol? They will work in red.
DeleteWhat
DeleteUsing a few A220 in LJU would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf OU can use it in Osijek why not Ljubljana
DeleteIn the last few weeks there was a lot positive news for LJU. Seems like the Slovenian aviation is finally waking up back.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteOdd
ReplyDeleteWhat do they have to gain from it?
ReplyDeleteI mean if they are interested and already held talks with SLO government than surely something.
DeleteThey are obviously interested in several markets in the region and they have the opportunity to set up a new airline where the government will take on 50% of the risk.
DeleteThe A220 is the ideal aircraft for an airline based in LJU.
ReplyDeleteCY is about to commence flights with it from LCA.
Photo: https://www.scramble.nl/civil-news/1st-cyprus-airways-a220-emerges
How do you know that they will commence Lju foights?
Deleteflights*
DeleteHe didn't say they will commence LJU flights, he says they are about to commence flights from Larnaca with their new A220.
DeleteOh fair enough. I missread it
DeleteLooks nice in their livery.
DeleteInterior of the Cyprus Airways A220
Deletehttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/FxyXsP3XoAAqcwx?format=jpg&name=large
Nice that it has a dedicated business class. I think these planes were destined for some African carrier, that's why it has this sort of interior.
DeleteYep initially planned for Air Senegal. I wonder if they will tear up the interior and put their own European airline style seats or keep it as is.
DeleteConsidering current shortage of used aircraft seats, they will probably just keep it.
DeleteWould it be possible if Amelia and Slo government team up for a national carrier that they than use Cyprus airways A220s when they get them? So some kind of cooperation for a new carrier? Or is this a total miss in what Cyprus airways wants to do in Slovenia?
ReplyDeleteI think Cyprus Airways wants to launch its own Slovenian subsidiary. Don't think they would go into an arrangement with Amelia.
DeleteSo if they make an offer then the government will have to decide with who will they go into establishing a carrier? Or is establishing a new national airline not related to intentions of CY and they just want to establish a new airline there?
DeleteThey have to go through public call and then select one company to work with. If they'll have specific company in mind that public call will be adjusted so the pre-selected company wins on merit. So let's say of they want to work with Amelia they'll say the company has to have Slovenian AOC
DeleteI'm pretty sure they would only establish an airline with the help of the government. I'm not so sure that Amelia is a done deal like some people here suggest. In the end, I suppose, the government would choose whoever gives the better offer that will cost the state less.
DeleteExactly
Deletewow. Would love to hear their full plans for LJU (and the region).
ReplyDeleteSame. i hope they will go public with them.
Delete+1
DeleteBravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteFraport seems to me like a hurdle and not anything else
DeleteWhat does Fraport have to do with anything?
DeleteAbsolutely nothing. They have done nothing since the day they took over LJU.
DeleteAmazing
ReplyDeleteAnyone flown with Cyprus Airways? Are they a full fare legacy airline or LCC?
ReplyDeletefull fare legacy
DeleteGood to know. Thanks
DeleteDo the owners of Cyprus Airways have a good track record or will it be another 4K Invest story?
ReplyDeleteThey don't own any other airlines.
DeleteOut of the 10 A220s they could easily station 2-3 in Ljubljana and problem solved.
ReplyDelete2-3? you are overestimating the market
DeleteSo you think the new national airline will have 1 aircraft? Think you are underestimating the market.
DeleteI think two A220s are perfect for start. Later they can start adding more if they esatablish themself well in LJU. But for a start no more and no less than 2
Deletelol they will have to compete with the LH airlines ... just dont see it
Delete@9.54 a national airline will probably be a partner of LH and take over the flights form them. doubt they will do the same this one
DeleteWould be nice if we finally got LCA-LJU flights at least :D
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAnd I think that this will be the final outcome, just like in the Luxair case
DeleteWell, at least something :)
DeleteTrue! And I wouldn't be dissapointed with it.
DeleteIs there demand between Slovenia and Cyprus
DeleteNo
DeleteThere were regular Adria flights from Ljubljana to Cyprus 40 years ago. Because Yugoslavia was so bad bad bad 😃
DeleteSo this Cyprus Airways has nothing to do with the former Cyprus Airways national airline?
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteProbably enough for a 2 weekly A220 flight
DeleteThe last comment ws meant to be a reply to a comment for An 10:11
DeleteWho knows who else will put their hand up :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the outcome of this
ReplyDeleteDon't get your hopes up
DeleteThat is the rule number 1 when it comes to aviation in Slovenia,
Deletebizzare
ReplyDeleteWhy?
DeleteNothing will come out of this
ReplyDeleteWhy so negative?
Delete^Experience with aviation in Slovenia
DeleteApparently more than 10 carriers have scheduled or already held meetings.
ReplyDeleteIt will end up like the "huge" interest for subsidies to fly from Slovenia.
DeleteMost likely.
DeleteGood to see some development and interest in the new national airline. Hopefully the outcome will be good too.
ReplyDeleteLets all hope
DeleteI still don't see what Cyprus Airways has to gain from this to be honest.
ReplyDeleteWell it seems Slovenia is just part of a bigger picture for them.
DeleteTwo Cyprus Airways A220s are heading to Larnaca in the next few days.
ReplyDeleteNice. Maybe one of them will be in LJU soon :D
DeleteHiw difficult it is to understand, that Slovenes are capable of dragging their asses across Europe in a car in order to fly for peanuts?
ReplyDeleteSince shen is driving 1-2h dragging around half of Europe? Please go once to trieste (30-45 min away from 1/3 of Slovenia) or venice 2h away free ftom 1/2 of Slovenia snd u will see many austrian and croatian car plates
DeleteNo, no no, you must have mixed up something. Croatian plates in Venice, it's impossible because Croatians don't travel abroad, and especially by plane. So you must be mistaken 😃
DeleteWell if so many Croatian and Slovenian plates are in Venice, why wouldn't Rijeka airport develop itself and attract different airlines? This way RJK can attract people from Croatia ,Slovenia and Italy. Instead they sit around and hope someone will fly from RJK. This is a missed opportunity. But Pozdrav iz Rijeke never talks about it. First correct the place in your backyard before complaining about others.
DeleteWell tbh there are way more slovenian plates in than croatian … u find some croatian in trieste but not so many in venice (which is normal… its far from most of croatia compared to slovenia and there are way more options for cheap travel from croatia compared to slovenia). But there are maaaaany slovenian plates in zagreb, trieste and venice. Too many if u ask me. And regarding traveling abroad… number is clear… compared to slovenians croatians travel aprox 10-12% less per year when compared to slovenians (which is also normal - they cound only international travels … so when they go for summer holidays slovenians travel internationally but croatians dont… even though they go to the same sea side). But in the end it doesn’t matter. This only shows how big potential there is…
DeleteLet's see what happens.
ReplyDelete