Turkish Airlines will expand its operations from Istanbul to both Zagreb and Ljubljana during the 2025 summer season, while reducing services to Podgorica. After raising frequencies from fourteen to eighteen weekly flights during the 2024 summer season, the airline now plans to further increase its Istanbul - Zagreb route to 21 weekly services, offering three daily rotations between the two cities. These additional frequencies will be introduced starting March 30, 2025. As one of Zagreb’s busiest carriers, Turkish Airlines handled 105.270 passengers during the first half of this year, marking a 6.3% year-on-year increase and a 32.1% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The Turkish flag carrier will also grow its frequencies to Ljubljana. Starting June 11, Turkish Airlines will serve the Slovenian capital eighteen times per week, up from this year’s fourteen weekly in June, thirteen weekly from July to September, and eleven weekly in October. The airline plans to run three daily rotations on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while two flights will be maintained on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Turkish Airlines is currently the second-busiest carrier in Slovenia, having reached the number one spot last year. During the first half of 2024, it handled 93.441 passengers between the two cities, representing an increase of 15.1% on the same period last year. Last month, the Slovenian Minister for Infrastructure, Alenka BratuÅ¡ek, held talks with Turkish Airlines’ CEO, Bilal Eski, in Istanbul over improving Ljubljana’s air connectivity. The two sides explored opportunities for increased operations between the two countries.
On the other hand, Turkish Airlines plans to reduce its operations between Istanbul and Podgorica next summer. During the week, the carrier revised down its frequencies from the eighteen weekly flights operated this summer to sixteen weekly. The revised number of flights will come into effect from the start of the summer season in late March. There will be three daily rotations between the two cities only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the remaining days of the weekly will see two flights.
Good news. Makes you wonder why OU never even tried IST from Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteThey did, but they pulled the route after a while. Hard to stay competitive vs. TK on hard & soft product.
DeleteConsidering TK and OU are codeshare partners maybe they could have agreed for OU to operate the afternoon flights. But anyway good news for ZAG either way
DeleteThey did launch SPU-IST seasonal this year
Delete^ And they said how they will turn it year round and nothing happened...
DeleteWhy the decrease in Podgorica?
ReplyDeleteAnd this after they suspended tivat over winter.
DeleteMaybe fewer Russians want to visit?
DeleteI guess most of traffic are transfers from Russia and exyu countries, and transfer through BEG became better option.
DeleteOne thing about Turkish this year is how expensive they have become this year. It could be an issue.
DeleteFinally something increasing in Ljubljana and it's not the Lufthansa group.
ReplyDeleteBratusek's negotiations with someone finally paid off :D
DeleteThat's a first
DeleteLJU should attract additional turkish carrier AJet for SAW, Antalya...
Delete+1 last anon
DeleteNo "Bravo Fraport"?
ReplyDeleteBratušek negotiated these, not Babett
DeleteThat's the funniest thing, the only good news related to route development at LJU is all related to government efforts (tenders and direct negotiations) not Fraport lol.
DeleteHow dare you with these conspiracies! The only one working is Fraport and nobody else. Bravo Fraport!
DeleteTell me again how ADP in Zagreb and Vinci in Belgrade are negotiating new connections.
DeleteAirport operators do not negotiate with airlines to open new routes. It is not their job.
Delete^ I am shocked that someone that follows aviation could write something like this.
DeleteYou do realise that there are airline development and route development departments at every airport. Who do you think attends conferences like World routes where airports negotiate with airlines? Shocking lack of basic aviation knowledge. And you write your comment so confidently.
As for Zagreb and Belgrade I notice they are getting new airlines frequently.
For that you have to ask Fraport fanboys, I'm just spreading their message.
DeleteNew airlines that launched flights in last three years
DeleteBelgrade: KLM, Air Baltic, Luxair, British Airways, Sun d'Or, Hainan Airlines, China Southern, Transavia (starts in 2025)
Zagreb: Ryanair, T'Way Air
All came at their own free will
Ljubljana: Air Baltic, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, Luxair, Norwegian. All through government subsidies.
Ryanair at their own will 😀😀😀
Deletesuch a shame Ljubljana "forces" airline to fly to them, such a shame to force somebody ...
Ljubljana Airport does not do anything. The government offers them money. If the government didn't do that you wouldn't see any of those airlines. Even with the money, none of them fly year round, one flies for 4 weeks
DeleteAll I'm saying is that Fraport should do much more to attract airlines. Maybe their incentive policy is bad so maybe they should work on that
DeleteAegean didn't get subsidies to launch LJU.
DeleteThe only one. So 1 unsubsidised new airline in 3 years. Fantastic work by Fraport. BRAVO BRAVO!!!
DeleteNorwegian should add OSL and ARN
DeleteThere was a tender awhile ago and they didn't apply. Maybe they apply to this one, but by the looks of it it'll only be PLAY who comes
DeletePeople that work for Fraport should meet the Goverment and also Spirit and Slovenian Tourism Organisation and stick heads together. Take logic action, contact Transavia to get addional routes like Rotterdam (now from Trieste), Norwegian apart of CPH additional ARN and OSL, what about Vueling or Volotea? Can they provide flights to FCO or MXP for transfer guests? or maybe BCN, MAD and LIS? LJU should try connection to Seville and Santiago de Compostela in summer timetable. What about eastern Wizzair network? Middle East countries? I think there is a lot potential. First writing Information about Slovenia in the markets, then connect with economy and airline and timing! Start to sell tickets more on longer period, not 1 week before first flight or only through agent call!
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDelete"Sad to hear about the reduction in Podgorica flights, but happy for Zagreb and Ljubljana. Turkish Airlines has been steadily building a solid presence here, so it's no surprise.
ReplyDeleteSome good news for Ljubljana for a change
ReplyDeleteIt's good news although personally I would have preferred if AJet started the 3 extra weekly flights from SAW. It would give people a cheaper alternative not only to Istanbul but also connecting flights to the Middle East.
Deleteupgrade would be Antalya 2 or 3 times per week and As upper comment mentioned Ajet to SAW from LJU daily!
Deleteuff daily, hear hear because Turkish people doesnt need visa for Slovenia
DeleteSAW and IST are good transfer hubs... and yes I am hearing very good.
DeleteSo TK will now serve both BEG and ZAG 3 daily in ex-Yu.
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteIsn't SJJ 3 daily too?
DeleteYes, in summer it is. My bad. So BEG, SJJ and ZAG.
DeleteTK will definitely be the strongest foreign airline in the ExYu.
DeleteI think that title belongs to either Ryanair or Wizz Air.
DeleteFinally they are increasing LJU
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Doesn't TK have a fleet issue with engines?
ReplyDeleteIt does. But as you see it cuts some frequencies and adds others
DeleteThey do, but they are getting 10-year old aircraft lately to compensate neo issues.
DeleteWhere are they getting the planes from? Is is their old planes or are they leasing them from somewhere?
DeleteAsian turist's and agencies dictate TK capacities for summer season. Wait for Finnair's response.
ReplyDeleteHope they finally increase LJU
Delete