NEWS FLASH
Aegean Airlines will extend its reduction in frequencies on flights between Athens and Skopje implemented this winter into the 2025 summer season. The airline will halve its number of services between the two capitals from six to three weekly. Furthermore, capacity will be reduced, with all flights to be maintained by the ATR42 turboprop aircraft instead of the larger ATR72-600. Last week, the Greek carrier discontinued its fifth-freedom Skopje - Sarajevo service, which will not be returning next summer either. Changes remain possible.
SKP is not on their radar. Middle East is where they focusing they just announced new flights to Baku and Erbil, Iraq almost no European airline flies there.
ReplyDeleteAnd this expation is normal since their main base airport ( ATH ) is thriving . 2023 : 28.174.000 passengers , End of November : 29.725.000 passengers.
DeleteBaku is hardly Middle East but it's a smart strategy.
DeleteMany European airlines fly to Erbil tho.
DeleteOnly Austrian.
DeleteWhat is taking Air Serbia forever to start flying there?
DeleteAlmost a triple capacity cut, that one hurts
ReplyDeleteAnd here I was thinking they would one day open a base in Skopje lol
...and people were saying how A3 was avoiding SKP because of politics.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think this news confirms it? Three weekly in summer is the last step before cancelling the route.
DeleteLOL
Delete@14.02 they surely did, they started the routes right after the politics changed
DeleteI guess the demand is not high enough which is surprising since I flew SKP-ATH-BRU last August and the SKP-ATH was full (ATR42) of transit passengers : some flew to BRU with me as I recognized them queuing on the flight with me. I heard people talking that they were transferring to Paris, Cyprus, Madrid or Barcelona and Tel Aviv if I'm not wrong and potentially other European destinations. I might send my trip report soon and hopefully it'll be published
ReplyDeleteExpensive tickets and used only by business people and little numbers of tourists ...
ReplyDeleteWho needs them? Turkish and Pegasus are killing it in Skopje...
ReplyDeleteLow profit market.
ReplyDeletenot for TK
DeleteI am from Skopje and I am very bullish on the aiport. But, I am surprised that 6 flights per week managed to stay for so long, especially during winter season. Aegean is too expensive for what they offer.
ReplyDeleteBullish? Why?
DeleteToo bad. I wonder what is hindering them from lowering the prices or offering better service. Because there is huge potential, especially in the summer, but their high prices are killing it.
ReplyDeleteExample: I had to fly in the summer, Skopje-Athens, but the flight was ~€280. I got a similar flight from Thessaloniki to Athens for €65 (which I even upgraded to Business Class for €30 after bidding on it). That's an insane price difference for airports actually so close to each other (~240 km).
Is isn't closer to drive to TIA and fly with Wizzair to ATH or is SKG more convenient because there are many flights a day from both A3 and Sky Express..Same now to HER plus Ryanair
DeleteIf you think 240 km is so close, then you can always drive for that long (plus endure the border crossing), or better yet rent a car one-way or have a taxi drive you. And save the difference in the airfare! It doesn't sound so close to me and so in reality these are separate markets with separate pricing
Delete@0.20
DeleteSKG is closer and has a better road connection. Also if you want to fly inner greek destinations, SKG is better.
@02.52
Depends where you love in the country. If you are in the south of Macedonia, the distance is almost the same. Same goes for the taxi costs of you are from the south.