Representatives from low cost airline Wizz Air have held talks with the Slovenian government for the first time in two years. In a meeting with the Ministry for Infrastructure, as well as the Slovenian Civil Aviation Agency, earlier this month, the carrier discussed the potential introduction of new flights to the country utilising the government’s subsidy program aimed at improving air connectivity. “Due to operational needs in the event of a decision to establish scheduled international flights to an international airport in Slovenia, Wizz Air wanted to obtain key information in advance about the state aid scheme for airlines for the launch of new flights. Taking into account the fact that, based on the current Public Tender for Greater Air Connectivity in Slovenia, subsidies are only possible until October 31 2025, they were interested in the prospects for the continuation of the measure”, the government said.

Wizz Air currently maintains just three weekly flights into the country. The service, from Skopje, was launched in September 2023 and is subsidised by the Macedonian government. The route has recorded good operational performance, registering 54.602 passengers in 2024 with an average cabin load factor of 95.4%. The budget carrier will increase frequencies between the two capitals from three to four weekly starting next month. However, Wizz Air discontinued flights between London Luton and Ljubljana last February. The airline initially entered the Slovenian market in May 2006 by launching services from Charleroi and London. Both were discontinued in January 2008 but were later restored in 2012. Services to Charleroi were again discontinued in 2022.

Last year, Ljubljana Airport said it was working on increasing the number of flights operated by low cost carriers (LCCs). At the time, Babett Stapel, the CEO of operator Fraport Slovenija, said, “We have several objectives, but one of the biggest challenges is that we would like to increase the share of low cost carriers. We have good coverage by full service airlines, but low cost would surely add to our business. That doesn’t mean we want to become a low cost hub”. Ms Stapel added, “Low cost carriers have a share of about 20% at our airport, so we would like that to increase but we are not a hub airport, so our connectivity depends on serving the hubs since low cost carriers do not necessarily serve the main hubs. We need hubs to be served for connectivity. Our goal is to reach a 30% LCC share”. Eurowings will become a new low cost operator at Ljubljana Airport when it launches operations from Dusseldorf next month. Europe’s largest low cost airline, Ryanair, has ruled out flights to the Slovenian capital citing high fees.