LOT Polish Airlines has held preliminary discussions with the Slovenian government over potential cooperation to enhance the country’s air connectivity. During the meeting with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Robert Ludera, LOT’s Director for Network and Alliances, provided an overview of the airline’s business development to date and expressed interest in exploring opportunities to expand its route network to and from Slovenia. The talks focused on understanding the current measures being taken by the Slovenian state to improve air connectivity, with LOT showing particular interest in possible partnerships or incentives that could support new services.
The Ministry of Infrastructure has previously expressed interest in exploring different forms of cooperation with airlines. “We are open to various forms of cooperation with airlines that would help increase air connectivity in Slovenia in the long term and we are interested in discussing possibilities for cooperation. We are also studying options that will improve Slovenia's air connectivity in the long term, as we are aware of the short-term effects of a time-limited public tender”, the Ministry previously noted. It presented LOT with key information about its ongoing state aid scheme, launched in April 2023, which is designed to support airlines in establishing new routes as part of the “Public Tender for Greater Aviation Connectivity of Slovenia”.
LOT Polish Airlines currently maintains flights between Warsaw and Ljubljana. Last year, it carried 57.131 passengers on the route, down 4.9% from 2023. In 2021, LOT briefly filed preliminary schedules for flights from Ljubljana to Podgorica, Olbia and Brač, but they were removed shortly after. The Polish carrier recently outlined plans to expand its operations beyond Poland, including the potential establishment of new bases in Europe. In March 2025, reports indicated the airline was considering opening an operational base in Chisinau in Moldova. This forms part of its comprehensive growth strategy between 2024 and 2028, which includes expanding its fleet from 75 to 110 aircraft, and increasing passenger numbers by 70%.
Honestly either OU or LOT base would be good, but thinking logically, LOT is a better and safer option than OU
ReplyDeleteI just hope something concrete comes out of these talks.
Delete+1
DeleteAfter Slovenia. Maybe they can help improve Bosnia and Montenegro and Macedonia
DeleteThey are not a charity.
DeleteThose routes planned in 2021 would still be good actually.
ReplyDeleteI remember those, yeah. Were to be operated with Dashes, all once per week, mostly for tour operators.
DeleteSardinia is still popular with Slovenian tourists, so Olbia could still work
Why did they never end up launching these?
DeleteCovid
DeleteBut they announced these plans during covid in the first place.
Delete2nd wave of it, in addition to entry limits
DeleteShame. It would have been a great statt from them and by now we probably would have had multiple routes.
DeleteSo realistically speaking, if these talks are sucsesfull, which new routes could we see from them?
DeleteIn winter, it's hard to see them not go for W flights - Berlin (E195), Prague (E170), ARN (E195) are the most realistic, PRN and SJJ with E170 too (WAW-PRG-LJU-SJJ-LJU-PRG-WAW)
DeleteIn summer, there is about 20 routes that could work, starting from Madrid on
This would be ideal.
DeleteSome W rotations would definitely be nice. We're still missing flights to Berlin, Rome, Geneva, Manchester, Barcelona and Stockholm, which are major urban areas
ReplyDeleteSurely someone can successfully run a MAN-LJU service !
DeleteI guess not as the likes of FR, LS and U2 make better money elsewhere
DeleteWith the right incentives and cooperation, this could be a win-win. LOT already has a decent product and presence.
ReplyDeleteWould they create a separate company or operate under LOT brand?
DeleteFinally, some serious talks about boosting connectivity. Hope this results in new routes, not just meetings and promises.
ReplyDeleteWe will see if anything comes out of it.
DeleteK' majo otroc' dnar, majo kramarji sm'n. (When kids have money junk market has business)
ReplyDeleteLOT is one of the few legacy carriers that could realistically make regional routes from Slovenia work.
ReplyDeleteAnd they have perfect aircraft for operations from Ljubljana
DeleteExactly
DeleteI’d love to see routes to the Baltics or Scandinavia via LOT.
ReplyDeleteIf LOT is looking at Moldova and Slovenia, it’s clear they’re focusing on under-served European markets. Could be a smart move.
ReplyDeleteAnother airline ‘interested’ in Slovenia, but nothing changes.
ReplyDeleteAt least there are some talks now.
DeleteIf the Ministry is serious about improving connectivity, it should set measurable targets for new routes and tie them to incentives.
ReplyDeleteA stable public-private partnership model is what we need.
DeleteThat's what OU is proposing
DeleteEncouraging to see Slovenia on LOT’s radar
ReplyDeleteLOT has a solid regional network. If they add Ljubljana to more than just Warsaw, it could fill the gap left by Adria.
ReplyDeleteIf they expand beyond Warsaw from LJU it could really help bring back some of that connectivity we lost with Adria.
DeleteIf this leads to even two or three new routes it would already make a difference
ReplyDeleteTotally! Even just a few new routes would be a big deal. We don’t need dozens just the right ones that actually make travel easier.
DeleteLjubljana deserves more air traffic.
ReplyDeleteI think just having aircaft stationed in Ljubljana from Monday to Friday would make a world of difference, and since they are flying daily, the crew could be flying back to the base too
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. If LOT sets up even a small base or regional hub here, it would be a game changer for Ljubljana Airport and the country.
DeleteOf course this will not happen. LOT has no chance at all against Jasmin and his managing competences and "cheap" bright and shiny Intergalactic Spaceship he offers 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteThese talks are encouraging. With good planning, Ljubljana could become a small but efficient regional connector again.
ReplyDeleteLjubljana Brac with Lot will be great
ReplyDeleteFor both passengers...
DeleteSo walkway talks:
ReplyDeleteOU wants to take over ZRH, FRA, potentially BRU and add a few other routes (Berlin and Bucharest are mentioned) this winter. This will most probably happen as OU will otherwise have 3-5 planes parked in ZAG over the winter
LO wants to do Prague, Barcelona, and nordics, with nothing concrete as of now.
I heard that OU wants a PPP for the flights out of Slovenia
DeleteI would take either at this point.
DeleteI assume both are asking for money from the state?
DeleteI think Slovenia themselves said that PPP would see airline come in with AOC and planes, and Slovenia with money for salaries? Please correct me if im mistaken
DeleteYes, awhile ago they said they would cover capital needs while the airline would cover the know-how and AOC
DeleteOU to FRA???? No way, it's simply impossible 🤣🤣🤣
DeleteI'm just wondering if the plan is to replace LH and Swiss or operate alongside them?
DeleteReplace
DeleteThat sucks, would prefer having Lufthansa and Swiss
Delete:/
Deleteno need for Croatia airlines on those routes ...
DeleteI can't believe that LH and LX would simply discontinue LJU.
DeleteZRH, FRA, BRU routes all use wet leases exclusively this summer, thus the profit is low, if there is any. They would happily give the routes away to "partner" airlines
DeleteGreat news. Love LOT!
ReplyDeleteNice. Finally some good developments.
ReplyDeleteWonder if they would use Dash or Embraer for potential new LJU flights.
ReplyDeleteLOT doesn't have any dashes for a few years now
DeleteIn terms of capacity, the E170 would make most sense
DeleteLO is reminding me more and more of LCCs. Just going to places where they can get some extra cash to cover their ambitious plans.
ReplyDeleteLO is doing extremely well. I don't know how they remind you of an LCC.
DeleteWell Adria was operating out of Polish bases for such a long time it is only fair LOT returns the favor :)
ReplyDeleteOmg I completely forgot about Adria's bases in places like Lodz
DeleteThey also had bases in Rzeszow and Olsztyn.
DeleteAnd they were all subsidized, just like LOT's base would be if they open one.
DeleteIn the case of LOT or even OU, I'm pretty sure the return on investment would be worth it.
DeleteI really hope this happens. It would be a great development for Ljubljana.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteDoes Ljublajna Airport take part in any discussions. Or they just sit back and wait for the government to solve all their problems?
ReplyDeleteThey are busy creating charter hub 🙂
DeleteStop with these conspiracies.
DeleteIt is no conspiricy. They were not present at any of these recent airline meetings. With either LOT or OU.
DeleteHow much is LF on flights LJU-WAW?
ReplyDeleteIn 2024, the average cabin load factor for the entire year stood at 73.6%.
DeleteI wonder how much money all of these airlines are asking for.
ReplyDeleteIt won't come cheap. That's for sure.
DeleteHave a feeling aboslutely nothing will come out of this.
ReplyDeleteOU cover LHG routes and LO thinks outside the box and does places like BCN ARN and OTP
ReplyDelete