The Tourist Board of Tuzla Canton has issued a public call for the allocation of subsidies for airlines willing to establish a base or launch new routes from Tuzla Airport in a bid to improve the city’s air connectivity and boost tourism in the region. The initiative seeks to attract airlines to operate routes that have not been served for at least twelve months. Targeted destinations include those in Austria, Germany, France, the Benelux region, Sweden and others deemed strategically important for tourism development. The overarching goal is to enhance the region's accessibility and stimulate economic growth through increased tourist arrivals.
The local government has allocated 615.000 euros in subsidies for the first year of operations (2025), increasing to one million euros annually from 2026 to 2028. Airlines will receive six euros per arriving passenger. This per-passenger subsidy model is designed to incentivise airlines to maximise passenger loads and maintain consistent service. Eligible applicants must hold a valid EU Air Operator Certificate (AOC), operate aircraft with a minimum of 180 seats and have an established online ticket sales system. Interested airlines are required to submit applications electronically within five days of the public call's publication, which is today, followed by a hard copy submission within fifteen days. This call has been distributed via email to at least three potentially eligible airlines.
Applications will be assessed based on factors such as the number of aircraft to be based at Tuzla International Airport, the number of new routes proposed, and the speed of implementation. Upon the expiration of the electronic submission deadline, a Commission will review, evaluate and rank the submitted applications in accordance with the conditions and criteria outlined in this public call. The evaluation process will be completed no later than two days from the date of application opening. Based on the Commission's recommendation, the Tourist Board of Tuzla Canton will issue an official decision on the outcome of the public call, within three days of receiving the Commission's recommendation.
This subsidy program follows previous efforts to enhance Tuzla's air connectivity, including a 2023 initiative that saw Greek carrier Lumiwings briefly operate from the airport before ceasing operations due to low demand and subsidy disputes. The current program comes following talks between Tuzla Airport and Wizz Air over the latter’s potential reopening of its base in the city after its closure in September 2023.
Love these fixed tenders lol
ReplyDeleteThey no longer even cover it up. 5 day tender for an airline to establish a base.
DeleteIs there demand or isn't there?
DeleteEverything is turned upside down in the today's world.
They aren't even bothering to hide it. Minimum of 180 seats AND a 5 day deadline. So that no smaller carrier with E190s or Dash-8s would dare take the spot of the insider deal.
DeleteTransparency above all. They have already agreed and public call is only for public use.
DeleteThe 180 seat plane does not make any sense at all, especially as the perfect plane for the airport is E175... Prearranged Balkan deal it seems
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense for Wizz Air.
DeleteWizz
ReplyDelete10 years ago Wizz Air established a base without being paid.
ReplyDeleteNow they will establish a base for several million euros
Well done Wizz.
Ten years ago Bosnia and Tuzla had a lot more people living there. Now the market has become much, much smaller.
DeleteNot exactly. Those who left are traveling now, before they couldn’t afford it or there was no need for them to travel. So, the market just grew, reducing population but increasing the number of potential passengers. Most of them will return to Tuzla or wherever in the Balkans to enjoy cheaper life once retired.
DeleteGiven the situation with TZL it doesn't seem the market grew. Airlines are demanding subsidies for the same routes they didn't need them a decade ago.
DeleteThe emigration isn't that substantial, we're talking 20-30 thousand people in that span while the living standard in Bosnia jumped enough that you have tens of thousands that can now afford to travel multiple times per year.
Delete20-30 thousand people leaving?? My God, that’s enough for Slovenia’s 3rd largest town. That’s a lot of folks leaving! It’s quite sad.
DeleteTechnically the 3rd largest town (Celje or Kranj) have roughly 40k
DeleteBut yes, it's pretty bad. Entire villages are empty, there's almost no youth left anywhere but the big cities
Great exaggeration. I'm 28 personally and at my 10 year graduation gathering only 6 people out of our class of 32 live abroad.
DeleteSo the winnter of this tender will be published next week. Meanwhile in Slovenia we are still awaiting outcome of tender that finished a month ago.
ReplyDeleteThe difference is that one actually follows some rules and guidelines, the other one is just for show.
DeleteSlovenian tender is organised by strict EU rules and anti-trust laws that uses EU funds
DeleteThis one is a glorified tender to get around EU regulations with a predetermined candidate
Is there any airport in BiH not paying airlines to fly there?
ReplyDeleteBNX
DeleteMost of the Middle Eastern routes from SJJ. Almost every diaspora and leisure route is subsidised, though
DeleteHas Tuzla influenced weahter conditions and they no longer have fog, since Wizz is most likely coming back with a base?
ReplyDeleteWizz makes sense to counter Ryanair's growth in Sarajevo, Not that I'm endorsing this sham tender.
ReplyDeleteCan Lufthansa apply for FRA-TZL with the A320? They are launching Oradea which has less passangers than Tuzla.
ReplyDeleteWell they meet the conditions. I'm sure if they applied TZL would not miss the opportunity.
DeleteThey would probably be disqualified because the number of routes launched and the prospect of a base are considered as well.
DeleteOf course, if the tender had a limit of 100 seats, it'd be far easier, but alas
TZL needs Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss or at least Eurowings, if it wants to be a serious airport.
DeleteA320 to Tuzla??? From Frankfurt?? They could do CRJ from Munich but that wouldn't qualify for the subsidies
DeleteA smart move to bring back Wizz Air. The region really needs those connections.
ReplyDeleteWhy the minimum of 180 seats? That excludes smaller regional carriers who might be more sustainable.
ReplyDeleteBecause the idea isn't to choose the most sustainable but to choose Wizz Air.
DeletePublic money again going to LCC that might pull out after a few seasons.
ReplyDeleteAt least it's better than LUMI
DeleteNamestaljka za WIZZ
ReplyDeleteWannabe politicians in Balkans are on evolutive level of unicellular organism, so 5 days tender will lead to the court and bad reputation for Vizz, so stupid.
ReplyDeleteOther airlines are simply not interested. Tuzla is doing what it can. Wizz is a good choise that will bring lots of diaspora that spends money locally, so the subsidies make sense. Wizzair nor other airlines are willing to come without being paid. So it is ehat it is. Stil if they close the deal, people and economy will be happy.
ReplyDeleteBut if you made a proper tender then maybe you would discover that other airlines ARE interested. Eurowings, SWISS, SAS could all come if the tender want set up for Wizz Air only
DeleteThose would never base an aircraft in Tuzla.
DeleteI think the people who are questioning always the demand and the catchment area of Tuzla should look at the passanger statistics when Wizz had a base there. Tuzla Canton, the regions of Zvornik, Bijeljina, Brcko and Doboj deserve to have a functional airport nearby. That whole area as such is the most populous in the country. So please stop with the "BiH has too many airports" nonesense.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the management has been terrible for years in TZL. Kicking out Ryanair and giving Lumiwings a whole lot of money for nothing were the worst mistakes. Now it is payback time for all those mistakes.
Why are people so negative about Wizz? Wizz was the only reason Tuzla had such pax numbers in the past years, people from that region were also employed. Lets hope they will open it this winter as they plan to change the A320s in SKP, BEG and other bases for A321neos so they will have spare A320s for TZL.
ReplyDeleteBecause it's the worst large airlines in Europe? Because it left Tuzla and Sarajevo at short notice? Because it cancels flights, fires staff, demands subsidies?
DeleteEvery airline can quickly leave an airport. Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet are ULCC, if the airport doesnt meet their conditions ofc they will leave immediately. Which flights are they canceling?
Delete