The Macedonian government is in talks with Ryanair over the low cost carrier’s potential entry onto the market. In late May, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski met with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary in London to discuss the launch of flights to Skopje. This week, Ryanair’s corporate jet landed in the Macedonian capital, signalling continued engagement from the airline’s senior management. It marks the first formal effort by the Macedonian government in over a decade to attract Ryanair services. “We are in talks with Ryanair over their entry into the Macedonian market. Unfortunately, they are not present so far, but we anticipate their arrival will significantly increase the number of nonstop routes”, Mr Nikoloski said.
In 2015, Ryanair announced plans to launch flights to Skopje and confirmed it was in talks with the Macedonian government over a number of routes. Shortly after, Wizz Air responded by unveiling several new services from the Macedonian capital to existing Ryanair bases. Despite the initial momentum, Ryanair ultimately shelved its entry into the market. The airline revisited the idea in 2018, but no routes were launched. The Macedonian government is in the midst of an ongoing 5.8-million-euro subsidy program covering the 2025 - 2027 period that offers nine euros per arriving passenger at Skopje Airport and twelve euros at Ohrid Airport to airlines launching new scheduled services.
Ryanair’s arrival in Skopje would place it in direct competition with Wizz Air, which dominates the Macedonian market with a passenger share exceeding 50%. Over the past year and a half, Wizz Air’s operations in Skopje were significantly affected by ongoing engine inspections that grounded a large portion of its fleet. Although the airline has started restoring capacity and introducing new routes, its recovery at the Skopje base has been slower compared to other markets. Commenting on its growing operations in Eastern Europe, Ryanair recently said, “It’s going to be more Ryanair and Wizz going head to head. It’s going to get harder [for Wizz], given our scale, our cost advantage, and our fare advantage. It’ll be an interesting scrap in the coming years”.
Interesting news! Skopje definitely needs some competition for WizzAir and Ohrid sine traffic - at least for the summer season. I hope this time it will materialise.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will became realistic very soon.
DeleteNothing will come of this
ReplyDeleteSure
DeleteNikoloski meeting O’Leary in London is a strong signal. This is more than just PR. Hope the government actually closes the deal this time.
DeleteSame old story. Ryanair shows up, there’s hype, then nothing. I’ll be impressed if we see even one route by next summer.
Delete@Anonymous 09:12
DeleteI agree, it is just a way to get Wizz to launch more routes and inccrease frequencies for not too high subsidies.
We've seen this trick played again and again.
Look Ryanair is growing at least 5%, that’s a lot. Cheaper airport like SKP and government subsidies are surely things MOL is looking for. On the flip side, they are getting into W6 backyard and government is finally getting competition on the market!
DeleteI also doubt Ryanair executives would come to SKP if they were all just playing games for Wizz air to lift its game.
Delete^ Why not, nice trip, get whined and dined AND force W6 to accept less subsidies from the government than it was planning to do!
DeleteThat is great work for them.
This may be "great work" for Balkan standards but for a serious company like Ryanair it's a waste of time. You think senior management of Europe's biggest airline is excited about a paid dinner in Skopje?
DeleteFR is f… profitable that free dinner is something they definitely don’t need. On a flip side, fat government subsidies are definitely kind of treat they are interested…
DeleteAll of you will see the nice news in the mid of August this summer. Dont just write non sense comments , everything is set for them to enter the market , and will be very soon
DeleteSkopje to Stansted perhaps as well
DeleteSkopje to Stansted or Gawtick is in the talks for sure...
DeleteWhich routes could they launch?
ReplyDeleteCities from which they have big bases.
DeleteSKOPJE-PRAGUE, SKOPJE-LISBON, SKOPJE-NAPLES
DeleteBirmingham, Lisbon, Madrid, Athens, Catania, Pisa, Liverpool, Dublin would be great
DeleteThey'd probably go for gastarbeiter heavy destinations instead of Lisbon.
DeleteMostly are gasto routes in germany and italy , and few spanish routes are in the talks. And if they launch the 12 planned routes they will get more subsidy money from government.
DeleteWill be very interesting to see how W6 responds to this.
ReplyDeleteNothing , they will apply for subsidies for already old routes they used to serve. Typicall W6 strategy here on Balkan
DeleteMuch needed. Could wake Wizz up a bit.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI’ll believe it when I see Ryanair flights actually listed on the booking site. They’ve come close before and pulled out.
ReplyDeleteNo they never come so closer before , there are intensive talks and if will be official very soon. Mid summer expect the good news
DeleteWizz Air’s monopoly hasn’t been great for prices lately. Ryanair entering the market could really shake things up. In a good way.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI doubt government will get them to launch the same rputes Wizz already flies.
DeleteProbably a move by the macedonian government to say if you (Wizz) don't perform, we also have other friends in the market to play with.
DeleteNo there not will be direct competition with W6. In mostly of routes no. This is not just plans , it will be finished very soon.
DeleteRyanair should have come a year ago when Wizz was completely week.
ReplyDeletewhich week last year?
DeleteOk I obviously meant weak. But good you showed us how smart you are.
DeleteW6 is still weak at least in Macedonia , there returning is so slow
DeleteSaw the Ryanair jet at SKP this week. Fingers crossed it won’t be their only visit this year.
ReplyDeleteHopefully🫡
DeleteGovernment finally doing something concrete on aviation this past year.
ReplyDeleteSure...
DeleteHaven't they? New Wizz routes, new TK flights to Ohrid, now talks with Ryanair. I don't think that's bad.
DeleteTo be honest from W6 in Macedonia I dont really expect anything in future , they scre us alot and all what they do is very slow
DeleteBring on the fare wars! Wizz needs some competition to stop thit rising fares.
ReplyDeleteThe best scenario for Skopje would be a battle between Wizz and Ryan
DeleteLike Tirana
DeleteSkopje is not Tirana
Deletesure it is minus Italian market
DeleteNot even close
DeleteSkopje and Tirana are not comparable at the slightest!
Deletethey dont have the 5m Italy market
DeleteObviously Skopje cannot compete with the touristic boom of Albania, but Ryanair's entrance to the market can stimulate the growth of the airport significantly. And at least in the short-term, we can expect a price war between Wizz and Ryanair, which would be great for passengers.
DeleteHow can u expect country that is lanlocked to compete with country that is on the sea ? Why making this non sense comparisons all the time ? Plus albania is double then the size of pupulation in Macedonia. And the sea makes it job it is so simple to understand
DeleteExcellent and exciting news
ReplyDeletePassengers will be the winners if this happens.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteCant wait this to realise
DeleteImagine Skopje as the next Ryanair base in the Balkans. That could really boost tourism and connect us better with Europe.
ReplyDeleteThey definitely won't open a base in SKP now
DeleteNegotiating 12 routes , it is there is possibility , we wait and see , there is chance for base for sure ....
DeleteActually they are very likely to! A few months ago, ryanair corporate jet was flying around Europe offering airports more based planes in exchange of lower fees. The last talks were in Sofia. They offered 8 jets(4 more) plus 2 planes in Burgas, if the government freezes the fees in Sofia and make Fraport in Butgas lower their fees. Similar story in Budapest as well. So because they have many max planes coming, I could definitely see SKP base. Ryanair are serious investor and every competent airport operator/government will play their rules because they REALLY bring tourists!
DeleteRyanair loves to play cat and mouse. This might also be a pressure tactic to get more incentives elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteNo there are really intensive talks with government , this is not like it was before , this is a real game now
DeleteHonestly, I’m more excited about the possibility of lower ticket prices than who the airline is. Competition is healthy.
ReplyDeleteWithout competition there is no low prices , so yes we need someone like Ryanair to giwe us a chance and option to choose.
DeleteBut why just LCCs, why not stimulate legacies to fly to Macedonia?
ReplyDeleteThe subsidies apply to all airlines. Legacy and LCCs.
DeleteWell these subsidies are open for everyone but obviously government favors LCCs. Works better with the electorate.
DeleteI don't get the logic behind @10:07 comment. LCCs are by far the biggest airlines in Europe (Ryanair handles more passengers than the entire Lufthansa group). It is not about the electorate, it is about the fact that on short haul routes everyone in Europe would prefer lower prices rather than expensive tickets and slightly better service.
DeleteAfter all, even European legacy carriers basically offer LCC product on short-haul routees.
@10.7 obviously you have no clue, what about TK (a legacy carrier) and their OHD flights
Deleteits nobody they favor its about who shows interest
Macedonia is small country , you cannot expect national flag carries all to show interest flying here. Yes we all want them but that is not possible and its not so easy bring them. Only option we got is low cost carriers with affordable prices
DeleteWhy fly Skopje to anywhere for 400 odd euros with legacy and no other benefit like luggage or food or drinks,m when with lcc you can fly for less than hundred, on a newer plane perhaps
DeleteIf ryanair is not ok the not all strong Europe countries and rich will use their service ;) for country as Macedonia we cannot let us paying 300-400 eur with flag carriers. Ryanair will giwe us chance fliying with affrodable prices for our budjet and thats what we need especially this days.
DeleteHope something actually comes out of this.
ReplyDeleteWe all hope
DeleteRyanair is shit of airline! 90% of people here who want them to come to SKP has 0 experiance with them.
ReplyDeleteenlighten us please, te molam
DeleteRyanair is the biggest and most influential airline in Europe and very welcome in SK. Anon 10:10 get a grip dude.
Delete10.10
DeleteI had over 50 flights with FR. Exactly TWO flights out of over 50 were delayed, less then two hours. Once, my flight was cancelled, month before the trip. I received full refund within four days after cancellation and with three clicks online, initiated by them. Never ever I had a single problem or issue. And with one exception, Stockholm in high season, I always flew dirty cheap. So, before preaching how FR is shit of airline, try to learn some English or try to get some more experiAnce in air travel
@13.37 ah yes, nothing like an anecdotal experience argument mixed up with some arrogance to boot. There are official statistics you know. 10.10 has a good point. Not that W6 are leagues ahead, but FR really is the bottom of the barrel.
DeleteLol have you seen most of the people flying from the Balkan to Western Europe. It is not business travellers.
Deletesame for people flying from Western Europe to other parts of Western Europe. "It is not business travellers"
Delete14.45
DeleteI am 13.37. You have every right to your opinion about FR. But you have no right to make up or lie about things like official statistics. Official statistics where FR is number one in Europe and the best in on time performance clearly show who is right and who is wrong here. And if stating that everyday life and my experience with FR confirmed what official statistics are saying is arrogance, I am glad to be arrogant
@15.24
DeleteA couple of points -
1. UX is way more than just on-time performance. That being said,
2. Could you please provide a link? For instance, according to Cirium (https://www.cirium.com/thoughtcloud/most-on-time-airlines-airports-2024-revealed-cirium/), Ryanair is not in top10 in Europe.
I will provide nothing. Ryanair is the airline with THE MOST passengers in Europe. If all those hundreds of millions of passengers are stupid and wrong for choosing THE BIGGEST European company Ryanair and you are the only one wise and clever saying it's shit, then let it be so, you are right
Delete18:07 very true and well said. All countries deserve to have Ryanairs flights , as well as Macedonia. Giwes u options to fly with affordable prices , and not only poor countries like ours , even the richest ones in Europe using their routes because of the prices of course. We cannot pray for W6 mercy we need second option!!
DeleteGreat move from the government strategically wise. Never put all your eggs in one basket.
ReplyDeleteOne has to wonder what's left though
They have been putting all their eggs in one Wizz basket for the past 15 years.
DeleteSeems they learnt a lesson after Wizz's engine problems.
DeleteExactly someone learn the lesson and finally going forward to bring them in our country , not praying for W6 mercy...
DeleteVery very nice.......GO Skopje GO
ReplyDelete🥳🥳👏
DeleteSkopje could become the next Tirana with Wizz and Ryan clash. This would definitely draw some passengers away from Pristina. Lets see what happens, it will probably depend on Macedonian government and how much are they willing to pay for these flights.
ReplyDeleteWith no coast and population of 1.7 mil, it's hard to see the north macedonian capital becoming next Tirana without major major subsidies.
DeleteThere not gonna be direct competition on the routes with W6 from what I know. And also opening a base is part of the talks.
Delete13:35 I mean you don't need to have 10m passengers, but Skopje having 5M would boost the economy and connections greatly, and it's definitely possible.
DeleteVaradi won't be happy.
ReplyDeleteCutting so many routes from Macedonia and not restored the one that were always full and in demand finally someone decide we need one more LLC , not wait on W6 in future.
DeleteMeanwhile TAV sits back and enjoys...
ReplyDeleteIn this case is nothing about TAV , the country need to leads this and everything is on them. TAV now doing their best , not like couple years ago when they sit and not do anytning for real.
DeleteWow that was unexpected
ReplyDeleteYes and great news for sure
DeleteWould be lovely to see them in Skopje, and even better in Ohrid (at least seasonally) to drive tourism.
ReplyDeleteMost people care about cheap fares, not the name of the airline.
It will be in both airports OHD is includes for sure.
DeleteIs the Macedonian market big enough for 2 rival companies?
ReplyDeleteif they dont clash, yes
Deletethey will not clash, they are not clashing with OU in a much bigger market like ZAG
DeleteOU is suffering big time from FR. Their passenger number on routes where they have indirect competition like London and Brussels have nosedived. Their load factor is the lowest in decades.
DeleteClash will accure sooner or later
DeleteWrong 11.53-1. OU is not suffering from FR. OU is suffering from being political entity run by aparatchiks and uhljebs, with no strategy and vision, with no network, with no marketing, and with tones of corruption and incompetence. If OU were real airline run by competent professionals, FR wouldn't be an issue at all, or at least it wouldn't be an issue big time
Deletepossible routes that are relatively low risk: Düsseldorf-Weeze, Bremen, London Stansted, Copenhagen, Stockholm-Arlanda, Verona, Prague and so on
ReplyDeletefor Ohrid: Frankfurt-Hanh and Malmö plus seasonal to Brussels Charleroi, Eindhoven, Berlin, Zagreb, Sofia, Krakow/Warsaw Modlin
DeleteNew flight routes are no help when there are no passengers. If the planes fly at half capacity, the routes will close quickly. In addition, Skopje has nearby Priština, which runs over and competes with large hubs such as Zagreb and Sofia. Recently, the Pristina border has recorded a large proportion of passengers with N. Macedonian and Serbian passports. There is a link.
ReplyDeleteNostradamus
Delete"This week, Ryanair’s corporate jet landed in the Macedonian capital" was this covered by local media?
ReplyDeleteNope
DeleteThe Ryanair plane that came to Skopje was M-ABSU. Arrived on Wednesday evening from Dublin and left on Thursday afternoon back to Dublin. So this for sure was high ranking management.
Deletefala mnogu!
DeleteMOL?
DeleteEither hiim (group ceo) or Eddie Wilson (Ryanair ceo)
DeleteNo because local media not care much about air travel in Macedonia , they more care about daily politic sh°t ...
DeleteBut this is for sure strong signal ...
Good for Skopje!
ReplyDelete👏👏
DeleteThat's fantastic, I hope they will fly to ARN, CPH, MAD, PRG, HEL, BCN, OTP, VIE and PFO.
ReplyDeleteNo mostly of them are germany and italian flights , I wish some other too but from what I heard mostly are gasto routes and airports , and not direct competition with Wizz ..
Deleteexpect now Wizz to re-establish their halted routes odma
ReplyDeleteDont believe , they are doing very slowly , they are back to almost all other bases but in Macedonia seems like they put us on the bottom of the list...
DeleteGreat news!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteYay i hope this happens Macedonia needs more competition and a wider range of destinations offered yes its another Lcc but lets be realistic for short haul flights this is awesome yes i want to see kore legacy airlines but any new airline i will happily accept
ReplyDeleteVery true
DeleteTresla se gora, rodio se mis. I won't believe it until I see it, and I can just hope it won't be a setup to replicate W6's network like they have done in other places. Let's see, I'm not holding my breath. Realistically they don't have much to offer this market that will live on sustainably on its own, and this is coming from someone who's battled for this market's potential recognition since day one against the belittling comments claiming there isn't opportunity even for one full W6 aircraft. 12:12 comment might be the closest to an alternative, I'm just not sure it's a viable one.
ReplyDeletedont agree, If there is someone that can offer (a lot) to this market then it is Ryanair
Delete@14.28 They do? Go ahead, I'd love to hear a solid argument and be convinced otherwise.
DeleteIn my eyes, the real opportunity lies with a solid one-stop connector to Australia and the US. Everything else is peanuts and/or unsustainable.
Delete14:19 agree or not in mid summer Ryanair will enter our market , the negotiatins are almost over ;)
Delete@16.25 Godspeed and best of luck. I can't wait to see the network.
Delete16:28 it will be mix of gasto and tourist routes. Most of them will be from germany and italy , and possible spanish coast. This is what I heard but still wait for official network. Talks are still on. But thank you we all wish Ryanair to enter our market and we will be able to get more choice and options to choose for flying , we deserve that.
Delete16:28 it will be mix of gasto and tourist routes. Most of them will be from germany and italy , and possible spanish coast. This is what I heard but still wait for official network. Talks are still on. But thank you we all wish Ryanair to enter our market and we will be able to get more choice and options to choose for flying , we deserve that.
DeleteI read in mk media few weeks ago that they want to change the subsidy program (aka increase the support) if an airline "launches more then 10 routes"... ok now we see who they had in mind
ReplyDeleteYeah that's probably it. I'd love the routes not be a carbon copy of W6.
DeleteYes for SKP they will increase from cureently 9 to 10 or 11 and for OHD for currently 12 to 14 , that is what I heard. That is the new strategy of getting nee airlines and routes.
DeleteGreat news for Macedonia, hopefully this will be realised! It would be also a good option for southern Serbians
ReplyDeleteHopefully , we see how Wizz screw us in the past years , so we need another LLC for sure.
Delete... screwed us? By quadrupling the market?
Delete@15.15 Ryanair already flies ftom Nis for almost 10 years.
DeleteScrew us because they recieve government money for routes which they never operated them. Cutting and then launching old routes just to recieve money. They return to almost all their bases with strong activity and not do anything in Macedonia , is this not enough ? We desperately need another LLC and thats it!!
DeleteThis is actually a good sign. Ryanair official never came to Macedonia , in the past there were talks but not meeting in live. And as I heard if its true they negotiating 12 routes from both SKP and OHD , and mosf of them are Germany and Italian flights....
ReplyDeleteYeah this is exactly what I'm afraid of. No creativity.
DeleteI would welcome every single new route nevermind Paderborn, Münster or Bergamo
DeleteThats what I heard , they mention airport close to Frankfurt that is on seeking on our diaspora, italian coast and something else which I didnt realise too... but we wait for official to see ...
DeleteI somehow have my fingers more crossed for Ohrid than for Skopje.
DeleteHow to understand the 12 routes for both? 12 each city or 12 in total from Macedonia?
For Skopje even just getting Stockholm, Prague and maybe some 1-2 Polish cities is already awesome.
Thanks for clarifying! Fingers crossed!
DeleteThank you , fingers crossed too!!
DeleteStansted, Birmingham, Liverpool, Prague, Madrid, Lisbon, Nice...
ReplyDeleteStansted or Gatwick , Birminhgam and Liverpool no , Prague yes , Madrid as well , Nice possible , and Lisbon too. Germany and Italian airports are for now and some England as we know so far
DeleteVery nice and positive news for Macedonia.Getting Ryanair flights would finally sound getting more options,more choice and affordable prices for our budjet. As well cheap flights would bring tourists. Every europe airports have Ryanair route which means opening option for tourist to come and visit our country.
ReplyDeleteI just wish to see more England ,France,Italian,Spanish,Portugal flights , a good variety of mix would be great additon for Ryanair and Macedonia , wishing all the luck and success and expect good news from all this!!
Very nice and positive news for Macedonia.Getting Ryanair flights would finally sound getting more options,more choice and affordable prices for our budjet. As well cheap flights would bring tourists. Every europe airports have Ryanair route which means opening option for tourist to come and visit our country.
ReplyDeleteI just wish to see more England ,France,Italian,Spanish,Portugal flights , a good variety of mix would be great additon for Ryanair and Macedonia , wishing all the luck and success and expect good news from all this!!
This is great if it happens but I would prefer to wait and see what comes out. My guess list comprises of Prague, Bari, Krakow, Madrid, Naples, Catania, Stockholm, Helsinki plus 1-2 German cities not covered by W6. However W6 dedinitely needa a challenge in Skopje!
ReplyDelete