Turkish Airlines plans to operate an average of fourteen additional weekly flights to the former Yugoslavia this coming winter season compared to last year, reaching a record 111 weekly departures from Istanbul to the region. The carrier will upgrade its Tivat service to year-round operations, after suspending winter flights to the coastal city last season. It will now maintain three weekly flights to Tivat throughout the entire winter. Additionally, the Star Alliance member will increase frequencies to Sarajevo, operating a double daily service, up from eleven to thirteen weekly flights last winter.
Turkish Airlines will operate ten weekly flights to Pristina this winter, up from eight to nine weekly rotations during the 2024/25 season. Ljubljana will also see an increase, with fourteen weekly services planned, compared to twelve to thirteen last winter. In Zagreb, the carrier will boost frequencies to seventeen weekly flights, up from thirteen during the previous winter season. Frequencies to Belgrade and Skopje will remain largely unchanged, with Turkish Airlines maintaining 21 weekly and fourteen weekly flights respectively. Ohrid, which was launched this summer, will not run over the winter months.
Two cities will see a reduction in operations. As previously reported, flights to Dubrovnik have been downgraded to a summer-only seasonal service, and the Croatian city will not be served this winter. Turkish Airlines is also reducing frequencies to Podgorica, with eighteen weekly rotations planned, down from 21 last winter. The cut comes as the airline shifts some capacity from Podgorica to support its newly introduced winter service to Tivat.
Interesting that they went for Tivat over Dubrovnik
ReplyDeleteProbably cheapest option. And close enough for passengers to visit both. Still, DBV should ask itself why they let go in winter such an important player as TK, and Tivat deserves congratulations
DeleteIn the linked article it is obvious why not. The loads were rather light.
DeleteThey also don't need visas for Montenegro.
DeleteNot bad at all
ReplyDeleteFrom when Ohrid will not be served in winter , I see december there is flights ... ??
ReplyDeleteThere are no flights between Istanbul and Ohrid in December.
DeleteAny date in winter says " We do not have any flights on the date and route you have selected or all our flights are sold out. Please change the date and/or route for a new flight search."
DeleteThey are not flying to OHD in winter.
DeleteProbably they updated the winter schedule , last time one month ago I check I see days in december that you was able to book ...
DeleteMeans there was no demand in winter. What a surprise.
DeleteI am not surprised at all. Ohrid is small city and airline of size like TK in winter is impossible to be in demand. Barely in winter there is no tourist. Cities like Dubrovnik cannot handle TK flights in winter not Ohrid.
DeleteLast winter TK had lots of cuts because of engine issues.
ReplyDeleteCorrect and they overpass that pretty much light...
DeleteWell they had hundreds of cancelled flights per month but they didn't have too many aircraft affected.
DeleteIt's just that ex-Yu was not impacted as mich as some other routes.
DeleteAdmin do you know which date is the last planned flight to Ohrid for the upcoming winter?
ReplyDeleteAnd also when they are resuming flights again???
DeleteThe last flight is scheduled for October 24. It is currently due to resume on March 29, 2026.
DeleteThank you for the info
DeleteThey could really add a few weekly to Ljubljana, they are the main airline here in winter, always full flights.
ReplyDeleteOr get AJet to start SAW-LJU 2x per week.
DeleteIt would be nice to see Ajet in Zagreb too but maybe with route from Izmir.
DeleteWhats the obsession with Ajet? They are just worse version of Turkish. It's better if Turkish adds mroe flights than Ajet starting new flights.
DeleteTK rarely adds flights from secondary Turkish cities to international destinations.
DeleteAlso Ajet is an LCC so it offers a good alternative.
DeleteTK does not fly from Turkish cities except Istanbul. All other cities are served by AJet.
DeleteNot thrilled about Podgorica losing frequencies. Makes sense with Tivat going year round, but it’s still a downgrade.
ReplyDeleteBut what can one do on the Montenegro coast in winter?
DeleteYou can visit the historical old towns on the coast which is what all people do when visiting in the winter.
DeleteCurious to see how the loads will look in January and February.
Delete111 weekly flights to ex-Yu from Turkish Airlines is impressive. Their dominance in the Balkans is only growing.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteInteresting that Ohrid didn’t make the cut for winter. Wonder if it underperformed.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is much demand for OHD in winter. Forward bookings were probably not great.
DeleteExcellent news
ReplyDeleteLove TK
ReplyDeleteWhy?
DeleteNo other legacy carrier comes close in terms of frequency and network depth in the region.
DeleteAir Serbia has more destinations and frequency in exyu region
DeleteI was referring to foreign non ex-Yu airlines.
DeleteA lot of Turkish citizens live and have businesses in Tivat, Kotor, Budva, etc., so it’s not surprising at all that Turkish Airlines stays (operates) during the winter. Don’t forget that Air Montenegro also has, I think, a daily flight to Istanbul during the winter.
DeleteAnd yet OU still sees no potential in ZAG-IST route.
ReplyDelete