Slovenia has intensified efforts to improve its international air connectivity, not only through airline subsidy tenders but also by engaging in direct talks with several carriers. Over the past two months these have included discussions with LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines and Wizz Air. The Ministry has signalled its willingness to explore a range of cooperative models 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 said.
LOT expressed interest in expanding its route network to and from Slovenia, particularly through potential partnerships and incentive mechanisms that could support the introduction of new services. However, the airline’s press office was quick to temper expectations, emphasising that it is still too early to speak of any concrete involvement. Meanwhile, Croatia Airlines’ CEO presented the company’s business development plans to the Ministry, outlining opportunities to expand the carrier’s network. He expressed interest in the government’s existing measures to enhance connectivity, as well as possible forms of cooperation to achieve this goal. Wizz Air also held talks with Slovenian officials, exploring the possibility of introducing new routes by taking advantage of the state’s subsidy program aimed at improving air connectivity.
Ljubljana Airport has recently secured several new routes, some supported by the government’s subsidy scheme and others independently launched. airBaltic will introduce a weekly service between the Slovenian capital and Las Palmas this winter, which has already been extended into April to cover the Easter holidays. Air Albania has confirmed plans to launch flights between Tirana and Ljubljana, although the schedule is yet to be finalised. Meanwhile, easyJet will add a new service from Manchester this winter, with the possibility of introducing additional routes.
Ljubljana Airport registered a third consecutive month of strong growth by handling 163.516 passengers in June, representing an increase of 10.4% on the same period last year. The figure was achieved on the back of a 16.1% increase in aircraft movements. During the first half of the year, the airport welcomed 689.258 travellers through its doors, an improvement of 5.9%, or an additional 38.128 passengers. The figure is still down 19.8% on the pre-pandemic 2019. Passenger numbers are expected to grow in July as well, with scheduled capacity up 20.4%.
Ljubljana's largest airlines by scheduled seat capacity, June 2025
Bravo Carte.. I mean Fraport!
ReplyDeleteIronically, none of these talks are with Fraport but between the government and airlines.
DeleteWeak sauce
ReplyDeleteLOT expressed interest in expanding its route network to and from Slovenia, particularly through potential partnerships and incentive mechanisms that could support the introduction of new services. However, the airline’s press office was quick to temper expectations, emphasising that it is still too early to speak of any concrete involvement.
ReplyDeleteTime for some actual hope? This sounds like they are working on something, and the lack of a new tender speaks for itself...
Really hope so
DeleteMore or less at the same time, there were news linking LOT with the airports in Prague and Chisinau. Basically LOT is searching for oportunities to get some extra dime. Recently they announced launching of new route from Gdansk (to IST), so in general they are open for flying from places other than Warsaw.
DeleteSo, I would say, if the conditions provided by Slovenia will be attractive, they will come.
Any idea when Tirana flights will launch? And the frequency as well? I hope its not one weekly...
ReplyDeleteShould be 2 weekly from November.
DeleteWhen the flights were operated by Adria, these were transfer passengers, but TIA was nothing more than SJJ. Now what kind of passengers, tourists?
DeleteTo be honest, I think Air Albania is only starting these flights to get money and nothing else.
DeleteAre they financially well off? Because currently Fly2Sky's Bulgarian A320 is operating almost all of their flights. This doesn't seem financially profitable to me...
DeleteThey're anything but financially well off. So they will definitely start these flights to get paid asap.
DeleteThe company is on the brink of bankruptcy. These flights to LJU are just a last ditch attempt for management to get some money.
DeleteSlovenia could approach airBaltic and discuss partnership. Both are desperate in their own way.
ReplyDeleteWith the old CEO that was the plan..with the new one; We'lll have to wait some more
DeleteThe problem is, Slovenia in general does not want to give much money on this air connectivity. While Air Baltic would probably ask for lots.
DeleteThe tender reserved 16million€ for the air connectivity...I bet if 16mio would be paid directly to an airline, they would establish a quite nice little base in LJU
Delete^ that's true
DeleteInstead of throwing money at airlines, why not use those funds to build a sustainable national airline?
DeleteWait a bit. At airBaltic they are now preocupied with their venture in Uruguay. After that it's time for airBalticAdria.
DeleteVenture in Uruguay?
Deletehttps://company.airbaltic.com/en/newsroom?press=2025/airbaltic-and-sua-lineas-aereas-enter-a-strategic-partnership-in-latin-america
Deletewow was not aware of this. They semm to be trying to get money wherever they can.
DeleteAir Baltic is the perfect example of a fantastic PR machine which is completely rotten on the inside.
DeleteWizz route to Skopje reaches +6k in a single month , even this is schedule capacity, I am pretty sure those numbers are reached which is impressive👏
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhat does Wizz's route to Skopje have to do with this?
DeleteTo continue the amazing numbers!!
DeleteUkrainian SkyUp recently announced that it is planning 4 new AOCs. LJU crossed my mind, but that's about it.😄
ReplyDeletePoland one, Moldavian one, Romunian one and Ireland one will probably happen instead
DeleteYes! Las days they also acquired moldavian AOC. Vision Air dba SkyUp Moldova is the airline.
DeleteWith all due respect, I think Slovenia is the last country in the EU on their list of launching an airline.
DeleteAnother good news for Ljubljana:
ReplyDeleteBy the end of 2030, Riyadh Air plans to serve every capital city in Europe, in addition to large capitals in the Far East and Central Asia.
With SIJ 1.5billion dollar investments the flights should come fairly soon even from Flynas
I doubt this will happen but let's see. Tony Douglas reminds me a lot of James Hogan. This airline is the most overhyped launch this century and they were supposed to start flights months ago.
DeleteAnyone else concered that aircraft movements increased a lot but passenger growth was almost half of that?
ReplyDeleteIt's because with GM the private jets are counted in as well, and just this year 2 or 3 new private charter companies were established, count in the MROs and 4 fire fighting aircraft and you have your reason
DeleteAh ok, thank you
DeleteGlad to see the government finally being proactive. Talking to airlines directly is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThe government should focus on securing a regional base for a carrier like Wizz or Ryanair. That would bring real volume and stability.
Deletestability?
DeleteWell stability to LJU I guess since numbers are still way down on 2019.
DeleteHope these talks with LOT and Croatia Airlines actually lead to something.
ReplyDeleteLOT there is a chance. With OU, to be honest, better that they don't considering how they do business in Croatia.
Delete^ to clarify I meant how OU does buisness in Croatia.
DeleteAt least the airport is growing again. Fingers crossed the numbers continue to rise in the second half of the year.
ReplyDeleteI think it is safe to say things are imporving. I just hope this next winter is not as bad for the airport as the last one was.
DeleteActions speak louder than words. We’ve heard these announcements before. Let’s see how many of these talks actually turn into flights.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is the most progress I’ve seen in years.
DeleteWithout a national carrier or long term strategy, we’ll keep patching holes instead of building a real network.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Subsidies are a short term fix. What Slovenia really needs is a strategic aviation policy and consistent engagement with carriers.
DeleteEncouraging trend at LJU. Three months of growth is a good sign. Hope the momentum continues and it attracts even more airlines.
ReplyDeleteNice to read about growth, but we're still almost 20% below 2019. That gap won’t close with just seasonal or once weekly flights.
DeleteEvery time I fly out of Trieste or Zagreb, I wonder how much longer Ljubljana can afford to fall behind.
DeleteNo one from Slovenia uses TRS or ZAG, so it won't fall behind.
DeleteI still don’t understand why Adria’s collapse caught everyone off guard. We’re years into this gap and still no serious replacement.
ReplyDeleteNorwegian, Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, airBaltic, LOT, flydubai, GP Aviation, Wizz Air, Aegean Airlines, Air Montenegro, Trade Air, Transavia, Eurowings, Corendon Airlines...
DeleteNorwegian - seasonal, Brussels 4 weekly in winter, flydubai announced flights when Adria was alive, GP aviation went from 3 weekly to 1 weekly, TradeAir doesn't offer seats, Eurowings is seasonal, Coaredon isn't flying at all this year
Delete+1
DeleteWe need better connections to Germany. Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin… Where is Eurowings?
ReplyDeleteAs well as Italy and Spain. Two of the highest countries for tourism from Slovenia, and still not even one connection.
DeleteLOT and Croatia Airlines already have their hands full elsewhere. We’ll see if anything actually comes out of this.
ReplyDeleteAs well as Italy and Spain. Two of the highest countries for tourism from Slovenia, and still not even one connection.
DeleteHope the Canary Islands route is extended to year round.
ReplyDeleteI don't think so because their Las Palmas base is winter seasonal.
DeleteIt’s good that Wizz is in talks again. Their presence at LJU is minimal compared to other ex-YU capitals. Time to change that.
ReplyDeleteHope these are more than just polite meetings.
DeleteI flew from Ljubljana last week and it’s still eerily quiet. Fingers crossed these new routes bring back some life.
ReplyDeleteTalks are nice, but we need results.
ReplyDeleteAll this would’ve been easier if the government had acted faster after Adria’s shutdown. We lost years of connectivity.
Delete^ Are you forgeting covid?
DeleteCovid is not an excuse anymore.
DeleteInstead of the government messing about they should re-nationalise Ljubljana Airport and use the profits to set up a new Flag carrier.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is the only sustainable solution.
DeleteAgree but never gonna happen.
DeleteWith Lek factory in Brnik, new DHL facility and much much more, we should see a lot more cargo flights as well...any news on that?
ReplyDeleteMost if not all of LEK/Sandoz cargo is coming by road. DHL still has a potential to use bigger plane if needed. No additional flights are expected because of those investments.
DeleteI do not understand why are here so many negative comments. Just because LJU is small airport surrounded by other countrie's airport it does not mean that they need to be unsuccessful. I know many people preferring LJU to ZAG. Many other countries have small airports in vicinity of bigger ones and they are still profitable.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. But this is typical Slovenian mentality. (1) everything across the border is better then we have (2) I will drive 5 hours one way only to save 5 EUR.
DeleteTrue unfortunately.
DeleteI like the mix of airlines involved
ReplyDeleteLJU actually has very diverse number of airlines serving it.
Delete20.4% capacity growth in July is very good!
ReplyDelete