Pristina Airport targets Spain and France leisure routes, optimistic over US service

Pristina Airport is on track to more than double its pre-pandemic passenger volumes this year. Following the arrival of new carriers, a revised incentive policy and the expansion of its terminal, EX-YU Aviation News spoke to Pristina Airport CEO Gokhan Acikgoz about upcoming plans, including target markets, prospects for long-haul services and further infrastructure upgrades.

Pristina Airport is once again experiencing record passenger traffic this year. What are the main drivers behind this growth, and what is your overall target for 2025?

Indeed, 2025 is shaping up to be another record-breaking year for Pristina International Airport. As a company, one of our priorities has been to make air travel more accessible to the people of Kosovo and its widespread diaspora. To that end, we’ve focused our efforts on encouraging airlines to adopt more competitive pricing strategies. Through consistent dialogue, data-driven route support, and tailored incentive programs, we’ve successfully influenced the market in ways that directly benefit our passengers.

Several key drivers are fuelling this growth. First, the strong ties of our diaspora across Europe continue to generate significant demand, particularly during the summer season. Second, our strategic focus on route development, coupled with close cooperation with the authorities of Kosovo and our airline partners, has led to the launch of new destinations and increased frequencies on high-performing routes. Third, our enhanced incentive policy has helped us remain competitive in the region, attracting both new entrants and additional capacity from existing carriers.

Our 16% year-on-year aeronautical growth reflects not only rising passenger volumes but also our ability to shape market dynamics through strategic communication and a deep understanding of both airline priorities and traveller behaviour.

Looking ahead, our target is to reach 4.5 million passengers in 2025, a milestone that reflects the momentum we’ve built and the confidence we have in Pristina Airport’s continued growth as a key hub in the Western Balkans.

With new flights to Saudi Arabia recently announced, are there any other geographic markets or regions the airport is currently targeting for future connectivity?

Absolutely. The recent launch of flights to Saudi Arabia marks just the beginning of our expansion strategy beyond traditional European routes. We are proactively targeting leisure markets, specifically in Spain and France, as part of our 2026 growth agenda. These destinations are well-suited to serve both outbound Kosovar holidaymakers and inbound tourists drawn to the Mediterranean’s rich cultural and leisure offerings.

This strategy is rooted in broader European airport trends. Airports Council International (ACI Europe) notes that leisure and VFR [Visiting Friends & Relatives] demand, coupled with growth in low cost carrier services, are driving connectivity across Europe. Many airports are capitalising on this trend, leveraging seasonal routes to Spain, France, Portugal and Greece to diversify their networks.

We are currently in active discussions with both low cost and scheduled carriers regarding seasonal leisure routes to Spain and France, and we are optimistic that these efforts will result in new services kicking off by summer 2026. This reflects our ongoing commitment to positioning Pristina as a key gateway for both outbound and inbound leisure travel in the region.

Earlier this year, there were reports of efforts to establish flights between Pristina and the United States. Could you provide an update on these initiatives?

Establishing a direct route between Pristina and the United States is an exciting milestone for our airport. However, it is also a complex and challenging endeavour that requires close collaboration and support beyond the airport itself. We are actively engaged in ongoing discussions with state authorities in both the United States and Kosovo, as well as in talks with various airlines.

We firmly believe that a direct flight between Pristina and the United States will not only open new travel opportunities for our passengers but also elevate the strategic importance of our airport and country within the region.

We have been working tirelessly to make this vision a reality. A significant achievement in this journey was successfully passing the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) assessment last year, with no finding, a critical milestone in the process.

While formal agreements have yet to be finalised, we are optimistic that, through continued efforts, this important connection, alongside several other strategic routes, will be launched soon. This will significantly improve accessibility for our diaspora and further strengthen bilateral ties.

Has the newly introduced incentive policy yielded the intended results in terms of attracting new airlines or routes?

Since the introduction of our revised incentive policy, we have observed a clear and measurable increase in airline engagement and route development. The policy was considerately crafted to provide targeted support that aligns with airline commercial strategies, mitigating initial risk and encouraging investment in new or underserved markets.

As a result, we anticipate the launch of several new routes, including both leisure destinations and strategically significant connections, as previously noted. In parallel, the policy has also helped strengthen our relationships with existing airline partners, encouraging them to increase frequencies and expand capacity on high-performing routes.

Overall, the incentive program has proven to be a highly effective tool in enhancing Pristina Airport’s connectivity and competitiveness within the region. We remain committed to continuously monitoring and refining the policy to ensure it remains responsive to evolving market conditions and airline needs.

Regarding infrastructure, what are the next planned developments or upgrades at the airport?

We are actively advancing a comprehensive infrastructure development plan to ensure Pristina International Airport remains a modern, efficient and future-ready hub for the region. Our strategy focuses on expanding capacity, enhancing the passenger experience, improving operational efficiency and investing in sustainability.

Most recently, we completed the construction of four additional bus boarding gates through two annexes on the terminal’s northern and southern wings. This investment was a proactive response to record-breaking traffic and growing demand. Looking ahead, we are preparing for further terminal improvements, including expansion of the passenger processing areas, additional check-in counters and upgraded baggage handling systems, to better manage peak-hour flows and support our long-term growth targets.

On the airside, following the successful extension of our runway to 3,050 meters and the upgrade of our Instrument Landing System to CAT III standards, we are now evaluating further enhancements to our taxiways and apron areas. These upgrades aim to accommodate higher aircraft movements, reduce turnaround times, and improve overall airside efficiency.

Digitally, we are working very hard to modernise our entire passenger journey through a cloud-based platform. This includes self-service kiosks, automated bag-drop and biometric boarding, along with a centralised Airport Management Suite that enables real-time, data-driven decision-making across operations.

The ongoing investments are a testament to our long-term vision for Pristina Airport as a high-performing, passenger-focused, and sustainable gateway for the Western Balkans.