The 2026 summer season is fast approaching, now just two months away, with most airlines finalising their schedules. Although further adjustments are still expected, three carriers are emerging as the fastest-growing in the former Yugoslav markets, based on the additional capacity filed for the summer period, which runs from March 29 to October 24.
Wizz Air is set to dominate this summer, with an additional 1.923.897 seats already scheduled. The airline will add a second aircraft to its Tuzla base and station two aircraft in Podgorica. Furthermore, it plans to operate an all-Airbus A321neo fleet at its bases in Skopje and Belgrade, compared to last year. The carrier is expanding across every market in the former Yugoslavia compared to last year and will deploy more capacity than it did prior to the engine issues affecting its A320neo family aircraft, which forced it to scale back operations over the past two years.
Ryanair, which topped the region for growth last year, will rank second this summer with an additional 219.640 seats. Although the low cost carrier has so far scheduled just two new routes to the region - from Poznan to Podgorica and from Gdansk to Dubrovnik - it will boost frequencies across its existing network. The main driver of growth will be its Dubrovnik base, followed by Zadar.
Air Serbia rounds out the top three, narrowly ahead of Croatia Airlines. The Serbian carrier is adding 178.986 seats to the market compared to last year. This growth is driven by the launch of five new routes during the summer season - Santorini, Baku, Toronto, Alicante and Seville - although none will commence at the very start of the season. In addition, the airline is further densifying its network, increasing frequencies on more than twenty existing destinations.
Croatia Airlines follows closely, adding 176.109 seats year-on-year. Its growth is primarily supported by the ongoing replacement of its fleet with A220 aircraft, as well as the earlier resumption of seasonal services from Zagreb. Furthermore, the carrier is introducing new routes, including Split to Nantes and Dubrovnik to Stuttgart.
Top five fastest growing airlines across former Yugoslav markets, S26
I'm happy to see two national airlines from ex-Yu in the top 5
ReplyDeleteWizzair is our national airline :)
DeleteWizz Air also hires a lot of locals so it is good to have them in the top too.
DeleteYes, also their working conditions are spiffing. That's why many don't leave and stay with them.
DeleteThe Wizz growth is crazy
ReplyDeleteWill they be able to keep it up next year?
DeleteHighly unlikely but they really don't have to. This huge growth is in part due to the big decreases they had over the past few years.
DeleteWe’ve seen rapid growth before from Wizz followed by sharp cuts. Let’s see if this capacity sticks beyond one season.
DeleteThey had massive growth this winter, just look at BEG. They did not cut what they planned.
DeleteI did not expect Lufthansa to be on the list.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this growth coming from?
DeleteA part of it is big increase in capacity on the LJU-FRA route. They are switching their CRJs for Embraers, A319 & A320.
DeleteThey removed a lot of regional planes from FRA and MUC to the ex-YU.
DeleteThat's right, thank you
DeleteAnd predictions by some how Air Dolomiti will take over many of their ex-Yu routes did not materialize.
Deleteprobably because of world cup. 1/4 of the world will be there
DeleteLufthansa also keeps on growing because they offer great and convenient connections with a stable product. You know what you get with LH.
DeleteMany will always moan at LH but you get a standard product with good connections, a worldwide network and good value for the money spent.
DeleteWould always be my first choice even.
Wizz Air has overrun both JU and FR. Both of them are kinda weak when you see their numbers and realize that is for the WHOLE summer season, basically from April to October! Crazy how dominant Wizz Air is becoming, Ryanair doesn't stand a chance.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised FR did not schedule any growth for the summer in ZAG.
Generally FR has scheduled very little growth this year in this region. I keep thinking maybe they will announce some big expansion but it's already February in 2 days and it's looking less and less likely.
DeleteOdd considering Wizz's growth. And O'Leary was predicting Wizz will go bankrupt.
DeleteWith Wizz air planning to due transatlantic flights from London, their collapse might still be on the cards. Every LCC that tried that failed big time.
DeleteW6 was in trouble because of the engine issues.
DeleteIts business structure and its cost base is extremely competitive and when fleet situation normalized it went back to high growth mode.
@Anon 09:21
DeleteWhich European LCCs tried transatlantic from London with narrowbody aircraft?
Thanks for all info.
Play is the only one with narrowbodies. But Norwegian, Norse and WOW with widebodies have all failed.
DeleteHonestly weird they still didn't schedule anything new from SJJ
DeleteWizz Air is going all in on ex-YU because this is their home market and they don't want FR sniffing around. TGD was a great move by them as it will reduce the number of people going to TIA to catch a flight. I am sure W6 looked at where MNE passportholder were flying to from Tirana and launched those flights from TGD.
DeleteMeanwhile FR failed in general here in MNE.
Ex-Yu is absolutely not Wizz's home market. They have about 15-20 "homes" that are more important to them.
DeleteNonsense. What are those 15-20 homes that are larger than their ex-YU presence. Go on tell us since you are so smart and sassy.
DeleteI didn't write the comment at 10:12 but I think they meant markets that are far larger than EXYU. which is correct. Bucharest alone has 21 aircraft based, not to mention other bases in Romania such as Cluj with 7. Tirana has 15 aircraft I believe based there. Other mega markets include Budapest, Poland, Italy, the UK and Bulgaria. The point they are making is that whilst the figures are impressive, they are still modest in the wider European aviation landscape.
DeleteEx YU is not Wizz home market, but they seem to be making a huge push on this market.
DeleteThey are increasing their presence in ExYu and even if they will not take the lead over YU they'll grab a big chunk of the ExYu market.
Increasing from very small to small. Fantastic! Definitely a home market.
DeleteWizz Air’s numbers are on another level compared to everyone else. Nearly 2 million additional seats is huge for this region. The big question is whether the market can actually absorb that much extra capacity.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia’s growth looks more balanced and sustainable. Five new routes plus frequency increases on 20+ destinations is a serious expansion
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI hope Air Serbia will consider launching more routes to Africa and the Middle East, where there’s growing demand. Return to Cairo would be more than welcome.
DeleteNot happening this year it seems.
DeleteTLV and CAI are must haves.
DeleteNo new destinations are needed. They must work on densifying their network. In summer they are doing a better job than in winter. Their network is still weak in winter.
DeleteThe gap between Wizz and the rest is enormous.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat!
DeleteOverall summer 2026 looks very competitive.
ReplyDeleteRyanair is in deep trouble in our region!
ReplyDeleteLooks like they can no longer generate traffic demand like they did in the past. Most of its competitors adapted and are now kicking its butt.
FR is also in trouble also in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands.
DeleteFR and trouble do not really belong in the same sentance. They outstrip wizz on every financial and also on long-term sustainability of the business
DeleteRyanair's growth streak is over while Wizz is again in turbo mode.
DeleteRyanair's capacity growth while just adding 2 new routes actually shows they are very strong.
Delete"Ryanair is in deep trouble in our region!"
DeleteMeanwhile, in the real world where facts matter, Ryanair has nine aircraft based in Ex-Yu airports this summer. Did you count how many Wizz has?
W6 has way more.
Delete@10:29, and?
DeleteHow many more? Give me numbers please.
DeleteIs there any info on GP Aviation's capacity growth?
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see Wizz growing in Croatia with more seasonal routes. I'm really wondering if they would be tempted to try Zagreb. I know in the past they said it is expensive but would be really something to see them take on FR.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they will waste their time. Not because ZAG is not an attractive market but it is probably not as important or big as others where they have to go head to head against Ryanair.
DeleteWhat is more likely: Wizz starting Zagreb or Ryan starting Belgrade?
DeleteThe only issue with OU's growth is that it is not organic.
ReplyDeleteThe real question is whether the airline can fill those additional seats
DeleteJudging by their loads and the recent frequency cuts, no.
DeleteThose OU cuts in SKP were especially bad.
DeleteAlmost 2 million extra seats from Wizz alone could put serious downward pressure on fares. Good news for passengers
ReplyDeleteThat is not good for either JU or YM.
DeleteThis would be true if these routes were going head to head with another airline. But in most cases they are not.
DeleteInteresting that none of Air Serbia’s new routes start at the very beginning of the season
ReplyDeleteThey are progressively getting aircraft up until June.
DeleteAnon 09.47
DeleteIt has nothing to do with that. All new route launches were usually in June when demand is high.
JU always plays it safe and Wizz forced them to move some resumptions early this year.
If all this capacity materialises summer 2026 will be the most competitive season the region ever
ReplyDeleteThe filed schedules look optimistic across the board.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if it actually sticks.
DeleteNo easyJet :( why are they so passive in this region?
ReplyDeleteThey have expanded with a few new routes in the region recently.
DeleteeasyJet is sticking to markets where they can make big money in the summer.
DeleteUnfortunately U2 doesn't care very much about eastern European markets.
Delete@they care about making money mate
DeleteApparently Wizz and FR are losing money here.
DeleteWe really need to see more full-service airlines coming to Skopje. Wizz growth is great but...
ReplyDeleteI flew SKP-VIE a few days ago and we were 34 passengers on the E95. Legacies do really well in summer but struggle in winter. Maybe the government should give subsidies for legacies in winter. It would help with connectivity.
Delete10:13 every legacies in winter are effected thats normal, yoi cannot judge from one flight , OS is doing really good in SKP , you can see that from the numbers
DeleteGood to see Lufthansa is on this list , I hope we will get more flag carriers boosting and adding new routes in Ex-yu region in future.
ReplyDeleteWE LOVE YOU WIZZ AIR!
ReplyDeleteCalm down mate
DeleteTwo LCCs and three legacies lead the growth.
ReplyDelete"Nas i Rusa, 200 miliona"... One LCC adds 2.5 times more seats than the next four carriers combined...
ReplyDelete