The Macedonian Minister for Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, has confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the introduction of flights from Saudi Arabia to Skopje and Ohrid. He did not specify which airline is involved, although low cost carrier Flynas has recently expanded within the region by launching services to Pristina, complementing its existing operations to Sarajevo and Tirana. “Direct talks have begun with Saudi Arabia to establish air traffic between the two countries, which will further expand the flight network to Macedonia. We will continue with this policy of incentivising new air routes”, Mr Nikoloski said.
Skopje Airport has been seeking to secure links to the Gulf for the past five years, following the suspension of services by Flydubai and Qatar Airways in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Saudi Arabia is actively encouraging Kingdom-based carriers to broaden their international networks through the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, which provides support to both local and international carriers to launch new flights from the country. Its CEO, Majid Khan, previously told EX-YU Aviation News the country is looking to expand its footprint in the Balkans.
Mr Nikoloski anticipates for Macedonia’s two international airports - Skopje and Ohrid - to handle a combined total of over four million passengers this year. “We launched a serious strategy to attract new airlines and routes, bearing in mind that Macedonia has no access to the sea and that its airports represent our only gateway to the world. This is key to bringing in more tourists and business travellers, while also creating more opportunities for Macedonian citizens to travel”, Mr Nikoloski said. He added, “I am particularly pleased that both Ohrid and Skopje airports have surpassed 3.5 million passengers [in 2025]. Considering that Macedonia has a population of 1.8 million, it is clear that traffic volumes significantly exceed the size of our domestic market”. Mr Nikoloski further stated that Skopje Airport is on track to record the strongest growth in the former Yugoslav region this year, describing it as a matter of pride given that Zagreb, Sarajevo and Belgrade are all larger cities than Skopje.
Riyadh Air potentially launching flights to Skopje, not sure about Ohrid though, could be seasonal
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be their first destination in the region...
DeleteIndeed. They so far havent really even started operations anyway.
DeleteThis Riyadh Air is the most overhyped airline I have ever heard about. Two years on they have everything from pilots to boarding music. The only issue is they haven't launched flights.
Delete@9.03 he didnt say it will be their first destination... just throwing poison
DeleteThis guy has announced so many airlines and nothing materialised. Flydubai, Air Arabia, Qatar now Saudi
ReplyDeleteAlrhough the rulling party didn't do anything for the country so far, one thing is for sure, he did improve the situation in the aviation sector one way or another, and he is proactive
DeleteWizzAir would have returned with growth from SKP one way or another. They announced new routes from every single base they have and they will add at least one more jet to every base as well. Amsterdam route didnt work from Skopje. So everything new is from WizzAir, thats why there will be 500.000+ seats on sale only for the month of August.
Delete“We launched a serious strategy to attract new airlines and routes, bearing in mind that Macedonia has no access to the sea and that its airports represent our only gateway to the world"
ReplyDeleteThank God there are these 2 airports as the only gateways to the world, otherwise I really don't know how I could travel outside the country...
^ Flixbus?
DeleteNiš Ekspres
DeleteGuess Saudi has money to spend on carriers, but they are neither a transit hub, not a tourist destination.
ReplyDeleteWould have laughed it off but then Pristina got year round flights from Saudi Arabia so who knows.
ReplyDeleteI have seen quite a few travellers from NM and Albania coming to PRN for those flights.
DeleteDo Macedonian's need visa to enter Saudi?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteI believe that if you have a UK or US visa you can apply for evisa which is cheaper and faster to get.
DeleteQuestion is. Do people really want to visit N.M from Saudi in any great numbers?
Deleterather, do people really want to visit Saudi in any great numbers?
DeleteNope
DeleteWas in riyadh in august fornsome businesst. hot as hell. 54 to 57C and wind like hairdrier blows to your face nonstop.
DeleteIts sand and rock with few high buildings, highest one looks like beer opener or that tower from LoTR with an eye.
Nothing to see there..
If it’s Flynas, that would make sense. They’re clearly targeting the Balkans with Pristina, Sarajevo and Tirana already in the network.
ReplyDeleteSKP and PRN, both do not make sense.
DeleteOhrid would benefit enormously from direct Saudi services. There is growing interest from Gulf tourists in the region’s nature and cooler climate.
ReplyDeletejust another political announcement without concrete details.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why the government is negotiating it and not the airport.
DeleteBecause some routes have to be negotiated on a state level.
Delete@10:56 or politicians like to pretend they are 'doing something'
DeleteSaudi Air Connectivity Program has serious funding behind it. If they are involved, chances are higher that something will actually launch.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGulf connectivity is crucial not only for tourism but also for one-stop connections to Asia. That’s what Macedonia really lacks right now.
ReplyDeleteYou have Istanbul for that.
DeleteNot so sure demand between Macedonia and Asia is such to require middle east transfer destination. Maybe Australia for ethnic traffic has some demand but Asia, no, either way. And no Flydubai or Qatar in SKP prove it.
DeleteThis definitely won't materialize.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI think there is a space for it, because of Saudi side. But on LCC and with modest frequencies
DeleteMuch has been announced... what happenend to the visa free travelling by end fo 2025 to UAE to support the FlyDubai flights. Now this... I doubt anything will happen.
ReplyDeletethey dont need visas to visit UAE, update yourself
Delete@12:28
DeleteI tried to update myself, but got confirmation from the official UAE visa site that Macedonians need a visa to enter. Just select country & purpose to update yourself.
https://www.visitdubai.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-information
Nikolovski better get his facts right....AI Overview
ReplyDeleteAs of recent data, Skopje is the larger city with a population of approximately 526,000–625,000, while Sarajevo has a city population of roughly 275,000–344,000. Skopje serves as the capital of Macedonia, and Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with populations varying depending on whether urban or metro areas are counted. But , population of BH is much larger than Macedonia, that much is true.
did Lignja say Sarajevo is bigger than Skopje?? go isturiv kafeto od smeenje
DeleteStop worrying about size.
DeleteI believe that we are 1 million in Skopje. Those statistics are old and not correct since there are many students and other people who come to Skopje to study or work and go back every day or every week.
Delete@15:12 Your belief is not the same as reality. Skopje being a million is beyond fanciful. But yet again, stop obsessing about size.
DeleteYok abe yok. Size is the only that matters at ex Ottoman Balkans territories.
DeleteThe size is shrinking by the month hahah
Deletewatch out when the Arabs find out about the Old Bazaar in Skopje or the coloured mosque in Tetovo... plus Ohrid. Macedonian goverments so far are very reluctant/unwilling to promote the Ottoman heritage of the country.
ReplyDeleteEmpires come ...and go. Ottoman empire was ruling Macedonia for about 500 years..and then it was gone. Just like Macedonian empire of Alexander rules the exactly same surface area (5.3 mill sq km) as Ottoman...and it was gone. But in Ohrid there are many churches (Kaneo, Sv, Naum , St Sofia etc) which are all many 100s of years older than ANY Ottoman heritage...Samoil forthress preceded them by a long time. And there are many coins, masks found there from ancient Macedonia...So...Ohrid has a long history...Ottoman was just one page in it....
Deletemy post had nothing to do with Empires come and go but with attracting (certain) tourists
Delete@12:41 why watch out? That's probably the most charming part of the city for most visitors from abroad.
DeleteBut totally unknown east of Istanbul. Even turkish tourists are surprised
Delete@19:55 tourists have been coming to Skopje since the 1930s. Its not 'unknown' just lesser-known prehaps. The Bazaar of Skopje remains a real wonderful place.
Deletebtw how are PRN's flynas flights going?
ReplyDeleteThe prices they charge are anything but low cost. I assume its mostly religious travel and as it stops for the summer months its clearly not aimed at Saudi's going to enjoy the proportionately "cool" temperatures of Kosovo during the summer season.
DeleteThey are mostly full with religious tour operators from Kosovo/Albania and North Macedonia
DeleteVISA cost 170 euros, so it’s gonna be hard to see someone
ReplyDeleteIts just nonsense. Nothing will come from it. North Macedonians have far nicer destinations to visit that Saudi Arabia, and if someone from there wants to visit (and I'm sure there are some who do) they can fly indirectly, or land in Prishtina to tour the wider region.
DeleteI dont see real reason we get flights to Saudia as we nees visa for there and the visa fee cost is not cheap
ReplyDeleteMacedonia need flights to UAE as they abolished the visas for us , we need flights to Dubai
This is just without any sense😡
On this one I agree. And not only for tourists, both ways, but for huge Macedonian diaspora in Australia. Hopefully flydubai comes soon to SKP
DeleteYes what we actually really needs is Dubai and thats it. I really dont know who will go to Riyadh and paying 170 eur for a visa....this is just non sense to me
DeleteBtw Dubai and Doha are way batter for tourists to be visited or transfer point. What will Macedonians like me do in Riyadh I relly dont know
DeleteBtw Dubai and Doha are way batter for tourists to be visited or transfer point. What will Macedonians like me do in Riyadh I relly dont know
Delete