Slovenia’s emergency evacuation flights for citizens stranded in the Middle East have become the subject of growing controversy after the government chartered aircraft from Jordanian carrier Jordan Aviation, with criticism focusing on the airline’s selection and the disruption of the planned repatriation flights. The Slovenian government organised special evacuation flights after escalating tensions in the Middle East and widespread airspace closures left Slovenian nationals stranded across the region. Citizens were transported to Muscat in Oman, from where charter flights to Ljubljana were scheduled. To operate the repatriation services, the government awarded a contract worth 1.5 million euros for the lease of aircraft with crew to Jordan Aviation.
The selection of the Jordanian carrier has attracted scrutiny in Slovenia. Jordan Aviation previously faced restrictions affecting part of its fleet in the European Union due to safety-related deficiencies, although the airline later obtained the necessary authorisations to operate flights into the EU. The carrier was tasked with operating the evacuation flights from Muscat to Ljubljana. The evacuation operation encountered disruptions when the expected charter flight failed to operate as planned. The 144 passengers waiting at Muscat Airport reported long delays as the aircraft scheduled to perform the evacuation flight did not arrive according to schedule due to the rapidly evolving aviation situation in the region, including temporary restrictions affecting airspace in Jordan. The plane eventually departed, arriving in Ljubljana late yesterday evening.
Questions have also been raised after it emerged that alternative charter operators had been proposed during the planning phase of the evacuation flights. According to correspondence cited in Slovenian media, a charter broker proposed operating the Musca - Ljubljana service with Czech carrier Smartwings using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The proposal reportedly included an indicative charter price of approximately 145.000 euros and suggested securing permits and aircraft availability for the operation. Despite the proposal, the Slovenian authorities ultimately proceeded with Jordan Aviation as the contracted operator for the evacuation flights. The airline is expected to operate one more evacuation flight. Reports indicate that more than 200 Slovenians are stranded in Dubai, while hundreds more are attempting to reach connecting flights from destinations as far away as Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia.
People forget that in crisis situations aircraft availability is extremely limited. If Jordan Aviation had permits and aircraft ready, that might have been the only realistic option at short notice.
ReplyDeleteThe bigger question is the price. If another operator proposed a flight for around €145,000, how did this contract reach €1.5 million????
DeleteI don't get the difference in price either.
Deletehttps://docs.google.com/viewerng/thumb?ds=AON1mFw1-xW-iEtt9fD4Dhzz01ofUbjbnAY3ALcbgsn7XXeSf8KSyCyTGVQyeNQ_z-MlGoacd6GsCsvNqtyrTlxIDhu867GXXup-sHTOE33lWVjKLQNAflzLzWqpFfFVPYt2oM0qNWrn1HmHGSBNwmjIq01w1XUqfhJCTcBWBTC5-UWRSbwgRk9S_xmvBFyq2XCrAAIsplbXSx1Hp2lWMrIshmqFo1RsN5R-SVJ66V1ZJMk5T1zpU_N3bjSjSem1PbHpjAb0n4UAsHAXdFogO2gGoJovM18jiTfPFlfi_sJ-QtosWSSEZLjCkIsAjaaFESfhgeKfXQC4&ck=lantern&dsmi=unknown&authuser=0&w=800&webp=true&p=proj
DeleteYou can see why. They pretty much added 70usd vip per pax to it for some reason
No corruption in SLO. They have absolutely nothing in common with the others from ex-yu 🙂 Plus they are rich, they can pay 10 times more than real price is 🤣
Delete@09:09 that adds around 14k more tper flight, which given the circumstances is nothing. I think 1.5m is for more flights, while Czech price is per flight.
DeleteThere is a big mistake in the article. The government didn’t pay €1.5 million for a single flight, that amount represents the total value of the entire evacuation contract, covering the repatriation of around 1,000 people.
DeleteWhere is Adria when you need them
ReplyDeleteYes! Let’s pump 10s of million of euros into a national carrier, no, 100s really, just for this type of situation. It’s like having a bus ready at home just in case you need it. Seriously, the level of debate on here…
DeleteWe already invest heavily in maintaining essential air connectivity without a national carrier:
Delete– Over 10 million euros annually to promote new routes to the capital,
– More than 1.5 million euros per service for emergency and disaster‑response flights,
– Plus significant additional funds for government flights to Croatia and the operation of the government jet.
- Direct payments to LJ airport to support operations
So before drawing conclusions about the supposed benefits of not having a national carrier, it’s important to understand the full picture—and the real costs—of relying solely on alternative arrangements.
This just shows how unprepared governments are for emergency evacuations.
ReplyDeleteHow can you prepare for situations like this please tell me?
DeleteWhen you see the US building up in the Middle East for several weeks you maintain framework contracts with several airlines or charter brokers. These agreements don’t mean aircraft are permanently reserved but they guarantee that if an evacuation is needed, the government can quickly activate aircraft from a list of approved operators.
DeleteExactly. There are hundreds if not thousands people working in state administration of foreign policy. What are they doing if they can't correctly assess the situation which was announced on TV?
DeleteThr biggest farce i see as slovenian here is that yesterday 3 flights were actually operated from UAE to Ljubljana and all arrived within 2 hours of the flight that the taxpayers paid 150k +70€ vip service per pax + 35€ per pax + additional fees for. Not to mention that ministry said to the pax that they are looking at the plane on the flight radar where in fact the plane didn't depart to oman fhe next 6 hours
ReplyDeleteHave no idea about the costs but regarding the timing you can't do much more than following flightradar in the warzone. So many complaints these days, guys, it's a war, lower a bit your standards and expectations.
DeleteWell you have the costs now and it really is scandalous.
DeleteIt could be scandalous if others paid less. Do we know the cost of this operation for anyone else or Slovenia was just first to crow?
Delete^ I suggest you read what was actually paid and an alternative offer they got for 10x less. I also suggest you look into the political background as to why Jordan Aviation was chosen.
DeleteYou could tell me instead of suggesting, I'm not that invested in the story...
DeleteThan dont be on this topic and move along..
DeleteMess
ReplyDeleteEvacuations always look messy in hindsight.
DeleteSimilar situation at the moment with UK repatriation flight.
ReplyDeleteOne more reason for a national carrier. Look at Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro for example,they easily, professionally and safely rescued their people, but our government just had to rent a plane from an Airline that poses bigger threat to passengers than staying in Dubai. Pathetic.
ReplyDelete+1
Deletenation airline with a net loss of 38.8 million euros... very nice
DeleteThe Slovenian in reaction is much better than the Serbian and Montenegrin, they evacuated people just from Israel, while people in UAE, Oman, Kuwait etc remained without government help
Delete^ There have already been several evacuation flights from Dubai to Belgrade. Please refrain from talking nonsense if you don't actually know the facts.
DeleteNo new JP in SLO! This is NOT a reason for it! Hundreds of millions wasted for a national carrier! No, no, no!
DeleteTo be honest, the fact that the passengers eventually made it home safely is what matters most. In the middle of a regional aviation crisis, delays are almost inevitable.
ReplyDeleteWhat surprises me is that Slovenia didn’t try to cooperate with neighbouring countries. Croatia, Austria or even Italy could have potentially assisted with aircraft capacity.
ReplyDeleteThere were some Slovenian passengers on the Air Serbia evacuation flights from Sharm el Sheikh.
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2026/03/air-serbia-and-air-montenegro-operate.html
For anyone wanting to check the Jordan aviation contract:
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/viewerng/thumb?ds=AON1mFw1-xW-iEtt9fD4Dhzz01ofUbjbnAY3ALcbgsn7XXeSf8KSyCyTGVQyeNQ_z-MlGoacd6GsCsvNqtyrTlxIDhu867GXXup-sHTOE33lWVjKLQNAflzLzWqpFfFVPYt2oM0qNWrn1HmHGSBNwmjIq01w1XUqfhJCTcBWBTC5-UWRSbwgRk9S_xmvBFyq2XCrAAIsplbXSx1Hp2lWMrIshmqFo1RsN5R-SVJ66V1ZJMk5T1zpU_N3bjSjSem1PbHpjAb0n4UAsHAXdFogO2gGoJovM18jiTfPFlfi_sJ-QtosWSSEZLjCkIsAjaaFESfhgeKfXQC4&ck=lantern&dsmi=unknown&authuser=0&w=800&webp=true&p=proj
170.000€ per flight
And then added costs of:
100usd of tax per pax
70usdvip per tax - whatever that means
50 usd insurance per pax
Absolute mess
Link above is not working !!!
Delete1.5M for 144 passengers is 10K per passenger. It doesn't add up.
DeleteAdmin you forgot to mention that: the evacuation was taken over by the Prime Ministers cabinet instead of foreign ministry because we are about 3 weeks away from elections and they thought they'll get more votes
ReplyDeleteI was about to say that this must have something to do with elections.
DeleteA fact I find funny is that 3 flights costed us more than the whole air connectivity subsidy system since 2022
ReplyDeleteThat is in fact crazy enough for itself.
DeleteThere was no "scandal". Slovenia was actually one of the first countries that brought its citizens home. And that's despite not having a national airline.
ReplyDeleteYes there is a scandal relating to the cost of the flights, the choice of airline and the way the evacuation was conducted.
DeleteOne of the first? Flydubai operated evacuation flight to BEG already on Monday evening.
DeleteThis story is less about Jordan Aviation and more about transparency. If there were multiple offers, the government should explain why this one was selected.
ReplyDeleteI like that Abdullah and Rania are on the fuselage.
ReplyDeletelol
DeleteRoyal Family flying high
DeleteOman Air has scheduled extra flights to Europe from Muscat. I can only imagine the price.
ReplyDeleteThey are doing great. Muscat Airport has more traffic than before this began.
DeleteDo people have to purchase tickets on these charters?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteBTW Jordan Aviation's two B737-300s are 35 and 37 years old.
ReplyDeleteAnd the nerve to charge a vip tax for flying on them
DeleteOne of the visited KVO recently. The largest plane ever landed in KVO in fact.
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/08/photos-first-jet-engine-commercial-jet.html?m=1
The real question is why Slovenia didn’t activate a European airline for this operation. There are dozens of charter operators in Europe that could have done this flight.
ReplyDeletePeople complaining about delays clearly don’t understand the current situation in the Middle East. Airspace closures change every few hours and even large airlines are struggling to keep schedules.
ReplyDeleteSorry, why did these people go to the Middle East when the situation in the region was well known and there were warnings not to travel there?
ReplyDeleteExactly, why traveling when it was obvious that the conflict is predictable. This evacuation situation has turned into a scandal simply because someone decided to make it one. It’s even easier to stir outrage when we’ve become a society of entitled citizens—the same ones who constantly complain about paying taxes but now expect the state to rescue them from the beaches of the Maldives, all while broadcasting their predicament in the Slovenian media. Personally, I got stranded in Bangkok with a Qatar Airways ticket to Venice. And what did I do? I figured out my own way home. Travel is inherently unpredictable—accept it! Instead of complaining, be grateful that the state is even organizing your return, even if it’s not perfectly smooth.
ReplyDeleteExactly. The drama with these tourists is being blown out of proportion, as if they were being rescued from Gaza rather than from hotels in Dubai. The state brings them home, yet half of them are still complaining about how much effort it took and how long they had to wait, completely ignoring the fact that they were transported to safety, to one of the safest airports in the region at the moment. And not a single word of gratitude. Just a bunch of spoiled, privileged individuals with no sense of compassion for those truly affected by war. Only their inflated egos on full display!
Delete^ I would really like to see your reactions if you were in a similar situation.
DeleteI would at least be grateful, not taking it for granted.
DeleteAnon 10:08: Read the comments in Slovenian media what were the main problems of the these tourists: "The vacation was very nice – if only it didn’t have to end early," "My daughter had her birthday, but she couldn’t celebrate it," and so on.
DeleteThe whole world was took by surprise but for you it was predictable? Turns everyone here is not only an expert in aviation but also conflict analysis and military strategy...
DeleteAbsolutely no one was taken by surprise. US had been building up biggest military presence in Middle East since Gulf war, governments gave also warned against travel to the region.
Delete€1.5 million sounds extremely high for a narrow-body charter operation.
ReplyDeleteEvacuation flights are always expensive because they are organised on extremely short notice. Aircraft positioning, crew availability and permits all add to the cost.
Delete^ another airline was offering it for the fraction of the price.
DeleteSmartwings would have been a far more logical option in my opinion. It’s a well-known charter airline with extensive experience operating evacuation and ad-hoc flights.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGovernments often choose the operator that can secure overflight permits the fastest. That might explain why Jordan Aviation was selected.
DeleteThe passengers waited for hours in Muscat but at least they were in a safe airport. There have been evacuation situations in the past where people were stranded in far worse conditions.
ReplyDeleteThis entire situation highlights how dependent Europe is on Middle Eastern airspace for global connectivity. Once those corridors close everything becomes complicated.
ReplyDeleteThe Trans-Caspian International Transport Route via Azeri airspace is working overtime indeed.
DeleteI don’t think the airline is the main issue here. The real issue is the lack of transparency about how the contract was awarded.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, the first evacuation flight for British citizens did not take off yesterday. I think the organization here in the Balkans is quite good: https://www.24ur.com/novice/tujina/britanci-ujeti-na-bliznjem-vzhodu-prvi-evakuacijski-let-ni-poletel.html
ReplyDeleteI think in this story it's more about the crazy cost of these flights while a much cheaper alternative on a more reputable airline was offered than about thr delay.
DeleteAt the same time Amelia (with CAMO office in Slovenia) has 3 aircrafts at FlyNas which are grounded, so why Slovenian government did not use these aircrafts?
ReplyDeleteReally crazy that they didn't
DeleteDuring wet lease, contracts are often exclusive, so the aircraft is available to the lessee 24/7, regardless of whether they need it or not, so Amelia would probably have to negotiate with Flynas first, whether they can use the aircraft for another operation.
DeletePretty outrageous price
ReplyDeleteEspecially when you look at the alternative.
DeleteWondering how long all this will last.
ReplyDeleteUS now planning until September apparently.
Delete