TRIP REPORT
In early March 2026, a business trip took me to Lund, Sweden. The outbound journey was with Lufthansa from Ljubljana (LJU) to Copenhagen (CPH) via Frankfurt (FRA). The return was with Swiss from Copenhagen (CPH) to Ljubljana (LJU) via Zurich (ZRH). The total fare was €224; this was for a hand-luggage-only ticket booked one month before departure.
Flight Ljubljana (LJU) - Frankfurt (FRA):
Flight number: LH 1461 (operated by Lufthansa CityLine) Flight date: 2 March 2026
Aircraft type: CRJ900LR Aircraft registration: D-ACNW
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 06:50 / 6:47
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 8:15 / 7:49
Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 25m / 1h 02m Load factor: >95%
I began my journey to Ljubljana Airport (LJU) with a GoOpti shuttle from the city, as no scheduled bus services operates that early in the morning. The ride cost €14, and we arrived at the airport around 5:00 AM. At that hour, only two flights were departing: Swiss to Zurich and Lufthansa to Frankfurt.
Since my last visit, several changes have been made at Ljubljana Airport. In the departures area, self-service check-in kiosks have been installed, and four belts (A11– A14) have been reconfigured for self-service baggage drop-off. However, they can still be used for traditional check-in with staff assistance. Additionally, in the gate area, several workstations with electrical outlets have been installed throughout the terminal.
The flight to Frankfurt departed on time and landed nearly half an hour ahead of schedule. Otherwise, the flight was uneventful. In my opinion, although the cabin of the CRJ900LR felt somewhat cramped due to the low ceiling, it featured the most comfortable seats of all the aircraft flown during this trip.
Flight path from Ljubljana to Frankfurt, source: Flightradar24.
A self-check-in kiosk at Ljubljana Airport's departure hall. For now, it seems to be available only to passengers flying with Lufthansa Group carriers
Check-in counters A11 to A14 are now fitted with self-service baggage drop-off equipment
Signs have been installed at the airport indicating that the tap water is drinkable. However, if I recall correctly from previous visits, the water taps used to be equipped with sprayers, presumably to discourage passengers from filling their own bottles
Workstations by the window, offering a view of the apron
A CRJ900LR operating today's Ljubljana–Frankfurt flight
Morning mist meets sunrise during the approach into Frankfurt
Flight Frankfurt (FRA) - Copenhagen (CPH):
Flight number: LH 826 (Lufthansa) Flight date: 2 March 2026
Aircraft type: Airbus A320-214 Aircraft registration: D-AIZC
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 10:20 / 10:44
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 11:45 / 11:54
Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 25m / 1h 09m Load factor: >95%
Following our landing in Frankfurt, the aircraft parked at a remote stand, necessitating a bus transfer to the terminal. Having arrived half an hour ahead of schedule, there was ample time to make my connection. The flight to Copenhagen eventually departed 25 minutes behind schedule, resulting in an arrival 10 minutes late. The sector itself was uneventful.
Flight path from Frankfurt to Copenhagen, source: Flightradar24
Flight path from Frankfurt to Copenhagen, the final turn before landing, source: Flightradar24
Lufthansa A321-200 (D-AISZ) sporting the 'Super Star' retro livery, inspired by the airline's Lockheed L-1649A Starliner from the 1950s
A stunning aerial view of the Øresund Bridge during descent into Copenhagen Airport
Air Baltic's A220-300 (YL-CSK) sporting the special Lithuanian flag livery
Inside the terminal at Copenhagen Airport
Upon arrival at Copenhagen Airport, I took a direct train to Lund. On weekdays, trains run every 15 minutes, with a journey time of 35–40 minutes and a fare of around €17.
The service was punctual and comfortable
Flight Copenhagen (CPH) - Zurich (ZRH):
Flight number: LX 1267 (Swiss) Flight date: 7 March 2026
Aircraft type: Airbus A320-214 (Star Alliance Livery) Aircraft registration: HB-IJO
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 09:50 / 10:11
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 11:45 / 11:31
Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 55m / 1h 20m Load factor: 155 pax
The return journey was operated by Swiss via Zurich. The first flight, from Copenhagen to Zurich, departed 20 minutes late but still managed to arrive 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The flight was otherwise uneventful.
Flight path from Copenhagen to Zurich, source: Flightradar24
The check-in area at Copenhagen Airport
Star Alliance-liveried Swiss A320 HB-IJO, operating Copenhagen - Zurich
A display indicating the current boarding group - a system I find far more convenient than relying on voice announcements
Swiss A320s are equipped with displays showing the arrival gate at Zurich Airport, along with the departure time and gate for connecting flights
Austrian A320 OE-LBO in retro livery
Flight Zurich (ZRH) - Ljubljana (LJU):
Flight number: LX 2276 (Swiss) Flight date: 7 March 2026
Aircraft type: Airbus A220-300 (BCS3) Aircraft registration: HB-JCT
Departure time (scheduled/actual): 12:50 / 13:18
Arrival time (scheduled/actual): 14:00 / 14:09
Flight duration (scheduled/actual): 1h 10m / 0h 51m Load factor: cca. 90%
Flight path from Zurich to Ljubljana, source: Flightradar24
At Zurich Airport, transfers within the Schengen area are so smooth that even a one-hour connection leaves plenty of time. The flight from Zurich to Ljubljana departed with a delay of about half an hour, as luggage loading only began after all passengers had already boarded the aircraft. Shortly after takeoff and again before landing, the flight encountered quite strong turbulence, making for a somewhat bumpy ride. Despite the late departure, the flight made up most of the lost time and arrived in Ljubljana with a delay of only ten minutes.
Upon arrival at Ljubljana Airport, our aircraft was directed to the easternmost parking position, Gate B3, a stand normally reserved for non-Schengen flights. This unusual arrangement is a direct consequence of the extensive renovation work currently underway on the airport apron. The project, which is set to significantly upgrade the airport's infrastructure, includes a comprehensive overhaul of approximately 40,000 m2 of pavement, updated apron lighting, the creation of new aircraft parking positions, and the installation of infrastructure for ground-based electrical units to provide external power to aircraft. Once completed, these upgrades will offer greater flexibility in handling various types of aircraft that operate at the airport [Facebook - Ljubljana Airport].
After a quick and efficient exit from the terminal, I headed for the airport shuttle to Ljubljana city center. One noticeable change since my previous visits was the unusually high presence of taxi drivers on arrivals. Not only were they actively approaching passengers as they exited the terminal, but they had also expanded their efforts to the nearby bus station, attempting to lure travellers waiting for public transport into their vehicles.
An interesting observation during my wait for the shuttle involved the crew from our Zurich flight. A separate vehicle arrived to pick up at least three Swiss crew members, including the pilot and a flight attendant, apparently taking them to a hotel. This was somewhat surprising, as the aircraft was scheduled to return to Zurich immediately, and one might typically expect the same crew to operate the return flight.
Aircraft holding for take-off at Zurich Airport, with ongoing construction work visible in the background
Window view of the Alps from the aircraft
Swiss A220-300 (HB-JCT), operating a flight from Zurich
Construction work underway at Ljubljana Airport
BONUS: Identifying Ski Resorts from the Air
During the final approach of our flight from Zurich to Ljubljana, several ski resorts were clearly visible from the aircraft. Can you identify the ski centers in the images below? The pictures are presented in the order they were taken. One resort is in Austria, one in Italy, and the others are in Slovenia. Can you name them all?
Ski resort 1
Ski resort 2
Ski resort 3
Ski resort 4
Ski resort 5
Ski resort 6
Ski resort 7
Ski resort 8
Ski resorts: 1) Nassfeld, 2) Tarvisio, 3) Vogel, 4) Kobla/Kozji hrbet, 5) Soriška planina, 6)Cerkno, 7) Stari vrh, 8) Krvavec
Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.com
Great trip report and wonderfull pics. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI was on a same flight on March 02 from Ljubljana to Frankfurt and i agree, even if CRJ900 is a bit cramped, the seats and comfort when traveling in two is by far better than by the other aircraft. Nice trip report.
ReplyDeleteSo true.
DeleteThank you for trip report , and thank you for Stari vrh picture :) You almost spot the house where i live ;)
ReplyDeleteHonestly I think that’s a gre price for return trip. I flew with Lufthansa last year on a return trip from Ljubljana to Barcelona through Frankfurt and Munich and paid 200€ (booked 2 months in advance). I am not defending Lufthansa to be clear and they are not particularly great when it comes to on board services but the prices for connecting flights usually aren’t even that bad as some people say. Especially if we look at other LH group members Swiss offers fantastic prices from Ljubljana for connecting flights.
ReplyDeleteGreat report. I would really like to fly on Swiss' A220, this is the airline that got me interested in aviation when I was kid (back in kindergarten).
ReplyDeleteTaxi drivers actively approaching passengers??? Well done LJU. Sounds like a third world country. I experienced that in India.
ReplyDeleteMy first time in LJU 2 years ago and I was conned. He wasn't even approaching he was parked in front of the terminal immediately as you exit baggage claim with taxi sign on top of the car. I paid 90 euros to the city :( I could not believe that there is a taxi mafia in Slovenia.
DeleteThere are some new plans for railway but knowing how much time all these planning takes, probably happening almost never
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