Sarajevo Airport is engaged in active, targeted negotiations with airlines to introduce new routes. The airport is participating in industry route development events, recently taking part in the Connect forum, to negotiate both the launch of new destinations and the expansion of existing services, with a focus on improving connectivity to underserved parts of Europe. Discussions are primarily aimed at strengthening links with Western and Northern Europe, where demand is driven by diaspora traffic, tourism and business ties. In addition, efforts are underway to enhance connections with major hub airports to support onward global travel. “We have recently expanded into new markets such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France, as well as growing opportunities in the Middle East. Our goal is to attract more tourists from these regions by presenting Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina as attractive travel destinations”, Vedrana Vikić Musić, Airport Services Manager at Sarajevo Airport, said.
Negotiations are closely tied to public incentive programmes, which are used as a lever to secure new air services. The Sarajevo Canton government announced this week that over 1.5 million euros has been allocated to support the launch of new routes in 2025/26 which were selected in previous tenders, while work is under way on a new incentive programme aimed at supporting additional services between 2027 and 2029. “In the coming period, the focus will remain on subsidising strategically important routes that generate the highest traffic, which is particularly significant ahead of the start of the peak travel season. Our goal is to ensure that, through systematic support, Sarajevo becomes an even more accessible and competitive destination”, Canton Premier, Nihad Uk, said.
This week, Transavia France introduced flights between Paris Orly and Sarajevo, which will be followed by new seasonal services from Ankara and Bodrum by AJet, as well as new summer flights from Berlin by Eurowings. “In addition to data-driven planning and traffic analytics, we maintain continuous dialogue with airlines to understand mutual needs, challenges, and growth plans, which, in my opinion, is crucial for building a successful partnership”, Ms Vikić Musić said. She added, “We cooperate on route promotion, tourism campaigns, and passenger experience improvements to ensure mutual value. Carefully designed incentives, tailored to the real needs of airlines, marketing support, reduced air transportation fees, and operational facilitation, help airlines reduce risk and optimize performance. By providing these incentives, we clearly demonstrate that we stand firmly by our partners, sharing both the risk and the opportunity for sustainable, long-term growth”.
We need a Ryanair base
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteHave there been any new FR routes since last March?
DeleteLast new Sarajevo route for Ryanair was Weeze on 1 April 2025. So no new Sarajevo routes in over a year.
DeleteThat is why April 2026 will have minimal passenger growth compared to previous months.
DeleteThe airport is clearly moving in the right direction, but without based aircraft from an airline, growth will likely remain gradual
DeleteSarajevo doesn't need a Ryanair base, it needs a new flag carrier.
Delete^ there have been several attempts and all failed. FR has provided better connectivity than any of the national airlines.
DeleteCongratulations SJJ.
ReplyDeleteAny info how many passengers on the inaugural Transavia flight?
ReplyDelete€1.5 million won’t go very far if they want multiple airlines and year-round commitments.
ReplyDeleteIt's already going very far compared to other subsidy programmes in the region. Only Skopje does better but the funding is much higher too. Sarajevo lowers taxes and handling fees, it doesn't have to fully pay airlines to come like Tuzla, offsetting their expenses by 3€ per passenger is good enough
DeleteSarajevo has always lacked strong hub connectivity. If they manage to secure more links to major hubs that would be great.
ReplyDeleteBuilding stronger hub connectivity should be the priority if they want to attract more business travellers.
DeleteThe big challenge remains seasonality
ReplyDeletePositive momentum overall especially compared to a few years ago. The airport is clearly becoming more proactive in route development.
ReplyDeleteWould be interesting to know which specific Western and Northern European cities are being targeted next.
ReplyDeleteIt was published here a couple of times that they were talking about Prague and Dublin.
DeleteBoth would be good.
DeletePrague yes but is there really demand for Dublin-Sarajevo?
DeleteIreland opened its embassy in Sarajevo not long ago and they highlighted this as one of their priorities as well.
DeleteTo me Mostar makes more sense for Dublin connection, Irish embassy is for entire BIH, not only for Sarajevo, but you never know...
DeleteSarajevo - Mostar is 2 hours by train... Come on! If Mostar would work, Sarajevo would too!
DeleteI am 11.00. And don't get me wrong - I am happy about each and every new service and new company all around ex-yu. I just think passenger-wise, Mostar is more interesting for irish tourists, mostly pilgrims, and proximity to the coast, which may be combined, along with Sarajevo visit trip. However, the problem remains for OMO with additional training for pilots. So, let's just wait and see which one "wins", and if the service will be realized at all
DeletePilgrims are a minority in tourists coming to Mostar region, most come because of Mostar either from Sarajevo or with day trips from Split and Dubrovnik. I work in the industry and Međugorje is hardly 1/5 of the demand, mostly with elderly from Visegrad countries and Italy.
DeleteHopefully Amsterdam or Madrid
ReplyDeleteWould love to see KLM come to SJJ, but would be happy with Transavia too.
Delete+1 KLM FTW
DeleteStep in the right direction
ReplyDeleteTourism potential in Bosnia and Herzegovina is still underdeveloped. More direct flights could really help change that.
ReplyDeleteAgree. BiH has huge tourism potential but it isn't fully utilized yet, which means there is further room for growth.
Deletethey should also work on increasing frequencies on existing successful routes.
ReplyDeleteThat's what they say they are doing in the article.
DeleteCurious if any talks are ongoing with Ryanair or Wizz Air for further expansion.
ReplyDeleteThere are
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/09/sarajevo-airport-aims-to-become-ryanair.html
Amsterdam please! Skyteam has terrible connectivity in Bosnia! It is quite embarrassing how much Star Alliance dominates them in the region. Eitherway great work for Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteSo as I understand those 1.5 mil euro are already for the selected routes from the previous tender and they should be launched this year as well some launched last year, but no any new route coming....
ReplyDeleteYes but they will tender new routes late this year with new funding.
DeleteThey're limited with the state tax, if BHDCA ever abolishes it the FR base will materialize
Delete