Wizz Air has held talks with officials from the Slovenian government and travel sector over its potential expansion on the market. According to the Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure, “During a meeting with the Civil Aviation Agency, representatives of Wizz Air Hungary. enquired about the closing date of the tenth public call for proposals under Slovenia's air connectivity support programme, which is due to end on August 31, 2026. The meeting also included an exchange of information on the current state of air connectivity in the Republic of Slovenia”. Slovenia’s subsidy scheme, now in its tenth round, is aimed at improving the country’s air connectivity by offering airlines partial reimbursement of airport charges.
Wizz Air recently said it sees “huge” potential in the Slovenian market but noted that greater support is needed for airlines. “The potential of Slovenian aviation is very significant, and it is reaching far beyond the current flight availability on the market. If conditions were improved, especially access costs to the capital airport, there is huge potential for Slovenia. We are following it with interest but there must be an effort made to break through that situation and that would be very helpful and beneficial for Slovenia”, Wizz Air’s Network Officer, Andras Szabo, recently told EX-YU Aviation News.
Wizz Air currently operates flights between Ljubljana and Skopje and launched services between the Slovenian capital and Podgorica earlier this month. Both routes were introduced as part of incentive programmes in Macedonia and Montenegro. According to data from the Slovenian Statistical Office, Wizz Air handled 31.155 passengers on its Skopje - Ljubljana service during the January - April period, representing a 67.6% increase on the same period in 2025. Since launching operations to Ljubljana in 2007, the airline has also maintained services from Charleroi and London Luton, although both routes have been discontinued.


We need them!
ReplyDeleteThey should try Ljubljana Zagreb also
ReplyDeleteWTF
DeleteFlight? How long would that take? 10 minutes?
DeleteI think Ljubljana - Maribor would work better. Or even Ljubljana - Portorož for the Slovene holiday makers.
DeleteLjubljana-Bled. I believe there is still an airport at Bled :D
DeleteA LJU-BEG route would be far more succesull than all the other mentioned.
DeleteThe others are a joke mate.
DeleteBut I wonder if a connection between Dalmatia and LJU would work primarely targeting trans continental tourists wanting to visit both Slovenija and Croatia+ some segment of local traffic
Deletedont feed the troll :)
DeleteI think it's just dot/fullstop missing. They should try Ljubljana. Zagreb also. Or, they should try both. Or they should try Ljubljana and Zagreb. I believe that was the meaning. Can't understand anyone could seriously suggest service LJU-ZAG for LCC. And it's too stupid for the joke too. So it must be just dot missing
DeleteWasn't a missing dot one of OU's latest excuses too? :P
DeleteOU excuses never miss dot. They are endless and interminable 🤣
DeleteUnfortuantely I don't see anything happening. They had talks with the government before and dicussed the subsidy scheme. It obviously does not work for them in its current form.
ReplyDeleteGov has nothing to do with the problem they (we) have - its Fraport. Its Fraport and its LHG protectionism. And we all know it but fraport fans still call it FDS. Now you have it cleary written in this article.
DeleteYes, such LHG protectionism that Lufthansa is slowly shifting more and more routes from Frankfurt to Munich.
DeleteThere were some rumors on this site that an airline could be launching FCO and then another destinations, possibly somewhere in Spain. Maybe it's not only talks anymore this time. Hope for the best.
ReplyDeleteFCO could be Wizz since they have a base there.
DeleteIs anyone from the industry here that can tell us more about that?
DeleteI see Wizz with FCO and Vueling/easyJet on somewhere from Spain.
Deleteeasy has also FCO base
DeleteRegarding new routes, you just have to go down the list of charter flights from LJU this year. Many of those could be seasonal scheduled services.
DeleteWizz is not really that much interested in seasonal routes
DeleteAt least some airline is talking to the government and sees potential in the market.
ReplyDeleteBelgrade's loss could become Ljubljana's gain if the government plays its cards right.
Delete^ True dat!
DeleteIs it more realistic that the current government would be more accomodating to airlines?
ReplyDeleteyes. More business friendly.
DeleteIt can't be worse than Bratušek. A five year old could do better than her.
Delete@9:12
DeleteMrs. Bratušek has done a lot for railways and transport. Mr. Vrtovec, on the other hand, does less in the railway sector and more in the aviation sector. But both are good in their own way.
@9:24 That's such a bot response. Alenka inherited all the projects on the railroads and she didn't manage to push through even the smaller station reconstructions that are already designed and have the funds reserved. Vrtovec actually managed to somehow push a few DPNs through and started many smaller upgrades that are desperately needed on the network. That being said, both absolutely do not know anything about aviation.
DeleteToo much BS. Vrtovec couldn’t care less about aviation. Some things you read here?! Is that you Krasnja?
DeleteThe biggest obstacle isn't demand. It's the cost of operating at Ljubljana Airport. Wizz has been saying this for years.
ReplyDeleteWow, low cost airline saying that costs are high, who would have thougth.
DeleteFor an LCC if it is not getting paid to fly to an airport it calls it too expensive, let alone actually having to pay landing and parking fees!
Delete@10:00 yeah yeah, move on with that sillyness.
DeleteWizz carried an astonishing 11.172 passengers on the LJU-SKP route in April, having a LF of 90 %, of course they see the bigger opportunity here in LJU, now they just have to take action.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great result but it seems they a fishing for subsidies.
DeleteI think TGD will be equally sucsesfull and they will wipe out Air Montenegro on this route.
DeleteAM is for sure out. Today they have just 20 seats not available to reserve, while Wizz usually has just a few seats left.
DeleteThere are many tourist from Montenegro in Ljubljana these days… direct effect of wizz
DeleteDuring the whole June, "only" 1.689 tourists from Montenegro visited Slovenia, some of them probably coming by car as well. The new route is mostly focused on Montenegrins living in Slovenia and probably Slovenes visiting MNE.
DeleteYou can also get a single ticket from Podgorica to Ljubljana tomorrow for 31Euros, prices throughout July are dirt cheap which tells us all we need to know about how low yielding this route is. A taxi to downtown Podgorica isn't much less lol. Without subsidies this route is totally unviable. Similar situation for Skopje, while the fare a bit higher they are really towards the cheapest end of what one can find during summer which means they really don't make much money from these flights.
Delete@10.17 Meanwhile Podgorica really is dirt chip, prices to Skopje normally go above 100 euro close to the date of departure, especially in the summer. I am sure they make good money on the SKP route, for TDG, we will have to wait and see, if nothing else, I am sure it will work just fine 3x per week.
DeleteThat number for SKP is really astonishing
DeleteThere is no way they make 'good' money on Skopje. Its a route that can never command premium prices and i'm sure they make very low ancillary revenue from it too. But yes they clearly have had success in filling the flights and the general prices (whilst still very low) are higher than to Podgorica.
Delete@10:26 yep its a useful intra-Ex yu connection which serves a large area both ends.
DeleteOkay, then let's take out the "good" and say that they for sure make money on the SKP-LJU route. Otherwise it wouldn't go from 3x per week at the start to now 5x per week and even daily in April and May.
DeleteThe subsidies defiantly make it workable for them yes. Without them I'm not so such it would be considered a 'good' route no matter Skopje fanboy's enthusiasm for it.
DeleteConsidering that it was daily for some time I am very sure that it would work without the subsidies, even if only 3x per week. (And I am not a skopje fanboy haha)
DeleteI agree it probably can work without the subsidies and is a useful connection indeed. But its defiantly not a financially high-flying route overall.
DeleteYou dont need to be a Skopje fanboy to realize that this route is an (to some folks here) unexpected success.
DeleteAll the low yield experts, have you lately checked prices from Zagreb to Malta from 7.7. and following days? Prices between 17€ and 30€ mostly.
Delete@11.18 Amen bro. These low yield experts are former high density experts that strangely have something against the existance of certain routes.
Delete@12:01 what weird views people like you hold lol. Why would anyone be against the existence of any routes?
DeleteWell dont you see what people write here? That prices through july are dirt cheap at 31€, which should tell us evertything about yields. Meanwhile Ryanair has the same prices or lower out of ZAG.
DeleteWhy the whataboutism? Its a very basic and useless arguement. People have been discussing Ljubljana today.
DeleteSo you admit that Ryanair will soon discontinue ZAG-MLA because it has low yields?
DeleteWhat on earth are you talking about?
DeleteYou are constantly applying that low prices means low yields and that routes like that will be discontinued. Yet we clearly see that routes with such pricing operate without issue. Not to mention that you are intentionally leaving out the factor that there is actual competition on TGD-LJU that they are trying to get rid of with such pricing.
DeleteI do not think that. But perhaps you have invited something from your own imagination. Strange.
DeleteAnonymous @ 12:26
DeleteIn the worst case, 7 or 8 weekly ZAG-MLA will be reduced to 5-6 weekly. But it's your human right to have wet dreams on the service being discontinued
I wouldn't be surprised if Tirana, Rome or Madrid are among the next routes being considered.
ReplyDeleteThey could start by bringing back the two routes they discontinued.
DeleteGood news
ReplyDeleteWhat would be a resonable timing for announcing a new route for Summer 2027?
ReplyDeleteBy the end of the year. Airlines have become very late with announcing new routes.
Delete^ Because booking window has moved very late. People are now booking tickets just 2-3 weeks before their flight.
Delete2 A321s based in LJU would do wonders for the airport.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteMadrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Catania, Rome, Naples, Malta, Larnaca, Tirana, Oslo, Dortmund, Berlin, Luton, Beauvais, Charleroi, Eindhoven and some seasonal routes to Greece.
DeleteWho on earth would fly to dortmund from slovenia
DeleteThe guy saw that there are routes from Dortmund to BEG, BNX and TZL and thought, hey Ljubljana should have the same, not understanding that those are pure gasto routes.
DeleteBelgrade, Sarajevo, Pristina, Ohrid and seasonal Dubrovnik
DeleteCologne (CGN) would be more useful for serving North Rhine-Westphalia. I can't for the life of me see how Wizzair would fill A321s to Oslo from Ljubljana with much profit. But i might be wrong.
Delete@10:06 no way on earth an A321 between Ljubljana and Sarajevo is a profitable option. That has been discussed many times here.
DeleteSKP-LJU was also discussed that it'll never work :)
DeleteSKP-LJU is not easily driveable whereas to Sarajevo one can drive. The route works with help with subsidies but take them away and its not a big money maker for Wizzair.
DeleteHow about LJU-BER that must be the biggest gap. LOL
DeleteI hope this does not end with just talks.
ReplyDeleteLJU-BEG is desperately needed, the market is there and because of high fares by JU many take the road. Wizz Air is a master at changing people's habits like that.
ReplyDeleteLets see what happens with Wizz in BG first. But yeah even twice a week would be a useful route indeed!
DeleteI totally see them flying… but Belgrade lost its appeal among slovenians lately
DeleteNot surprising. Its not what it once was sadly. Also driving remains a really efficient means of getting there if one wants to go. Whilst I'm a big supporter of Wizzair, personally I'd rather have JU serving LJ 2/3 or even 4 times a day because it gives flexibility which is positive for both airports.
Delete@10:10 flexibility with 200+eur for 500 km return flight
DeleteIndeed.
DeleteI checked some JU flights in February 2027 and JU charges 22.200 without luggage which is €180!
DeleteNumber of Slovenes in Belgrade still grows so demand is there.
@13:04 this is 8 monthis in advance haha, try 2-3 and ou will se the prices. LJU must be one of the best feeder flights + P2P for JU so i think W6 to BEG would be a hit for them plus a revenge.
DeleteIs there a reason why an LCC has never opened a base in LJU?
ReplyDeleteSmall market surrounded by mich bigger markets which are all driving distance.
DeleteFraport is not interested.
DeleteIgnore 9:43 because he only repeats what he reads from Ryanair propaganda articles. The real reason is that the CAA absolutely has no enthusiasm to make the approval side of things easier for outside airlines to base anything in Slovenia. The processes simply take too long and there is always the uncertainty that things won't get through. If Austrocontrol can issue a new AOC in 4-5 months, it takes Slovenian CAA 2+ years to do the same. Under the same legal scope, mind you. On top of that fuel prices in LJU are roughly 30-40% more expensive than in bigger hubs around Europe. Taxation of salaries in Slovenia is towards the upper half in EU which also makes it inconvenient for airlines to have locals employed.. There are reasons but it is simply easy to reduce it all down to "Fraport bad".
DeleteOmg, so stupid!! LCCs very rarely get a local AOC just because of the base. CAA has NOTHING to do with it. Its Fraport and noone else.
DeleteThe more exclamation marks the stronger the argument it seems. I gave AOC as an example. If an airline doesn't know which steps it has to take to open a base in Slovenia and contacts the Ministry of Infrastructure or the CAA, in best case they will receive a back and forth between the two. Ministry will say "we are not responsible, contact CAA" and CAA will say "we are not responsible, contact the Ministry". In most cases, you do not even get a response. That is the welcome that you get. If they contact Fraport, Fraport gives them their price and thats it. High fuel costs, high salary taxation burden are still there as well. Why would Fraport lower their prices if Petrol gets away with high prices as well? Fraport bought the airport to make a nice profit and they are successful in that.
DeleteLol, you obviously have ZERO clue about the competences of the CAA. CAA has NOTHING to do with connectivity, they do not issue any kind of base approvals. CAA is there to certify and oversee the safety (and security) and nothing more, but you still think you are an expert?
DeleteI did my homework and you can only apply ad hominem. Not a single counter argument. Have a good day.
DeleteAny chance they would open CRL again?
ReplyDelete
DeleteNope
hear me out. what if they transfer those 4 planes from winter schedule from BEG to LJU. Then they start A-B-C-B-A, as if A LJU, B X city and C BEG.
ReplyDeleteIts a fun idea (i guess) however its not efficient and is a recipe for problems and the accumulation of delays with increased costs so isn't the kind of they would do in reality.
DeleteMore likely two to LJU and two to ZAG, and than A-B-C-B-A
DeleteInterest could be there for something like Rome, Bucharest, Lisbon/Madrid and maybe even Athens
ReplyDeleteBucharest? And in what world is that going to be profitable. Baby steps now, baby steps.
DeleteBucharest has been among the most unserved routes for many years and you are surprised if someone mentioned it as a potential? Of course, you know nothing.
DeleteI know its among the most unserved. So calm down dear
DeleteLast few years Wizzair didn'te
ReplyDeleteLast few years Wizz Air didn't operate Between Ljubljana and Luton or Chaleroi.
ReplyDeleteWe dont know the exact numbers for FRA and MUC (althogether Germany has some 16k) but LJU-SKP looks like it could have been the 3rd busiest route in April (after IST and ZRH)
ReplyDeleteWhich tells us all we need to know about the Slovene market.
DeleteAnd that is what?
DeleteThat its a bit rubbish really
Delete@12.32 Rekla kazala so
DeleteI flew LJU-TGD las week and the LF was 93%.
ReplyDeletehow much did you pay for the ticket?
DeleteStop being the negative guy all day long
Deletevalid question tho?
Delete35.99€ one way
DeleteAnd at least 2/3 of passengers had checked-in luggage.
DeleteI also flew with them, plane was sold out
DeleteOh how I love this LCC capitalism! Give us incentives so we can make a profit!
ReplyDeleteHow much money have state airlines eaten up?
DeleteWizz is not competing against ghost airline from the past but other airlines operating at LJU under the same conditions and incentives. Looks like only Wizz has problems on a level playing field. No wonder people talk about looming Wizz bankruptcy.
DeleteWell, then I hope they employ more ground handling staff, so they increase the current number, so there will be more then 3 people handling one plane. We can't work like we are now for much longer!
ReplyDeleteIf something comes out of this its going to be flights to their italian bases and some yugo destinations like BEG, OHD (Skopje subs run out so they could try launch 2w Ohrid instead of increasing SKP). Maybe Bosnia too.
ReplyDeleteLetsgo Wizz break the ice !
ReplyDeleteI'm personally beyond sick of Wizz Air.
ReplyDeleteThey're hypocrites.
Delete@12:12 im sure the feeling is mutual.
DeleteJust wizz or also ryanair? They are similar
DeleteThey just launched 14 new routes from Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław
ReplyDeleteThey have 270 a321neo aircraft on order and they will only be retireing 62 a320/21ceo, so they will be launching a lot of new routes.
Delete