The former Yugoslavia’s 21 commercial airports with scheduled passenger traffic handled a combined total of 17.725.438 travellers during the first half of the year. The figure represents an increase of 1.298.505 travellers on the same period in 2025.
Macedonia was the fastest-growing market in the former Yugoslavia, adding 426.195 passengers during the first half of the year. Its capital, Skopje, was the region’s fastest-growing airport, handling an additional 407.349 travellers compared to the same period last year. In June alone, Skopje recorded a 15.9% increase in passenger numbers, serving 341.514 travellers. The growth is being fuelled by Wizz Air’s strong expansion in the country. The positive trajectory is expected to continue into July as well. Ohrid Airport recorded its busiest day of all time on Sunday, July 26 when it handled 3.036 passengers across twenty flights.
Passenger traffic among former Yugoslav airports, January - June 2026
Belgrade remained the former Yugoslavia’s busiest airport, adding 283.635 travellers during the January - June period. On the other hand, Pristina is the only major airport in the region to see its figures decline. In June itself, figures fell 5% to 372.363. Fuelling the decrease are frequency cuts by GP Aviation, as well as the absence of Condor and SAS which operated last year.
June was Podgorica Airport’s busiest month on record, during which it handled 281.524 passengers, representing an increase of 44.7% on the previous year. The milestone has been driven by Wizz Air's two-aircraft base in the city, which opened in March, with the low cost carrier serving 24 destinations from the Montenegrin capital this summer.
Meanwhile, some smaller Croatian coastal airports have been affected by the suspension of domestic Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights operated by Trade Air, after the Croatian government failed to launch the tender process for a new four-year domestic services contract within the required timeframe. A public call has yet to be issued, however, Trade Air has resumed domestic flights by earlier this month. However, Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik have so far recorded their busiest first half of the year to date.
Could Skopje surpass half a million added passengers this year?
ReplyDeleteYes
DeleteFor the 2026 summer season alone (March 29 to October 25), Skopje International Airport has 3,029,345 scheduled seats available, which overpasses last year's summer capacity by 665,712 seats (a 28.2% increase). Furthermore, the airport targeted adding over 560,000 new seats in the first half of 2026 alone.
thats only "100k" which should be achievable
DeleteCorrect and I believe it is already achieved now in July or if not in August will be for sure
DeleteI believe SKP reaching 400k only in July so those numbers are already achieved
Deleteprobably coming close to 600k
DeleteIn one year Skopje will be second best airport in all ex yu.
DeleteNo it will not be.
DeleteWe would love. But once wizz mstarts base in prn, it gona blow
DeleteSkopje has steady and excellent growth. Pristina base will not affect it.
Deleteneither will SKP be second or PRN will blow something
DeleteNeither does any of this matter.
Delete15:21 Dont judge , everyone was saying SKP will never grow but look at now , it overpass Split and Dubrovnik and coming close to Pristina and Zagreb , yes maybe will not overpass them as well ,but coming really close which is great results
Deleteso why are we on an aviation blog then?
DeleteTo write the reality and success in aviation!
DeleteTo discuss aspects of the industry. Not to comapre 'size'
DeleteYou do realize that you are writing this under a rankings article?
DeleteRankings are fun and very popular. Could be that you are not very happy with some result but thats ok
Numbers are great! But get a grip. Its not something to become cheavenistic about.
DeleteGood results for the most part
ReplyDeleteSomeone will come and tell you it's a disaster and that Vienna has more.
DeleteAlmost 1.3 million additional passengers across the region is significant.
Deletetotally agree. Could be the region with one of the biggest growth in Europe this year
DeleteSo PRN will probably decline until November when Wizz Air launches new routes.
ReplyDeletePristina’s decline is surprising considering how strongly the airport has grown over the past several years.
DeleteIt is temporary
DeletePristina is decling the whole year and will continue like that as long as GP is stagnating it will decline
Delete09:08 it is not temporary it started to decline since last winter ;)
09:11 it didn't start since last winter ;)
Delete09:25 when it starts, remind me please?
Delete09:32 after Q1
DeleteAnd it is temporary for you anyway , now we are almost middle of the quarter 2?? Temporary is 1 month not the whole summer season and all winter coming will decline
DeleteSkopje adding more than 400,000 passengers in only six months is an excellent achievement.
ReplyDelete+1 And keeps growing
DeleteTK started one weekly charters to Diyarbakir
DeleteAjet: Konya, Trabzon, Samsun, Adana, Diyarbakir, Bodrum
DeletePegasus: Adana
Corendon: Izmir
So Macedonia have more than 10 routes to Turkey this year ?
DeleteYes i think its tour groups for Turks visiting North Macedonia and the region. Very nice.
Delete@20.00 its 11 routes
DeleteSKP growth is massive , what a numbers👏👏 keep the great job
ReplyDeleteCongrats to OHD on serving 3036 passengers in 24 hours and 20 flights it is a huge achievement and great record , well done! I am glad to see this airport start to grow and show ita real potential.
Podgorica now has an excellent range of destinations for an airport serving such a small population.
ReplyDeleteYes but 15th of that routes are just seasonall , so in winter will slow down again..
DeleteIt won't realty as 5 new PSO routes will launch in winter., while it will still have 8 new Wizz Air routes.
Delete*really
DeleteWait that PSO routes are not even officially signed, there is just a tender for now. Btw Montenegro government from November is starting to seek visas for Russia,China,Belarus,Saudia arabia and Turkey , this will starts affect their tourism growth in future. Giwing visas for one of the biggest countries in the world is not a such a smart idea
Delete^ It seems you wish for everyone to have less passengers other than Macedonia and Skopje.
DeleteWho wish that ? I am just writing what reality is , someone wishing for more passengers and tourists and cutting visas free for countries will not bring any results in future.
DeleteWhat does Skopje have with this ???
^ Nothing I just see the negative comments you have for every other airport on this topic other than Skopje and Ohrid.
DeleteSome Skopje fans are real fanatics. Its cute
DeleteIt's one person actually.
DeleteOk
DeleteOhrid airport handled 3036 passengers in a single day with 20 flights , and we remember how the airport struggle 2-3 years ago , what an impressive results for such a short time✈️🇲🇰
ReplyDeleteOhrid deserves more scheduled routes, especially considering the airport’s tourism potential.
DeleteFrom what I know Wizz air is looking for expansion from OHD routes to France,UK, more Polish airports ,German as well. So lets hope and see what comes
Deletebut only seasonal routes and i mean this in a very positive way
DeleteMalmö, Berlin, Hahn, Luton, Warsaw, Ljubljana, Sofia,
Wizz have some some great prices to Ohrid from Poland. 250zl for tomorrows flight from Katowice is a great bargin. No flight is above 300zl outbound and most are as low as 89zl (22euros). Definatly not making much money on this route but its great for tourists.
Delete@09:31 Luton having beong a failure is a pity indeed. Sofia? No way. Too close. The others seem sensible options yes.
DeleteMalmo , Berlin, will work , other ones no , but yes there is also year round addition that can be added of course not only for summer. Ohrid starts to be attractive all year round this days which is great sign for potential new airlines and routes
Delete@9.34 lol the low yield expert strikes again. Just give us a rest. and than you are calling Skopje fans "fanatics"
Delete@9.35 there are no year round additions for Ohrid. Bidi realen
Delete09:38 you telling me 20euro flights are high yielding? Please englighten me with your deep and wise knowledge. Give it a rest and enjoy flying.
DeleteGo and check Ryanairs fares ZAG-Malta first ....
DeleteIndeed. Lots of bargins to be found, you have a problem with cheap flights perhaps? I like championing good deals and good flights. So calm down and grow up.
Deletethere is no one way flight OHD-KTW under 40€ so stop liyng (one date for 40€ and the rest is over MKD 4,529)
DeleteKTW to Ohrid. Why do good prices trigger people? So strange
DeleteNo wonder the Balkans have such issues if good prices trigger people. Good luck ya'll.
Deleteif low cost airlines dont have low prizes who else should have them
DeleteSaturday flights (22.8 & 29.8) OHD-KTW are actually largely sold out. Only Wizz Smart options are available (for over 200€)
DeleteEnd of school holidays in Poland..
DeleteCan someone explain to me why the Croatian government is unable to start the PSO tender?
ReplyDeleteBravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteoops looks like TGD is gonna overtake SJJ
ReplyDeleteI write this roughly a month ago and everyone was laughing on me, it will overtake for sure in the winter
DeleteWell its not exactly that big a deal is it? Montenegro is a tourist destination whose traffic levels will see it airports become more and more conjested.
DeleteLjubljana is finally awake too
DeleteSJJ overtook TGD 2 years ago too, it's not a big deal. I also doubt it as Podgorica will also struggle with RYR over the winter months
Deleteim worried about INI's ARN route. I dont recall it stopping so early in the season (end of Aug)
ReplyDeleteSplit very modest result, any July predictions?
ReplyDeleteIt is as if airports with strong LCC presence keep adding traffic.
ReplyDeleteWas going to PRN from PUY, had to fly into SKP from TSF, as that was the best option that didn’t cost €1000000… low-cost always wins out!
Deleteinteresting. I got slammed here when I say there should be SKP-RJK/PUY flights
DeleteSo if one person uses the route, there should automatically be flights? Btw Split-Skopje failed in peak season.
Deletemay you please remind us of the name of the airline that run Split-Skopje? Maybe we can understand why
Delete@12:51 thats a bit catty.
DeleteHow is the winter schedule from SKP with wizzair, do they reduce or increase frequencies on some of their routes compared to last winter?
ReplyDeleteLJU could surpass their current record of 2018 if they continue like in H1
ReplyDeleteYes, my opinion is 1,9 M passengers this year.
DeleteHow is that even possible?
DeleteHow can they achieve that without a state owned carrier offering cheap connections to the region and selling tickets below cost?
I guess it took them 7 years to achieve that by subsidising many airlines and routes.
DeleteDuring the H1 of 2025, Belgrade Airport added 199.616 passengers compared to the previous year. During the whole 2025, Belgrade added 544.418 added passengers.
ReplyDeleteDuring the H1 of this year, Belgrade already added 283.635 passengers, a 42% increase over H1 2025. If the same rate continues until the end of 2026, Belgrade Airport will add 773.000 passengers this year.
Let's see if the airport handled over a million passengers in July. Fingers crossed
DeleteGood to see growth for most airports.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Pristina have such high pax numbers?
ReplyDeleteIt is summer and all gasto people from Swiss,Austria and Germany are returning there
Delete@18:11 its the third bussiest airport in the former yugoslavia. That is why
DeleteTwo factors: huge.diaspora and driving down is not very popular
DeleteEven the advertising in the main hall is in (swiss) german
Diaspora drives aviation in BIH and N.MK to a large degree too.
DeleteI just look at Skopje aiport flight table and notice they have flights to: Cukurova,Antalya,Bodrum,Trabzon,Diyarbakir,Sabiha Gokcen,Konya,Izmir,Samsun,Ankara,Adana and Istanbul airport and thats 12 routes to Turkey wow this is wild :D no any other airport in Ex-yu have all those routes to Turkey. Plus Turkish airlines have 3th route out of Macedonia to Diyarbakir
ReplyDeleteYes its for inbound tourism to the region because of visa free acess. North Macedonia has done well ik this regard.
Delete