Sarajevo Airport has entered negotiations with Air China and United over potential flights but noted these will require a concerted effort to bring to fruition. The airport’s Acting CEO, Dino Selimović, told the “N1” network, “We are in talks with airlines from the United States and China, including United Airlines and Air China, about launching nonstop flights to Sarajevo”. New York is Sarajevo’s busiest unserved long haul destination, both in North America and overall, followed by Chicago, Toronto and Washington. In Asia, Kuala Lumpur leads the way, ahead of Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore, while Sydney and Melbourne round out the top ten.
The airport is hoping to attract Air China under a similar model to Zagreb, whereby the airline would serve Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital via another European city. The country’s visa-free regime for Chinese nationals could make Sarajevo an attractive prospect for Chinese carriers. On the other hand, contact with United Airlines has been established through US stakeholders in the country, with the carrier demonstrating a growing willingness to serve secondary cities across Europe. Mr Selimović noted that services to both China and the United States remain “dream projects” for the airport. While such routes remain longer-term ambitions, management sees improved long haul connectivity as an important part of Sarajevo Airport’s future development.
There have been prior attempts to establish long haul flights from Sarajevo. In the summer of 2021, US-based carrier Eastern Airlines planned on launching operations between Chicago and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital but cancelled ticket sales within days. It intended on operating the route once per week on a seasonal summer basis with its 238-seat Boeing 767-200ER aircraft. The airport successfully passed a TSA [US Transportation Security Administration] audit in 2024 but would likely have to do so again if US flights were to be established in the future.
Impressive!
ReplyDeleteI can see US route happening in the summer, while I simply can't see China happening before Ljubljana.
ReplyDeleteI actually see it the other way around. I think there is a greater chance of a 2 weekly Air China flight via some city than US. I mean Air China is launch Beijing-Bucharest-Zagreb and Beijing-Copenhagen-Reykjavik.
DeleteCould be that we see PEK-LJU-SJJ-LJU-PEK route? Surely that could work right
DeletePolitical considerations play a key role for Chinese carriers deciding which destinations to serve.
DeleteMe too. Bejing-Skopje-Sarajevo is a no brainer
DeleteLol
DeleteLjubljana will get both China and US flights within 2 years if no global crisis happen.
DeleteChina because one of the biggest car manufacturers is announcing takeover of Magma plant in Maribor very soon, whilst US because Doncic alone. And there's also turism involved, which has much bigger business class potential compared to Sarajevo - I think United has some 767 that are almost half premium classes, so that surely is a possibility
And Ljubljana before Zagreb. Again
DeleteChina is far more likely, both because of the influx of tourists and Chinese businessmen to the area and the national policy to increase influence in the Balkans. If the CCP wants it - it happens.
DeleteBosnia being visa-free for Chinese citizens is definitely something Sarajevo Airport should be using much more aggressively when talking to Chinese airlines.
DeleteThe demand for seasonal route is there, but I doubt any US carrier will fly to SJJ before BEG and ZAG.
DeleteAir Serbia made it even more difficult for any US carrier to start BEG. My bets are on ZAG, and very soon. After all, they've been in talks for US service like for eternity...But you never know...
DeleteJU return flight from SJJ is horribly timed to connect to JFK, keep dreaming that someday it'll make sense
DeleteIn my opinion there is no enough interest for these longhaul flights. Wasting time. SJJ needs more European routes.
DeleteNeither of these will happen
ReplyDelete+100
DeletePretty much
DeleteThey cannot hold Ryanair for a season which is horrible , this is just a movie
DeleteI can see Air China happening before United, especially if it is operated via another European city. Much lower risk for the airline.
ReplyDelete+1
Deletewith United flying to SPU i see zero chances there
ReplyDeleteThe diaspora market in the US is definitely there, but I am not sure Sarajevo alone can support a nonstop service.
ReplyDeletePlus the younger generations are far less willing to travel to the old country.
Deleteno disapora can hold that line. You need tourisam for that line
DeleteTourism exists, that part is covered. However can they compete with all the promotions Aer Lingus, Iberia and others offer for cheap tickets to Europe and then layovers anywhere else.
Deleteyou need premium guest like Dbv and Spu and I don`t see them in Sarajevo
DeleteIf United can make Dubrovnik and Split work, Sarajevo should at least be worth looking at seasonally.
ReplyDeleteDBV and SPU have way more demand for US flights than SJJ.
DeleteDBV and DPU are tourist powerhouses, Bosnia is not.
DeleteDBV is a tourist powerhouse, but Sarajevo is a reasonable one too. Many SPU passengers end up on day trips to at least Mostar and the region, if not Sarajevo too
Deletema kakvi
DeleteDBV and SPU are high yield destinations....
DeleteIt's not diaspora but tourists (even the one with high revenues....the most wanted ones)
SJJ definitely before Zagreb for transatlantic
DeleteLMAo but they have already transatlantic flights
Delete12:11 Sarajevo would be high yield for the airline too, still business class and still a lot of in-flight sales to boost profits. What they spend in town doesn't concern the airline.
Delete@13.54 dream on
DeleteNot gonna happen. Pure PR spin.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo in recent times is the only airport where we had talks reported by them and within WEEKS the results were shown. Just remember they got Wizz to fly within 10 days
DeleteI'm sure they had been talking with Wizz Air for far longer and were aware of Ryanair leaving for far longer than you and me.
Delete"they got Wizz to fly within 10 days" lol
DeleteRyanair first initiated talks 2 months ago, it's still impressive
DeleteWho in Europe is not in talks with chinese Airlines and why does Bosnian CEOs or politicians must run to the press immediately i dont understand
ReplyDeleteRJK is in talks about possible parking if chinese airlines get more capacity than they need
DeleteWtf is with all of these random airports talking with United? Literally 0 chances of such route happening. Sarajevo doesn't even have basics of connectivity with the rest of Europe and now they want UA and CA?
ReplyDeleteLiterally. If you can sport Amsterdam and Heathrow you cant sport long haul.
DeleteI hope they do not repeat the Eastern Airlines situation. Better to have serious negotiations quietly than announce routes that never happen.
DeleteWaiting for the next announcement from SJJ to be that they have regional hub ambitions :D
DeleteUnited has become much more adventurous with European destinations in recent years, so I would not dismiss Sarajevo at all.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo needs stronger year-round European connectivity first. Long haul sounds great but there are still obvious gaps much closer to home.
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteI disagree. Long haul and short haul development can happen at the same time. One does not exclude the other.
DeleteSarajevo has problems with fog during the winter. I wish there was some close cooperation between the airports and tourist organizations in Sarajevo and Mostar regarding winter flights. Most tourists in Bosnia and Herzegovina visit both cities anyway.
DeleteI mean they cannot even handle Memmingen
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean they can't handle Memmingen? What sort of comment is that?
DeleteThat reality is once , and their dream is another . They cannot sustain Ryanair flights no long haul route , simply its not possible
DeleteThey had good yields and high LF on those routes, rerouting and fog during the winter are sole reasons Ryanair changed their arrangement to be summer season only
DeleteKuala Lumpur being the largest Asian unserved market is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI believe Malaysia Airlines served Zagreb back in the day primarily because of Sarajevo.
DeleteLOL
DeleteBusiness links being huge ever since the war, tourism appeal and the main hub next to Singapore in ASEAN
Delete09.20
DeleteThe same like Emirates served ZAG only because of Slovenians, as we had opportunity to read here 🙂
Honestly, SLAYevooo!
ReplyDeletewith FR pulling out for an entire season, surely slaying
DeleteGood to see management thinking big.
ReplyDeleteAir China seems possible. United is wishful thinking but I would be very happy to be proven wrong.
ReplyDeleteSarajevo first needs to stop funding Ryanair and fund flag carriers instead to have proper connections to Europe, then they can look towards the USA and China.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest challenge is seasonality. July and August would probably be easy to fill, but November or February is another story.
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly why a seasonal route makes sense initially. Nobody says it has to operate twelve months a year from day one.
Deletethere's a lot of winter sport potential. marketing is key
DeleteSMFH not even TUI worked
Delete"not even TUI worked" - yet they flew it 3 years in a row on top of both Ryan and Wizz flights and might do it this winter again with Wizz the only one left.
DeleteUnited may eventually serve the regions capitals with their A321XLRs.
ReplyDeleteThey can't.
DeleteSome of the region's capitals they can for sure, LJU and ZAG for example, from one of their main hubs in Newark. Definiteky enough both tourists and diaspora for such move. And not seasonaly but year round. I wish all ex-yu capitals get direct US link, but I believe ZAG and LJU are the first to get it. Concerning China and SJJ I believe it's also possible because of (no) visa regime, plus Chinese people are not only after the sea and sun, on the contrary. How long will it take until realisation, remains to be seen
Delete^No they can;t because the XLR does not have the range to fly non stop these sectors. Especially west bounf.
DeleteOf course XLR has enough range to fly from ZAG or LJU to EWR, fully loaded, and with all reserves and alternates. This are exactly type of services it is built for. I will not disclose numbers and specifics. You do your homework better instead.
DeleteOf course it does. You are a right person to explain this.
DeleteEWR-LJU/ZAG are less than 7000km apart, while A321XLR range is 8700km. United is flying EWR-SCQ (distance 5300km) with MAX that has range of 6500km. What is your issue? Is it really that hard to look up basic things?
Delete20.47
DeleteBeing instructor approved by CCAA performing theoretical and practical training to cabin crew, flight crew and maintenance crew, with 35+ years spent in civil aviation, and experience in 6 airlines, AFKL group and Aviasolutions among them, yes, I am right person to explain this, no matter how much you hate me and envy me
Usual BS by PIR.
DeleteEmpty aircraft ranges mean absolutely nothing.
That is why we will never see A321XLRs flying from the US or Canada to anywhere east and south of Switzerland.
Literally 😂
DeleteGuy just spits bullshit as usual. A321XLR doesn't have a range to operate EWR-ZAG-EWR. It does actually, if it is empty.
Yeah, it's BS because aircraft producers advertise data, figures and specifics for empty aircraft, because, as real aviation connoisseurs know, all companies buy or lease planes in order to fly them empty. And again, FULLY LOADED A321XLR in legacy passenger configuration have range to operate ZAG-EWR. No matter what "expert" who does not take no for an answer and have serious issues with civilized communication thinks and says
DeletePIR you are just embarrassing yourself now.
DeleteI think people are focusing too much on diaspora. A US route would also depend on tourism, business traffic and connecting passengers.
ReplyDeleteConnecting from where? Tuzla or Mostar? I am all for it, but Sarajevo as transfer hub? 🤦♂️
DeleteAir China sounds more achievable to me, particularly if Sarajevo is combined with another European destination.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to finally hear specific airline names rather than the usual statement that talks are taking place with “several carriers”.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be Croatia Airlines lead by Jasmin, the magician, the most competent and the most courageous CEO in Europe, if not even wider, who already took care of all market segments in Croatia and used all possibilites and potentials, and will now spread the wings to connect also neighbours with the World's most important markets, throwing out of the negotiations both UA and CA, and winning the battle, as always
DeleteJasmin pregovora sa konobarom, kafa uvek hladnija stiže!
DeleteIf Dubrovnik can sustain seasonal US flights, Sarajevo certainly deserves to be investigated as a potential market.
ReplyDeleteDubrovnik is a completely different tourism market. Sarajevo would need a much stronger combination of diaspora and connecting traffic.
DeleteThere is no connecting traffic in SJJ
Delete"Ljubljana will get both China and US flights within 2 years if no global crisis happen." This is what you get with this stupidity.
Delete10:56 There's a fair amount from Zagreb and Belgrade to Turkey
DeleteFair amount of what?
DeleteVery ambitious.
ReplyDeleteStep in the right direction. They are aiming high and that is what every airport should do.
DeleteAlways good to dream big
DeleteLMAO as if no other airpot is doing it
DeleteGood on you Sarajevo
ReplyDeleteWhen could these flights begin?
ReplyDeleteNever
Delete2060
DeleteI don't see why this should not work with an A321(X)LR to much more Balkan destinations like Skopje, Ljubljana, Podgorcia or Ohrid & Tivat on a seasonal summer basis. If WizzAir can fill a A321 from Friedrichshafen, then why not an US or Asian Airline to any Balkan destination.
ReplyDeleteBecause the diferrence between short haul LCC and long haul legacy is so big that's incomparable and your presumption is totally wrong
DeleteOne of the worst comments I've seen here
DeleteHaha, the conclusion gave me a smile. Thanks!
DeleteThis would definitely be impressive by SJJ. However, getting KLM to AMS and/or British Airways to LHR would also significantly improve both intra-European and US/North American connectivity.
ReplyDeleteFirst Sarajevo doesnt have major EU hubs coverage something like this would never happend. Actually they cannot hold Ryanair for a season so this is just not real and will never happend
ReplyDeleteTrue dat
DeleteNisu u stanju održati let za Pariz i Barselonu Ryanairom, a otvarali bi Nju Jork i Peking....
ReplyDeleteIt's on the edge for XLR products of United and Air Canada. Can be challenging at first but would be beneficial for whoever starts first.
ReplyDeleteNo. YYZ-SJJ is 650km longer than the world's longest flight operated by A321XLR.
DeleteSJJ will happen once united gets their a321 neo xlr’s delivered.
ReplyDeleteNot only them but a lot of secondary European cities.
My money is on UA using XLR in Europe to replace some 757 routes like BIO, OPO, FAO, SNN, EDI possibly even some shorter 763 routes, and launch some new Euro destinations up to 3600nm.
Delete