NEWS FLASH
Macedonia and the United Kingdom are moving towards bringing a new bilateral Air Services Agreement into force, with the document recently presented to the British Parliament. The agreement was signed in London on October 22, 2025, although its contents have just now been made public by the UK government prior to its adoption. The agreement will replace the existing bilateral framework signed in Skopje on October 1, 1999. However, the new arrangement is not yet in force. It will become effective once both governments have completed their respective constitutional procedures and confirmed this through an exchange of diplomatic notes.
Macedonia and the United Kingdom are moving towards bringing a new bilateral Air Services Agreement into force, with the document recently presented to the British Parliament. The agreement was signed in London on October 22, 2025, although its contents have just now been made public by the UK government prior to its adoption. The agreement will replace the existing bilateral framework signed in Skopje on October 1, 1999. However, the new arrangement is not yet in force. It will become effective once both governments have completed their respective constitutional procedures and confirmed this through an exchange of diplomatic notes.
The document provides for a liberal operating environment between the two countries. Each side will be able to designate one or more airlines to operate the agreed services, while carriers will generally be permitted to determine their own frequencies, capacity and aircraft types. Neither government will be able to unilaterally limit traffic volumes, the regularity of services or the equipment used, except for customs, technical, operational or environmental reasons. Airlines will also be free to set fares based on market conditions, without being required to file or notify prices to the relevant aviation authorities.
The route schedule permits designated airlines to operate between any point in the United Kingdom and any point in Macedonia. Services may also include intermediate destinations and points beyond the two countries. Fifth-freedom traffic rights, allowing an airline to carry passengers between the other signatory country and a third state, may be exercised subject to arrangements agreed between the two civil aviation authorities.
The United Kingdom is currently linked to North Macedonia through Wizz Air UK’s scheduled flights between London Luton and Skopje. TUI Airways also operated seasonal services from London Gatwick and Manchester to Ohrid during the 2026 summer season.
It took them a year to present the document in British parliament. And it's still not adopted. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteWell its not a priority now is it?
Delete13:42 it is nothing to rush for
Deletethere are also off-season triangle charters to SKP from LGW and MAN if it matters
ReplyDeletewith Freebird
DeleteThey will start now in October
DeleteIt is time visas are abolished for short visits.
ReplyDeleteNo chance sadly.
Delete19:42 there is chances and there are talks about this for a long time actually , will happend one day for sure ;)
DeleteNo there is no chance until the country joins the EU. You can 'hope' but there is 0 evidence that will occur before then. So measure your expectations big time.
Delete20:05 what does joining to EU has to do with UK visas ? 🙄 or u still think UK is in the EU ??? UK cuts visad by other circumstances nothing related to EU membership
Delete@22:42 you are very wrong. The UK will only remove the visas once is has to, which comes through membership of the EU. We will see that for Montenegro. Until that day they will not remove them from places like North Macedonia or Serbia irrespective of your (and my) desire that they do. Sorry to burst your bubble 🤗
DeleteI use my Bulgarian passport to enjoy visa free travel to the UK all the time
Delete23:54 u obviously have no clue what you are talking about. No country is needed to he part of EU to be able to get viss free requirement for UK. Are USA and Canada part of EU and they have visa free to entrance to the UK. U are funny and no knowledge of basic things
Delete23:37 you are using ETA to enter UK not because ur country is in the EU ;)
Delete@00:57 you havent got a clue. But its fine 🤗
Delete00:57 of course countries dont need to be part of the Eu to get visa free. But in the case of the western Balkans this wjll need to occur. The UK will not remove the visa until that occurs because of irregular migration and organised crime. Its a sad reality. Grow up.
DeleteJust use your Bulgarian passports like me too in North Macedonia. Why bother to ask the UK to remove visas...
DeleteNot everyone there has one. But yeah many people do use that way to visit.
Delete