Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) has launched tender in bid to attract new airlines and routes, targeting new connections from the likes of Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London and Paris.
About $280,000 in subsidies has been allocated for carriers, with an aim of increasing inbound tourism to the region. The funding is being made available by tourism organization Visit Sarajevo.
Subsidies will be offered to airlines that are willing to establish a base in Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital city airport; launch routes to destinations that have been unserved for 12 months or longer; introduce flights to European cities “deemed to be of strategic importance"; open long-haul markets; or provide service on existing key routes that currently receive two flights per week or fewer.
Twenty-six destinations in Europe have been identified as of strategic importance, including Amsterdam and Eindhoven in the Netherlands; Barcelona and Madrid in Spain; Berlin and Düsseldorf in Germany; and Izmir and Antalya in Turkey.
Analysis of OAG Schedules Analyser data shows that just two of the 26 points are served at present, with Air Montenegro linking Sarajevo-Podgorica once a week and Turkish Airlines providing daily Sarajevo-Antalya flights.
Additionally, the subsidy scheme hopes to secure routes to China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Singapore regardless of the airport, as well as flights to any destination in North America.
Carriers will have to meet certain criteria to qualify for funding, including offering a minimum of two flights per week and operating aircraft with more than 100 seats. Airlines have until Sept. 4 to apply.
SJJ is served by 23 carriers at present—led by Turkish Airlines with an 18.5% share of all departure seats. Flydubai ranks second on 13.3%, while Austrian Airlines is third on 9.1%.
Overall capacity for the week commencing Aug. 7 is about 26,800 departure seats, which is 8% down on this time last year. The lower figure can be attributed to the exit of Hungarian ULCC Wizz Air, which closed its two-aircraft SJJ base in November 2022. However, sister carrier Wizz Air Abu Dhabi continues to serve the airport from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Following the base closure, Wizz Air expanded operations from Tuzla Airport (TZL), located about 110 km (68 mi.) north of Sarajevo by road. However, the carrier now plans to close the TZL base from Sept. 12. Twelve routes will be suspended, although flights will continue from the German points of Dortmund, Frankfurt-Hahn and Memmingen.
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