Wizz Air to launch new Macedonia flights
Low cost carrier Wizz Air will introduce at least four new routes from Macedonia by March 26, 2019 after it won a tender for the provision of state subsidies. The carrier is obligated to introduce two new routes each from Skopje and Ohrid by the end of March. The airline will also have to add a further two new destinations from Ohrid within the next year. All six destinations will have to be maintained on a year-round basis for the duration of the financial incentives, until 2022. Wizz Air was the only airline to apply for the subsidies. The tender was held for the third time this year after two previous attempts were annulled. A similar three-year subsidy policy was enforced in both 2012 and 2015, with the no frills airline being the sole beneficiary. It resulted in Wizz Air basing four aircraft in the Macedonian capital and launching over a dozen new routes.
The Macedonian Minister for Transport and Communications, Goran Sugareski, said, "The Government of the Republic of Macedonia is strongly committed to the development of air transport by creating conditions for airlines to launch new routes. At the Public Call, only one application for financial support was submitted to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, from Wizz Air. After the Commission responsible for the implementation of this Public Call evaluated the bid, it was established that Wizz Air met all the conditions and criteria specified in the call". He added, "I want to congratulate Wizz Air. They remain a serious partner in developing air traffic in Macedonia. As a responsible government, we promised to continue stimulating air traffic. Our goal is for the public to get as many new destinations as possible at affordable prices".
Wizz Air will receive benefits amounting to five million euros over the next three years. It will be granted some 1.4 million in 2019, 1.7 in 2020 and 2021 each, as well as 277.000 euros in 2022. Furthermore, the government will grant the low cost carrier a one-off payment of 40.000 euros for each new route launched, as well as nine euros per passengers for each new destination from Skopje for the first year, eight euros during the second year and seven during the third. On the other hand, the carrier will receive thirteen euros per passenger during the first year of operations on new routes out of Ohrid, twelve during the second and eleven euros per traveller in the third year.
The low cost airline is soon expected to announce its new routes from Macedonia. It previously noted, "In the last seven years, since we first started to operate in Macedonia, Wizz Air has become the leading airline in the country and gained the confidence and loyalty of more than 4.6 million passengers transported since 2011 across the nation by constantly investing in local operations and bringing affordable travel opportunities for passengers. This year, the Wizz team in Macedonia has grown to more than 140 local members, and according to industry standards, Wizz operations have facilitated more than 900 indirect jobs in 2017". It added, "Wizz Air underlines its commitment to Macedonian customers by expanding its low fare network and creating more affordable travel opportunities from Skopje and Ohrid airports, currently offering thirty routes to fourteen countries and 1.6 million seats on sale in 2018, a 23% growth compared to 2017". During the first three quarters of the year, Wizz Air handled 1.098.511 passengers on flights to and from Macedonia, resulting in a passenger share of 60.3%. Among low cost carriers operating to the country, Wizz Air holds a 92% share.
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