Pristina Airport set for record 2019
Pristina Airport is preparing for a busy year following a record 2018 during which it handled 2.161.874 passengers, an increase of 14.7%. As a result, the airport added a total of 276.688 travellers compared to 2017 and handled over two million passengers in a single year for the first time in its 53-year history. The new year is also off to a strong start, with the airport welcoming 12.500 passengers through its doors during the first few days of 2018, up some 20% on the same period last year. "During the first two days we handled 12.100 travellers on 81 flights. By the end of the week we expect to process 280 flights and 40.000 passengers", Pristina Airport's Scheduling Manager, Driton Hyseni, said.
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 144.137 | ▲ 17.3 |
| FEB | 123.565 | ▲ 14.1 |
| MAR | 150.432 | ▲ 19.2 |
| APR | 177.732 | ▲ 3.1 |
| MAY | 168.519 | ▲ 12.8 |
| JUN | 178.052 | ▲ 23.3 |
| JUL | 256.029 | ▲ 9.3 |
| AUG | 274.755 | ▲ 13.7 |
| SEP | 190.385 | ▲ 12.3 |
| OCT | 170.101 | ▲ 13.1 |
| NOV | 151.697 | ▲ 29.8 |
| DEC | 177.198 | ▲ 17.8 |
Low cost carrier Wizz Air launched three new routes to the city over the past two months, contributing to the strong passenger growth in November and December. Despite serving Pristina from five points, the no frills airline said it currently has no plans to base an aircraft in the city, but has not ruled out the prospect in the future. "I think we are still trying to learn the [Kosovo] market. We have a limited presence in Pristina", Wizz Air's CEO, Joesf Varadi, told EX-YU Aviation News last month. He added, "At the moment, we do not have plans to base an aircraft there. Maybe at a later stage but at this point in time, no".
On the other hand, 2019 will see Pristina's busiest customer, Germania, station a 150-seat Airbus A319 jet in the city at the start of the summer season, on March 31. The carrier plans to recruit local crew and staff and launch new flights to Hannover and Hamburg. Furthermore, the airline will continue to operate its existing services to Munich, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Basel and Verona and will increase frequencies on some routes. "There is interest from various airlines to launch flights from different countries to Pristina. We intend on supporting these carriers in order for them to introduce new destinations and provide a greater choice to passengers", Mr Hyseni noted.
During the year, the airport will continue work on the 33.6 million euro extension and upgrade of its runway, which is scheduled for completion in 2020. According to the project outline, the runway is being lengthened from the current 2.560 metres to 3.000 metres, while its ILS (instrument landing system) will be upgraded and taxiways extended. Due to the airport’s location and foggy weather in winter, it often experiences visibility issues which results in the diversion of flights. “We need to invest in the ILS and replace some of the equipment with the newest technology. The total investment is estimated to be around thirty million euros, which includes the extension of the runway and taxiways, and the purchase of new equipment”, Pristina Airport's General Manager, Haldun Firat Kokturk, said recently. The finances for the project are being initially provided by airport operator Limak, however, the government will waive the concession fee for five years, between 2019 and 2023.
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