Pristina's busiest airline declares bankruptcy
Pristina Airport's busiest airline, Germania, which was to open a base in the city in April, has discontinued all operations and filed for insolvency after failing to resolve short-term liquidity issues. However, its Swiss arm, Germania Flug, which also accounts for a significant passenger share at Pristina Airport, has not been affected. Germania handled 321.499 passengers to and from Kosovo last year, representing an increase of 9.1% on 2017. The carrier maintained services to Pristina from Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart and Verona, as well as a number of charters. It was to commence operations from Pristina to Hannover and Hamburg this April after basing an Airbus A319 aircraft in the city.
The development marks the second time Pristina has lost its busiest airline. In 2013, Belle Air Europe ceased all operations, heavily affecting Pristina Airport's passenger numbers the following year, when it recorded a 14% decline in travellers. Pristina Airport's General Manager, Haldun Firat Kokturk, said last November, "We are happy to provide Germania with a second home for their aircraft. This is such an important milestone for Germania, our airport and Kosovo. As of April, Germania is stationing an aircraft in Pristina after a long, successful and safe cooperation over the years. We appreciate our continued partnership with Germania, for increasing its number of destinations for our passengers, which, in turn will result in a steady increase in traveller numbers".
Germania pointed to major increases in fuel prices over the 2018 summer season, coupled with the weakening of the euro against the US dollar, and delays in introducing new aircraft into the fleet as the major causes of its liquidity crisis. “Unfortunately, we were ultimately unable to bring our financing efforts to cover a short-term liquidity need to a positive conclusion. We very much regret that consequently, our only option was to file for insolvency”, Germania CEO, Karsten Balke, said. People who bought their tickets directly from the airline "unfortunately have no claim to alternative trips", the company said. In addition to Pristina, Germania also operated seasonal flights from Toulouse to Split. The airline was due to commence services from Bremen to Zadar this June as well.
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