EX-YU's top airports register solid first quarter
The former Yugoslavia's ten busiest airports over the first quarter added a combined total of 178.708 passengers year-on-year, with the overall pace of growth slowing. Pristina Airport added the most passengers over the three-month period despite dealing with the demise of its busiest carrier, Germania, and industrial action by air traffic controllers in March, which disrupted traffic. Overall, nine of the ten busiest airports during Q1 saw record results. The only exception was Tuzla, which was affected by the suspension of a number of Wizz Air routes during the 2018/19 winter season that have since been reinstated with the onset of the 2019 summer schedule.
| Airport | Passengers Q1 2019 | Passengers Q1 2018 | Change (%) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrade | 1.034.891 | 997.518 | ▲ 3.7 | + 37.373 |
| Zagreb | 605.329 | 585.576 | ▲ 3.4 | + 19.753 |
| Pristina | 476.154 | 418.134 | ▲ 13.9 | + 58.020 |
| Skopje | 454.488 | 432.620 | ▲ 5.6 | + 21.868 |
| Ljubljana | 342.636 | 329.212 | ▲ 4.1 | + 13.424 |
| Podgorica | 193.581 | 181.381 | ▲ 6.7 | + 12.200 |
| Sarajevo | 174.508 | 169.124 | ▲ 3.2 | + 5.384 |
| Split | 121.222 | 117.493 | ▲ 3.2 | + 3.729 |
| Dubrovnik | 117.968 | 94.038 | ▲ 24.4 | + 23.930 |
| Tuzla | 102.678 | 119.651 |  14.5 |
- 16.973 |
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport retained its position as the busiest in the former Yugoslavia, adding just over 37.300 travellers on last year. The airport managed to extend its passenger growth streak to 33 consecutive months. In Zagreb, which has described 2019 as a "consolidatory year compared to the previous two", figures improved 3.4%. The pace of growth is expected to pick-up during the second and third quarters, with passenger numbers anticipated to rise over 5% this year. Croatia's second busiest airport, Split, continued with its growth momentum, albeit at a slower pace than in 2018. "The 15% to 20% annual growth we have witnessed is unlikely to continue in the coming years and we expect the usual 5% to 10% increase in passenger numbers", the airport said. On the other hand, Dubrovnik Airport saw a record start to the year, with its figures improving over 24%. However, the growth rate is expected to come down in the coming months, with an annual increase of some 5% expected in 2019.
Skopje Airport added 21.868 passengers during the first quarter with strong growth expected over the coming three months. "Skopje Airport registered expected passenger growth of 5.6%, which will be higher in the second and the third quarters of the year, due to the opening of four new routes", its operator said. Elsewhere, in Ljubljana, the airport recorded solid passenger growth of just over 4% despite a decline in the number of travellers handled by its main customer Adria Airways. Foreign carriers, particularly budget airlines, fuelled the increase over the past three months. Podgorica Airport continued to register record passenger numbers, with 193.581 passengers handled during the first quarter.
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