Macedonian airports with regional hub ambitions
Skopje and Ohrid airports are enjoying record traffic this year with a number of new routes introduced, however, operator TAV Macedonia is doubling its efforts to increase passenger numbers from the region, including Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. General Manager, Alper Ersoy, told the "Medial" portal, "It is true that network development at Skopje and Ohrid airports attracts many travellers from Macedonia and the region. When we at TAV refer to "our travellers", we are thinking and relying on the local market, but also passengers coming from Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. It is only natural to view things from such a perspective in our business. In airport operations, neighbouring regions and cities that are within a three hour driving distance by car, or within a radius of 300 kilometres from the airport, form part of its catchment area".
Pristina Airport's Scheduling Manager, Driton Hyseni, said last week that the Kosovo government should do more to prevent the outflow of local passengers to Skopje, Ohrid and Niš airports. Mr Ersoy noted, "We think that our excellent location, large number of affordable destinations, as well as our high quality and competitive services pave the way for Skopje and Ohrid airports to become joint regional air traffic hubs. Therefore, we expect the number of travellers from the region to increase in the coming period, and we will continue to work hard to achieve this goal". Although different in size, Skopje, Pirstina and Niš are competing within a similar catchment area. Pristina Airport recently claimed that 50% of Skopje Airport's passenger traffic is made up of Kosovo travellers, while last year, Niš Airport noted that 14% of its travellers originate from Kosovo and 5% from Macedonia.
Mr Ersoy noted that TAV will continue promoting its services within the region. "We are undertaking various promotional activities to present travel opportunities from Skopje and Ohrid airports to residents within our catchment area. One of the latest activities TAV undertook was a promotion in Elbasan, Albania, in order to better inform the Albanian public about the opportunities and benefits offered by Macedonian airports, especially Ohrid Airport, taking into account the geographical proximity of Elbasan and Ohrid, as well as the numerous low cost flights from the Macedonian city to various destinations", Mr Ersoy said. During the first seven months of the year, Skopje and Ohrid airports handled a combined total of 1.314.582 passengers, representing an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year.
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