Ljubljana Airport anticipates full recovery in 2021
Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport expects for its passenger numbers to decline between 100.000 and 200.000 this year in the wake of the collapse of its busiest airline - Adria Airways. Operator Fraport Slovenija estimates the airport will handle between 1.5 and 1.7 million travellers in 2019 but believes it will be able to replace most of the former national carrier’s routes within a year and a half. “Fraport Slovenija is working with airlines to meet the traffic demand left by Adria’s exit from the market. This includes quick-start capacity increases, as well as new scheduled flight services in the near future. Furthermore, Fraport Slovenija remains strongly committed to developing Ljubljana Airport and to further growing passenger and cargo traffic”, the operator said. Since Adria’s demise, almost all foreign carriers serving the Slovenian capital have increased their capacity, while some have also boosted frequencies. In addition, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines have announced new flights to Ljubljana starting this winter season.
Ljubljana Airport is still seeking a solution to cover Adria’s destination network in the Balkans and is especially working on establishing flights to Skopje, which it says is an important business destination. “Fraport Slovenija has been working closely with all existing and new airlines to increase destinations, flight frequencies and/or seat capacity via the Slovenian capital. In the expanding European aviation market, airlines have been undergoing consolidation in recent years. Other carriers are expected to quickly pick up Ljubljana’s traffic and routes, that are no longer served by Adria Airways”, the airport operator said. General Manager, Zmago Skobir, noted, “For us, the biggest unknown isn’t whether airlines will come, but when they will come and find available capacity and crew”.
Despite the expected steep decline in passenger numbers in the coming months, Ljubljana Airport will record a profit by year’s end. Adria’s debt of over four million euros owed to the operator will be partially compensated. “Currently, Fraport Slovenija is investing more than twenty million euros into a new passenger terminal, which will be fully integrated into existing infrastructure and scheduled to open in early 2021. This terminal complex will increase capacity, enhance the travel experience, and offer more growth opportunities for airlines in the future. With the recently opened Fraport Aviation Academy and planned new airport city developments, Fraport Slovenija is also expanding other aviation-related business opportunities at Ljubljana Airport”, the operator said. It added, “We deeply regret Adria Airways' initiation of bankruptcy proceedings. It was our important and valuable business partner since the airport’s opening in 1963“.
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