Macedonia to invest €1.7 million in aviation in 2020
The Macedonian government has outlined it plans to invest 1.7 million euros into the country’s aviation sector in 2020. The majority of the funds will be directed towards Wizz Air for the upkeep of new routes launched in 2019 based on a three-year subsidy agreement. Investment in aviation presents the smallest share of the Ministry for Transportation and Communications entire budget for 2020. “The development of air traffic is the government’s strategic commitment and our activities are aimed at expanding the network of destinations accessible to citizens, by establishing new nonstop flights and intensifying cooperation in the sector with other countries”, the ministry said in a statement. Under its agreement with Wizz Air, the Macedonian government will next year provide eight euros per passenger for new routes launched from Skopje in 2019 and twelve euros per traveller for new routes introduced from Ohrid in 2019.
The operator of the country’s two airports, TAV Macedonia, previously said it plans to further invest in Skopje and Ohrid airports. TAV plans to expand Ohrid Airport’s terminal following strong passenger growth. Since being awarded a twenty-year concession of the two facilities in 2010, TAV has invested some 120 million euros in airport infrastructure and development and paid a total of 47.4 million euros in concession fees and taxes to the state. With another ten years left on its concession agreement, the Turkish company is exploring possibilities of extending the deal past 2029. “We expect this development to continue at a similar pace in the coming period, taking advantage of the potential of Macedonia’s airports to become a joint regional hub and to contribute to the development of the country’s economy, as well as business relations between Macedonia and Turkey”, the President and CEO of Turkey’s TAV Airports Holding, Sani Sener, said.
Skopje Airport has continued to post growth in October by handling 213.252 passengers, representing an increase of 12.9%. Commercial aircraft movements stood at 1.489, up 4.9%. During the January – October period, Skopje Airport welcomed 2.011.369 travellers through its doors, an improvement of 8.8%. It added an extra 162.410 passengers. Overall, commercial aircraft movements increased 5.7% to 15.378. Meanwhile, Ohrid Airport registered 279.112 travellers, up 64.5%. In October alone it welcomed 26.212 passengers, representing an improvement of 191% from 8.991 travellers in 2018.
SKOPJE AIRPORT, JAN - OCT PASSENGER TRAFFIC
| Month | PAX | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| JAN | 152.292 | ▲ 4.6 |
| FEB | 137.676 | ▲ 5.9 |
| MAR | 164.480 | ▲ 4.8 |
| APR | 194.302 | ▲ 10.4 |
| MAY | 195.452 | ▲ 11.2 |
| JUN | 215.021 | ▲ 11.7 |
| JUL | 241.836 | ▲ 1.7 |
| AUG | 263.977 | ▲ 11.1 |
| SEP | 233.081 | ▲ 11.9 |
| OCT | 231.252 | ▲ 12.9 |
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