One carrier in talks over Sarajevo Airport base

One carrier has answered Sarajevo Airport’s recent public call to station an aircraft in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital from 2021 and is currently in talks with the airport’s management, EX-YU Aviation News has learned. Although several airlines expressed interest, only one submitted its proposal within the prescribed timeframe of the public call. Sarajevo Airport’s acting General Manager, Alan Bajić, told EX-YU Aviation News, “We sincerely hope for a positive outcome of these negotiations and the successful stationing of an aircraft on behalf of the interested company at Sarajevo Airport”. The tender was open to any carrier that was willing to station its plane in the city between at least 2021 and 2023. 

During the first phase, the selected airline will be required to base two aircraft “with the option of growing its fleet, as Sarajevo Airport's capacity grows and other conditions are met”, the public notice said. If an agreement is reached, the selected airline will be given incentives for stationing aircraft in the city as well as additional funds depending on the number of passengers carried. The public call, which was officially launched towards the end of September, was closed on October 25. The measures are aimed at softening the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic 

Sarajevo Airport is expected to handle under 250.000 passengers this year, its slowest since 2000. At this point, a total of 232 commercial flights are expected to operate in out of Sarajevo during the first month of 2021 (both directions included), with Turkish Airlines to have the most frequencies – 64 – followed by Austrian Airlines, Flydubai, Pegasus Airlines, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines. In terms of capacity, Turkish Airlines will have the most seats on offer – 8.619 – followed by Pegasus Airlines, Flydubai, Austrian Airlines, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines. Overall, capacity will total 29.940, representing a decrease of 35.8% on January 2020. 

The full interview with Mr Bajić on how Sarajevo Airport is navigating the current Covid-19 pandemic and its plans for the future can be read tomorrow as part of the EX-YU Aviation News Premium Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

EX-YU Aviation News

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