Sarajevo In talks with "successful European airline" over base

Sarajevo Airport is still in talks with an airline that applied to its public call last year to station an aircraft in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital from 2021. Sarajevo Airport’s General Manager, Alan Bajić, has said the company in question is known in the region, has a large route network, a respectable fleet and is successful in all of Europe. 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. 

Speaking to EX-YU Aviation News recently, Mr Bajić said, “It is well known that an airline opening a base at an airport creates preconditions for an increase in traffic volume (a larger number of flights and a significantly greater number of passengers, as well as the launch of new routes). All of this is very important, not just for Sarajevo Airport but for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entire tourism sector and other subjects whose livelihoods and recovery largely depend on the resumption of flights to our country”. He added, “We sincerely hope for a positive outcome of these negotiations and the successful stationing of aircraft on behalf of the interested company at Sarajevo Airport”. 

Sarajevo Airport had previously attempted to attract a European airline to establish a base in the city. In 2016 it held talks with Wizz Air over the introduction of "several European destinations”. At the time, the budget airline said Sarajevo was a “very important destination” it intended to develop in Bosnia and Herzegovina after Tuzla, where it has its aircraft stationed. However, the drawn-out negotiations failed after the two sides failed to reach an agreement over fees.

EX-YU Aviation News

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