easyJet to launch Skopje flights
easyJet will enter the Macedonian market this coming winter season with the low cost carrier to introduce services between Geneva and Skopje. Flights will be inaugurated on November 1 and initially run twice per week, each Monday and Friday, before increasing to three weekly from December. The airline faces no direct competition on the route. It will become the only budget airline to serve Skopje Airport together with Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines. The CEO of Turkey's TAV, which runs Macedonia's two airports, Sani Sener, recently said that despite being a Wizz Air stronghold, there is room for more low cost players in the country. "Skopje is already a successful Wizz Air base, but we think there is considerable opportunity for more low cost operators", Mr Sener said.
Based on OAG data, a total of 3.923 passengers travelled indirectly between the Macedonian capital and Geneva in the pre-pandemic 2019, while the figure stood at just over 600 last year. These figures only include travellers who flew on a single itinerary via another point to reach either Geneva or Skopje. Wiz Air, which dominates in Skopje, is unable to maintain services between Switzerland and Macedonia as flights between the two are regulated through bilateral agreements. Its operations to Basel are considered as being performed to France. On the other hand, easyJet has a Swiss subsidiary.
easyJet previously said it was unfazed by Wizz Air's presence on the Macedonian market and would only operate flights to the country if there were sufficient demand. “easyJet is focused on its successful strategy to expand across Europe and operates in the best interests of the company and its customers ensuring the attractiveness of its network. This means the airline concentrates its efforts on maintaining and developing routes which prove popular with passengers. We consider competition only in regards of tactic opportunities that can be complementary to our strategy”, the airline said. As a result of the new service, Bosnia and Herzegovina will become the only market in the former Yugoslavia not to be served by easyJet.
Further details for the new Geneva - Skopje service can be found here.
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