Ljubljana to add new airlines each year, eyes hub connectivity
Ljubljana Airport aims to attract new airlines on an annual basis, while improving its connectivity to major hubs, in an attempt to reach its pre-pandemic traffic levels by 2025. Speaking to the “Finance” daily, the General Manager of operator Fraport Slovenija, Babett Stapel, said, “The biggest challenge is to restore traffic to the level before the pandemic and ensure Slovenia's connectivity. In these times, we are working even more closely with airlines, the tourism industry, and the state to achieve this goal. At the same time, we are taking an active role in working with stakeholders and looking at solutions that benefit everyone. Based on current analysis, we will succeed in 2025, but it is my job to get there sooner, if possible”.
Ms Stapel noted that more airlines will launch flights to the Slovenian capital in the coming years, in addition to the existing thirteen serving the city. “We are already on the right track [to reaching pre-pandemic traffic levels]. We will achieve this with our current partners, airlines that connect Ljubljana Airport, and we will add new ones each year. Currently, thirteen carriers fly to fourteen destinations. Prospects for the winter season are encouraging. Therefore, we will go step by step to reach levels from before Covid-19”, Ms Stapel said.
The General Manager pointed out that talks are currently under way with airlines over the launch of new flights to Ljubljana. “We are not allowed to talk about some of the new airlines and connections yet, because we have such an agreement with carriers, and we are still in discussions with others. It has been announced that Transavia, which will fly to Paris Orly, Windrose Airlines, which will connect Ljubljana with Kiev, and Finnair, which will fly to Helsinki again, are coming with the start of the summer season. A new Lufthansa connection to Munich has also been announced. I am also pleased that airlines which commenced operations this year, Iberia and Fly Dubai, will continue flying, as well as all other carriers serving Ljubljana. At the same time, some have increased their number of flights, which is equally as important”, Ms Stapel noted.
The General Manager believes the airport has to work on securing even better schedules to hub airports in order to improve connectivity to far-away destinations. “We must not forget that the entire aviation industry is in recovery mode, not a phase of growth”, Ms Stapel said. She added, “For starters, we managed to secure the return of all airlines that flew before the pandemic, which is a great success. I believe that, in the future, it is important for Slovenia to be connected to larger hubs and to offer even more suitable times for connections. Examples are Frankfurt, London, Brussels, Munich, Belgrade, Istanbul, and Dubai. Our main goal is to increase the number of flights operated by our existing airline partners”. However, Ms Stapel noted that leisure operations will continue to play an important role. “This year, 30% of flights were charters and we will continue to promote this segment in the future”, Ms Stapel concluded
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