Most EX-YU markets to surpass 2019 capacity this summer
All markets in the former Yugoslavia are set to surpass pre-pandemic capacity levels during the third quarter of the year, with exception to Slovenia, which will have the slowest recovery rate in Europe together with Belarus, the latter being under European Union sanctions. According to travel and intelligence company OAG, during the July - September quarter, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have 149.7% of seat capacity compared to the same period in 2019. Wizz Air, which has opened a base in Sarajevo and stationed two aircraft in the city, is one of the main contributors to the growth. However, the arrival of a number of foreign carriers, especially from the Gulf, has enabled Bosnia and Herzegovina to have the second fastest recovery rate in Europe behind only Albania. Its traffic surge is not limited just to the capital, with Banja Luka Airport expected to record its busiest year. It should be noted that OAG did not individually assess the Kosovan market during the third quarter. Kosovo has already surpassed its passenger and capacity levels compared to 2019.
During the peak summer months, between July and September, Macedonia will be at 111.7% of 2019 capacity levels or the fifth in Europe, followed straight behind by Montenegro at 110.8%. The number of departing seats from the Serbian market will reach 110.4% during the third quarter, positioning itself as the seventh fastest recovering market on the continent. Croatia’s capacity levels will be slightly up on three years ago, at 102%. It has positioned itself as the eleventh fastest recovering market in Europe. All of the existing data is subject to change.
The Slovenian market, still struggling from the collapse of Adria Airways in 2019, will continue to hold the title of being among the slowest recovering markets in Europe. Its capacity levels during the third quarter will only reach 54.7% of 2019 levels, only ahead of Belarus, which, compared to three years ago, is under European Union sanctions, with its carriers unable to fly to any European market with exception to Turkey and Russia. Capacity levels in Slovenia compared to two years ago will be lower than both Russia and Ukraine, although the latter is still engulfed in war and airlines are likely to cancel their planned operations in the coming weeks and months. Despite the lacklustre performance, the head of Ljubljana Airport, Babett Stapel, said last month, “This year we will have 104% more passengers than last year, but still 49% less than in 2019. However, the number of travellers will double, so passenger traffic is recovering. We're going in the right direction. I do not expect for us to achieve the results from 2019 next year. I wish we could, but due to high fuel prices, war and uncertainty, I estimate that we will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2026, that is, we will handle 1.8 million or 1.9 million passengers”.
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