Slovenia seeks solution for former Yugoslavia’s least used commercial airport
The Slovenian government is seeking a solution to what has become the former Yugoslavia’s least busiest airport - Maribor. During the January - October period it handled just 3.540 passengers. While Maribor does not have commercial flights, neither does Portorož on the country’s coast, however, it managed to welcome almost 30.000 travellers during the same period despite a smaller catchment area. The majority of Maribor Airport’s passenger traffic is generated through charters carrying sports teams. Despite plans to offer the airport up for concession by the end of this year, the process has been delayed. The state has only now begun preparing the tender documentation in order to find a long-term partner.
Maribor Airport has been managed by the state-owned consulting and engineering company DRI since 2019, after Chinese investors terminated their fifteen-year lease contract signed in 2017. A major deterrent for investors is the lack of a spatial plan which would enable the airport to be expanded. The former Chinese concessionaire accused the government of failing to deliver on the plan, which it must adopt. However, the Slovenian Ministry for Infrastructure has said the spatial plan is currently being drafted. During recent talks with Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet, the Slovenian government suggested the budget carriers consider operations to the country’s second largest city as an alternative to Ljubljana, which the trio have accused of having high airport fees. However, neither of the three have shown interest in operating to Maribor under current commercial terms. Ryanair briefly flew to the city almost fifteen years ago.
The Ministry for Infrastructure recently held talks with the SIDrone company, which presented its plan to establish an aircraft maintenance centre at Maribor Airport, as well as an aviation school to train aircraft mechanics. The company inquired whether there was a possibility to build a hangar which would have the ability to cater for larger aircraft such as the Airbus A340, and said there was a need for more aircraft parking positions to be built. SIDrone is interested in a long-term partnership with Maribor Airport of at least ten years. Commenting on the talks, the Ministry for Infrastructure noted, “Any additional activities that would contribute to the revival of the airport are supported”.
.gif)
0 Response to "Slovenia seeks solution for former Yugoslavia’s least used commercial airport"
Post a Comment