Sarajevo Airport enters into talks with Vueling

Sarajevo Airport’s management has met with representatives from low cost carrier Vueling over the potential introduction of flights between Barcelona and the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. “Negotiations over the introduction of nonstop flights between Barcelona and Sarajevo have begun. Representatives from Sarajevo Airport are currently in Barcelona where they are holding talks with Vueling. Participating and supporting the ongoing negotiations is the government of Catalonia, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Spain, as well as the Fortuna Tours tour operator from Mostar”, the airport said in a statement.

There have never been scheduled flights between Sarajevo and Barcelona. Based on indirect passenger volumes, Barcelona is currently Sarajevo’s ninth busiest unserved route in Europe and is well ahead of Madrid based on traveller demand. Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa handle the bulk of Sarajevo’s traffic to and from Spain. Flights between the two cities would benefit the Bosnian diaspora, which is mainly situated in and around Barcelona, tourism demand on both ends, as well as religious tourism from Spain headed to the Medjugorje site near Mostar.

Vueling has a limited presence in the region of the former Yugoslavia. It currently maintains seasonal summer flights from Spain’s second largest city to Zagreb, as well summer services from both Barcelona and Rome to Split and Dubrovnik. Vueling is owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of Iberia and British Airways. It is Barcelona’s largest airline. Demand for flights from the region to Barcelona has grown significantly over the past few years. This summer, Belgrade will boast sixteen weekly flights to Spain’s second largest city, Dubrovnik eight weekly, Split seven weekly, Zagreb will have five weekly rotations, while Podgorica will offer two weekly services to Barcelona.

EX-YU Aviation News

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