Rijeka says no to Ryanair

Rijeka Airport

The “Rijeka Danas” internet portal has revealed that Rijeka Airport’s management and the town authorities rejected an offer from Ryanair last year to begin services to the coastal town because the two sides could not agree on suitable destinations. Wile Ryanair wanted to commence seasonal flights from Cologne in Germany and Pisa in Italy, the airport wanted the world’s largest low cost airline to commence services from Birmingham and London in the United Kingdom. The former director of the airport said that there was no point for flights to originate from Pisa because Italians come to Rijeka by car. The portal notes that because of this decision Rijeka’s citizens can not use Pisa, one of Ryanair’s largest hubs, as a transit point to Western Europe and Northern Africa.

Rijeka Airport is in deep financial problems. More about the airport’s financial woes can be read here. Since Ryanair is heavily subsidised for its flights to Croatia, it is debatable whether Rijeka Airport’s authorities should have the right to set down the terms of the deal. Ryanair has helped wake up many airports in Croatia due to seasonal and all year round services.