Wizz, Ryan and Vueling to Ljubljana

Five new airlines for Ljubljana Airport

After the announcement made last week that several low cost airlines will begin operations to Ljubljana, new details have now been revealed. A total of five new airlines will commence flights to Jože Pučnik Airport by the start of the 2012 summer season. They include Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling, IZair and Norwegian Air Shuttle. The new arrivals should replace Adria on several routes the national carrier plans to suspend this coming winter. Talks are underway for Ryanair to begin flights from Dusseldorf and Dublin to Ljubljana while Wizz Air would operate a service from its London Luton base. Furthermore, Vueling should commence flights from Madrid to Ljubljana. Previously, the airline had operated flights to the Slovenian capital out of Barcelona. Talks are ongoing with IZair from Turkey to commence flights from Istanbul while Norwegian Air Shuttle could launch flights from Oslo, a service once operated by Adria.

With the prospect of oncoming competition, Robert Vuga, the Executive Director of Adria Airways says that the national carrier should not be affected. “If the new airlines won’t compete with Adria Airways, then we understand the government and their wish to bring more tourists to Slovenia”. The Government of Slovenia has approved a proposal for subsidies to be given to low cost airlines. Earlier in the year it also approved a 50 million Euro bailout for Adria.

The management of Ljubljana Airport sees the new arrivals as a big opportunity for Slovenian tourism but also as a way to improve its sluggish performance when it comes to passenger numbers this year.