Interest from low cost airlines to fly to Sarajevo Airport

Sarajevo could soon see low cost flights from London, Rome and Dusseldorf as the Bosnian government relaxes its conditions towards no frills airlines. The government currently requires low cost airlines to pay a levy of ten euros per passenger in order to operate flights to the country. Until recently, the levy amounted to fifteen euros but the state government gave up on its share of the takings while the Federation government is expected to follow suit. According to the Al Jazeera Balkans network, interest has been shown for flights to commence from London, Rome, Dusseldorf and a city in Sweden to Sarajevo this summer. Recently, the low cost Austrian airline Niki, owned by Air Berlin, said it was evaluating the Bosnian market.

New airlines would be more than welcomed by airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In February, the country’s busiest airport, Sarajevo, suffered a 21% passenger decrease by handling only 26.278 passengers. During the month the airport was affected by bad weather but also B&H Airlines’ route suspensions. However, the full brunt of the carrier’s woes is to be felt at the airport in March. Currently, B&H operates a single daily flight to Istanbul with an ATR72. During February, Banja Luka Airport welcomed 424 passengers and Mostar 318. Tuzla did not manage to attract any passengers last month.

Sarajevo Airport is served by two low cost airlines - Germanwings and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Norwegian operates flights on a seasonal basis and will be resuming services from Oslo and Stockholm to the Bosnian capital this summer. On top of its all year round service from Cologne, Germanwings will resume seasonal flights from Stuttgart to Sarajevo this summer as well.

Employees go on strike as Banja Luka plans for the summer season

Employees at Banja Luka Airport have been on strike for almost a week, unhappy with unpaid salaries and work conditions. The 59 employees are requesting for the airport’s management to be sacked. They also add that since 2008 they have only been receiving 70% of their pay and now want to be compensated. The airport employees will hold talks today with the Ministry of Transport in hope of resolving their differences. B&H Airlines’ operations out of Banja Luka to Zurich have not been affected by the industrial action.

In 2011, Banja Luka Airport faced financial problems and workers also went on strike during the summer. Still, despite the difficulties, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city handled 8.367 passengers, an increase of 74% compared to 2010. However, Adria Airways won’t be resuming its service from Ljubljana this summer. B&H Airlines, the sole commercial airline operating out of Banja Luka, will increase its flights to Zurich from three weekly last summer to four flights per week during the upcoming 2012 summer season.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport of the entity of Republika Srpska, Nedeljko Čubrilović, says that talks are continuing with Jat Airways for it to begin flights from Banja Luka to Belgrade and Vienna. “Once everything is negotiated, Jat has the ability to launch the flights within seven days”, Čubrilović said in a recent interview. He adds that Jat’s flights would be timed so as to offer good connections out of Vienna to other destinations. Jat has been offered four million Euros in subsidies for the service.

Soon in Stockholm and Gothenburg

B&H Airlines will be resuming flights to Stockholm and Gothenburg this summer, as a seasonal service only. B&H suspended flights to both cities in August 2011. Services to Sweden, used primarily by the Bosnian diaspora, are extremely seasonal and see high passenger numbers in the summer months but struggle during the low winter period. Flights to both cities will operate twice per week. They will be separate services unlike last year. Both will operate with an Airbus A319, from June 2 to September 1. Flight details for the Sarajevo - Stockholm service can be found here, while details for the Gothenburg flights can be viewed here.

Late last year, B&H Airlines’ CEO, Altan Buyukyilmaz, said the airline was looking to expand its operations in 2012. Italy has been viewed as a potential new market for the Bosnian carrier after it successfully performed charters from Mostar to Pescara last September. The airline is in talks with Mostar Airport management to launch two weekly flights to the city from Sarajevo but is requesting handling fee exemptions.

Meanwhile, it was a matter of bad luck for B&H’s hub Sarajevo Airport as it handled 599.996 passengers, four short of its 600.000 passenger goal. The airport was hampered by foggy weather throughout November and December, which saw many flights diverted or cancelled. Still, the airport can be content with a 6.5% passenger increase on 2010. Bosnia’s second busiest airport, Mostar, saw impressive growth of 107% thanks to numerous charters for religious pilgrims and welcomed 36.807 passengers. Despite all of its financial problems, Banja Luka Airport pulled of a notable 74% passenger increase by handling 8.367 passengers. However, Tuzla underperformed with only 4.527 passengers, down 20% on 2010.

Sly Srpska left in the cold in favour of Jat

The government of the entity of Repubilka Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina will pay Jat Airways four million Euros over the upcoming 2012 summer season to operate flights from Banja Luka to Belgrade and Vienna. Sky Srpska, the Banja Luka based airline which is still without aircraft of its own, is unhappy with the deal as it means it will not get its own jet until at least the 2012/2013 winter season. “We are very surprised. We nominated Sky Srpska to operate the flights from Banja Luka and now we hear that Jat will operate the service”, Zoran Injac, Sky Srpska’s CEO, said. “It’s completely irrational”, he adds.

The government on the other hand says its agreement with Jat is a done deal. “We have a few technical details to sort out. We need to obtain all necessary licenses from the Civil Aviation Authorities of Serbia and Austria”, the Minister for Traffic and Infrastructure, Nenad Čubrilović, says. He notes that 8 million Convertible Bosnian Marks (just over 4 million Euros) will be provided in subsidies for the service. Although flight details haven’t been revealed yet sources close to the airline say it has been suggested for the service to operate two to three times per week with an ATR72. The additional flights could impact Jat’s plans to launch flights to Pula and Split in the summer of 2012.

Despite a helpless Sky Srpska, it is believed the government concluded that it would cost less to subsidise the flights from Belgrade instead of having to pay not only for an aircraft lease or purchase but also for air crew and other staff in what is still a very small market. During the year, the government of Repubilka Srpska subsidised Adria Airways’ flight from Ljubljana which saw only an average of five passengers per flight. Once the subsidies dried out, Adria suspended the service.

Banja Luka phones a friend

The beset Banja Luka Airport has offered Serbia’s Jat Airways the opportunity to launch flights from the Serbian capital Belgrade to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city. Since such flights have proved as loss making in the past, the airport has suggested for the service to continue on to Vienna, thus connecting Banja Luka with two cities. If such an offer is accepted, services would begin next summer. Jat has already announced the launch of six new routes during the 2012 summer season. Sky Srpska, based in Banja Luka, still does not have any aircraft of its own but would code share on Jat’s flights to both Belgrade and Vienna. “Our research shows that there is a need for flights to Vienna”, Zoran Injac, the CEO of Sky Srpska, said recently as he outlined the airline’s plan for 2012.

Banja Luka Airport is currently only served by four weekly B&H Airlines flights to Zurich. The Bosnian national carrier recently suspended flights from Banja Luka to Copenhagen which operated for a record two weeks. Due to its inability to attract flights and passengers, the airport has found itself in substantial financial problems. Earlier in the year it nearly lost its license to handle commercial flights.

Jat Airways has operated flights to Banja Luka on and off for several years. Services were cancelled each time due to low loads. B&H Airlines was scheduled to launch flights between Banja Luka and Vienna last winter but cancelled them in face of low interest. The airline planned two flights per week between the two cities which is the frequency reportedly being offered to the Serbian carrier, internal sources say.

New hopes for 2012

In October the Banja Luka based Sky Srpska submitted its plan to launch flights in 2012. The plans were submitted to the relevant ministry and the airline’s CEO, Zoran Injac, says Sky Srpska is now waiting to be given the green light by the entity government. If things go according to plan the airline will launch services to Vienna in 2012. “Our research shows that there is a need for flights to Vienna. Furthermore, this market should ideally be catered by two smaller jets of up seventy seats”. The proposed plan outlines that a daily flight from Banja Luka to the Austrian capital should be inaugurated and another three weekly flights to Zurich should also operate.

Sky Srpska was formed in 2007 but no aircraft have ever been neither purchased nor leased. The new plan suggests a single jet should be leased in 2012. Injac adds that a total of 2 million Euros should be invested into the airline on a yearly basis which, according to him, is not a big sum in the aviation industry. An airline based in Banja Luka could revive the city’s airport which is currently only served by B&H Airlines’ flights to Zurich.

Banja Luka Airport previously served as a hub to Air Srpska, which was formed by JAT Yugoslav Airlines. The airline was formed in the summer of 1998 so that JAT pilots and crew could continue working since their company was banned from operating flights to the rest of the continent due to international sanctions. Until 2003 the airline operated flights to Belgrade, Tivat and Zurich. However, Jat Airways ended cooperation with Air Srpska by taking back its two ATR72s provided to the airline and effectively closing it.

Now you see it now you don’t … B&H dumps Banja Luka after four flights

On December 1 B&H Airlines will launch its new service from Banja Luka to Copenhagen, with the flights originating in Sarajevo. However, the service won’t stick for long as the airline plans to drop the route after four flights and operate a direct two weekly service from the Bosnian capital. On October 30, B&H temporarily suspended its Sarajevo - Copenhagen flights and announced the route would receive an additional stop in Banja Luka from December. At the time the airline stressed that the flights would operate until at least March 2012.

Although the suspension of the Banja Luka flights will be welcomed by those boarding in Sarajevo as it will reduce flight time, it is more bad news for Banja Luka Airport. Adria Airways recently cancelled its service to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city as well. Still, the airport will continue to see flights to Zurich operated by B&H Airlines which also originate from Sarajevo.

As a result of the Banja Luka - Copenhagen suspension, flights from Sarajevo will now operate nonstop with an Airbus A319, a welcome changed compared to the ATR72 which was originally planned for the Sarajevo - Banja Luka - Copenhagen flights. The last service from Banja Luka to the Danish capital will operate on December 12 while the first direct flight from Sarajevo will be inaugurated on December 17. No official reason has been given as to why the flights are being shelved although low interest is a strong possibility.

Adria farewells Banja Luka

Adria Airways has suspended flights to Banja Luka after the entity government pulled its subsidies, despite initial plans to operate the route throughout the winter season. Originally, the Slovenian carrier listed Banja Luka as one of its suspend destinations as a result of its cost cutting push. However, only a few days later the airline reversed its decision and returned Banja Luka to its schedule with new timing. The Government of the Entity of Republika Srpska made a decision earlier in the week to suspend its subsidies for the unprofitable route. Out of a total of 969 flights operated, there were only 4.800 passengers onboard, or an average of five people per flight.

Banja Luka Airport, which is drowning in debt and nearly lost its status as an international airport earlier this year, will soon handle more flights. On top of the existing four weekly flights to Zurich operated by B&H Airlines, from December 1, the Bosnian carrier will launch flights from Banja Luka to Copenhagen twice per week which should contribute to improved passenger figures. In October, Banja Luka Airport handled 830 passengers, an increase of 92.1% compared to the same month last year. By the end of October, the airport saw 7.245 passengers, thus making it the third busiest airport in the country after Sarajevo (with 526.863 passengers) and Mostar (with 34.243 passengers) and ahead of Tuzla (with 4.124 passengers).

The Banja Luka based Sky Srpska, which was expected to be launched this year, is still without an aircraft. Although plans were made to purchase two Embraer jets in 2011, these plans have now been moved for next year.

Winter changes

The 2011/2012 winter season begins tomorrow.

As has been previously reported, B&H Airlines will suspend flights to Amsterdam this winter. Compared to the 2010/2011 winter season the airline has terminated a total of six destinations. Since flights to Copenhagen will now operate via Banja Luka and all four weekly frequencies from Sarajevo to Zurich will also make a stop in Banja Luka, the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina will see six weekly flights operated by B&H, which is an increase of one compared to last winter. The frequency for the airline’s Zurich service has decreased by one flight since last winter and will be served four times per week. Flights to Istanbul remain unchanged.

Croatia Airlines won’t be making too many changes to its winter line up of destinations and frequencies compared to last year. Flights from Zagreb to Istanbul, which were launched over the summer, will remain throughout the winter period while Priština will also see an extra weekly flight. Facing competition from easyJet, Croatia Airlines will decrease its Paris flights from daily last year to five per week. On the other hand, it will continue to operate to the French capital from Dubrovnik two times per week, which is a new addition. As has been the case in the past few years, the airline won’t operate flights from Rijeka and Osijek during the winter.

Montenegro Airlines will see frequency cuts across the board over the winter period. However, it should be noted that last winter the airline practically operated its 2010 summer season timetable. Flights from Podgorica to Belgrade, Frankfurt, Moscow, Rome and Zurich will all be decreased while flights to London suspended. However, the airline will continue to operate flights from Tivat to Moscow which were launched during the 2011 summer season.

By clicking on the links below, you can view the 2011/2012 winter season changes in more detail.

B&H Airlines • Croatia Airlines • Montenegro Airlines

B&H dumps Amsterdam and temporarily suspends Copenhagen

B&H Airlines will suspend flights to Amsterdam at the start of the 2011 winter season, the Dutch “Scramble Magazine” reports, leaving the airline with a total of three destinations. B&H recently removed Amsterdam from its webpage booking option and the service has disappeared from global ticketing systems. In recent weeks, flights from Sarajevo to Amsterdam were operated by an ATR72, adding additional flight time to the service. The final flight from Sarajevo to Amsterdam is scheduled to operate on October 27, just under a year since it was launched.

From October 30, B&H will also temporarily suspend flights to Copenhagen but those are set to resume on December 1 with the service rerouted via Banja Luka. Flights to Zurich will remain during the winter, however, all of the four weekly services will operate via Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city - Banja Luka. The only service which remains unchanged over the winter season is Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, which will be decreasing its frequencies to Sarajevo, will introduce its brand new Boeing 737-900 on the route from December 8, thus increasing capacity. So far this year B&H has suspended flights to Vienna, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Belgrade.

If any changes to B&H’s current winter operations occur they will be reported on Saturday along with all the changes being made by Croatia Airlines and Montenegro Airlines over the winter season, which begins this Sunday.

Adria prepares for privatisation and keeps Banja Luka flights

The Capital Assets Management Agency of Slovenia has announced that it will begin Adria Airways’ privatisation process in March 2012 at the latest. Economists believe the Slovenian national carrier could attract interest from Qatar Airways, Emirates and the Air France-KLM group. Over the past year, Star Alliance partner Lufthansa has also been rumoured as a potential buyer as well as the financially troubled Air India.

Adria recently began its restructuring process by suspending several destinations, formulating a new fleet plan and composing a new collective agreement for its staff. However, the airline is still facing problems. Robert Vuga, the carrier’s Executive Director who has played a key role in securing a government bailout over the past several months has announced he will resign from his post. Furthermore, the airline recently endured negative publicity after it cancelled one of its Ljubljana - Sarajevo - Ljubljana flights due to poor loads. The few passengers were put on a bus and were driven to their final destination. They were not offered alternatives on other airlines nor were they offered a refund for having to travel by bus.

Meanwhile, Adria has reconsidered its decision to suspend flights to Banja Luka. The airline will continue four weekly flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city, operated by a CRJ200. However, flight times have changed with aircraft departing Ljubljana late in the evening while the return trip to Slovenia’s capital takes off at 05.30 in the morning the next day. The news will be warmly welcomed by Banja Luka Airport which will see direct flights to Copenhagen, Zurich and Ljubljana this winter.

From Banja Luka to Copenhagen

B&H Airlines CEO, Altan Buyukyilmaz, recently announced that the Bosnian carrier will launch several new flights over the next few months. The first new service to be introduced is from Banja Luka to Copenhagen, in order to aid the struggling direct service from Sarajevo. Flights from Sarajevo to Copenhagen will no longer operate nonstop, instead, they will make a stop in Banja Luka. B&H Airlines will operate the service twice per week using an ATR72, meaning that passengers will endure a three hour trip to the Danish capital. Flights commence on October 31. This will come as good news for Banja Luka Airport which is experiencing financial problems.

Due to lower passenger numbers one of B&H Airlines’ ATR72s is now serving both the airline’s Amsterdam and Copenhagen flights, resulting in longer flight times. The Airbus A319 is currently being used for the evening Istanbul flights while another ATR72 (registration E7-AAD) has been out of service for weeks.

B&H Airlines has had a difficult year with the carrier suspending several key routes including Frankfurt, Vienna, Stockholm and Gothenburg. However, it has managed to maintain passenger growth throughout 2011. The Bosnian carrier is yet to officially announce its 2011/12 winter season timetable.

Passenger numbers increase across Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo Airport handled 81.042 passengers in July 2011, an increase of 12% compared to the same month last year. Driving the growth are larger capacity aircraft foreign carriers are sending, an increase in travel from the diaspora as well as visa free travel for Bosnian citizens to Schengen Zone countries, introduced in December last year. So far this year the airport handled 355.772 passengers and will comfortably surpass last year’s annual result of 563.266 passengers. Although the airport saw numbers slip in January compared to last year, business picked up from February with the airport enjoying 6 months of consecutive growth.

Other airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina also saw their figures improve, particularly Tuzla. Thanks to charters to Antalya and seasonal summer flights to Dubai, Tuzla Airport welcomed over 1.000 passengers in July. Similarly, Mostar, which has been enjoying a flurry of charters this summer, saw over 5.000 passengers pass through its doors. However, there is trouble at Banja Luka Airport which is seeing its numbers decrease as summer progresses. The airport handled just over 500 passengers, putting it in last position for the month amongst Bosnia’s international airports for the first time in several years.

Flights to Banja Luka to go ahead as planned

Workers at Banja Luka Airport, who planned to go on a general strike today, effectively shutting down the airport until further notice, have decided against the move. Workers are unhappy with late and low wages and are requesting for funds to be redirected to them from Trebinje Airport and Sky Srpska. The decision came after the government of the entity and the workers union met yesterday and agreed for some outstanding wages to be paid. However, the government did not concede into granting a 30% pay increase, as requested by Banja Luka Airport employees. The planned 307.000 Euros the entity will give to the airport this year is only half of what is needed for it to continue to operate, the union chief said.

The agreement between the two sides will come as good news for the small amount of passengers using the airport. Today, both Adria Airways from Ljubljana and B&H Airlines from Sarajevo and onwards to Zurich have scheduled flights to and from Banja Luka. These two are the only airlines currently operating from the city. Due to its unprofitability the airport is facing the prospect of losing its operating license, which means it would no longer be able to handle commercial flights.

Strike to close Banja Luka Airport’s doors

Banja Luka Airport will be forced to close its doors from July 27 as its employees will begin a general strike, unhappy with unpaid wages. Employees of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s third largest airport (passenger wise) are demanding for government funds, currently being directed for the inexistent Trebinje Airport and the Sky Srpska airline, to go towards their salaries. A total of 63 people are employed at the airport. The head of the worker’s union said, “We are aware that the airport is having financial trouble but this is not our problem. The government and management are responsible for the fact that this international airport offers flights to only two destinations”.

Banja Luka Airport is currently served by Adria Airways from Ljubljana and B&H Airlines, which operates flights to Zurich. The 5 weekly flights operated by Adria Airways are heavily subsidised and on average have 6 passengers per flight. The strike, scheduled for next Wednesday, will disrupt both B&H’s and Adria’s operations to and from the airport. The strike will continue until the demands of the workers are met, which includes a 30% wage increase.

Banja Luka Airport has been in financial strife for some time. Its employees held a warning strike on July 4 but none of their terms have been met.

Troubled times for Banja Luka Airport

Banja Luka Airport is struggling to stay open as it falls into deeper financial trouble. The airport is currently served by only 2 airlines - B&H Airlines and Adria Airways. B&H Airlines operates flights from Banja Luka to Zurich. The service originates from Sarajevo and is failing to attract passengers. Similarly, Adria Airways on average carries 5 passengers on its services from Ljubljana to Banja Luka and vice versa. Flights operated by the Slovenian carrier are subsidised, which has led to fierce criticism from the media in the past few weeks.

The Government of the entity of Republika Srpska yesterday said it will grant Banja Luka Airport 307.000 Euros. Sky Srpska, an airline which is supposed to be based in Banja Luka, will be given a further 409.000 Euros for development. “The financial situation at Banja Luka Airport is difficult. We will have to find a long term solution for the airport such as the opening of new flights. We are determined to help them”, Aleksandar Džombić, the entity’s Prime Minister said.

Last week the airport’s employees staged industrial action, unhappy with late wages. Banja Luka Airport prospered during the early 2000s when Jat Airways set up a Banja Luka based offshoot named Air Srpska. However, the Serbian airline decided to take back its aircraft and focus on its core business back at home, thus closing Air Srpska. Since then the airport has struggled to attract any carriers.

Adria looks to the future as it secures state aid

Three parliamentary committees have given the government the all clear to take part in the bailout of flag carrier Adria Airways, which requires a 50 million Euro cash injection to stay in the air. Opposition MPs argued against the aid saying that Adria’s agony would only be prolonged by granting the aid and that the national carrier should look for a strategic partner which would lead to privatisation. Despite the fact that the European Union does not look kindly upon government bailouts for state owned companies, emergency support is allowed under EU rules for the rescue and restructuring of firms in difficulty. The government warned that this was a “one off” and further aid wouldn’t be granted. Adria has also announced it will take a further 40 million Euro credit from the banks. The airline is currently struggling to pay off debt of up to 100 million Euros.

The airline’s management touted their recent visit to India as major success. Thanks to a deal with Adria, Air India is expected to begin flights to the United States via Ljubljana as well as codeshare on Adria’s regional services. The airline’s CEO, Klemen Boštjančič, says that Adria is looking at signing similar deals with other airlines. He blamed high oil prices at Ljubljana Airport, amongst other things, for the airline’s ever increasing losses. Adria will also introduce an additional service to Banja Luka from July 14, increasing the number of weekly subsidised services to 5.

The airline says it is talking to 10 potential strategic partners but says that the airline must first improve its financial state before it can be sold as no one wants to take over a debt ridden company.

B&H to commence Pescara service

Mostar Airport has announced it is finalising an agreement with B&H Airlines to commence seasonal summer charters from the city to Pescara in Italy. Mostar Airport’s managment is visiting Pescara in order to finalise the flight details. The project is being propped by a local tour operator. This is welcomed news for the airport as it has been struggling to attract airlines for years. If all goes to plan flights could commence next month, local media reports. In April, Mostar handled 2.193 passengers thanks to charter flights from Italy and Lebanon. It is believed Mostar Airport could attract airlines offering flights to religious pilgrims visiting the nearby Medjugorje.

On the other hand, Tuzla is anticipating the start of Air Arabia’s Dubai service, which commences on July 1. The airport handled only 54 passengers last month. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second largest city, Banja Luka, saw 719 passengers pass through its doors. Finally in April, Sarajevo handled 49.489 passengers. In total, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s four airports handled 52.455 passengers in April.

Bosnia and Herzegovina to stay without a fifth airport

For the past two years, local authorities in Trebinje have claimed that they will build Bosnia and Herzegovina’s newest airport. However, the project has been cancelled. Local authorities say that they failed to find a party interested in participating in the construction together with the government of the entity of Republika Srpska, despite initial interest from a Chinese corporation. The Government of Republika Srpska has spent 1.6 million Convertible Bosnian Marks (820.000 Euros) for the Trebinje Airport project documentation. It envisaged for the airport to handle up to 250.000 passengers per year. Within a 120 kilometre radius from Trebinje there are airports in Dubrovnik, Mostar, Tivat and Podgorica.

Bosnia and Herzegovina currently has a total of 4 international airports – Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and Banja Luka and most are struggling, both financially and passenger wise, with Sarajevo being the only exception. The 4 airports handled a total of 42.151 passengers in March 2011. While Sarajevo saw 40.803 passengers, it was followed by Mostar with 696 passengers, Banja Luka with 640 and Tuzla at a distant 4th place with a total of 12 passengers handled in March.

Banja Luka Airport may have to close its doors

Banja Luka Airport could soon be closed, the Ministry for Traffic and Infrastructure of Republika Srpska announced this week. The airport has not payed wages to its employees and could lose its operational license, barring any aircraft from departing or landing at Banja Luka. The airport ended 2010 with a loss of over 660.000 Euros. Adria Airways, operating flights to Ljubljana and B&H Airlines to Zurich are Banja Luka’s only two customers. However, Adria’s service is heavily subsidised and reporting big losses. Even though the Government of Republika Srpska created Sky Srpska, which was to be based in Banja Luka, and approved the purchase of 2 jet aircraft, they were never ordered due to the financial crisis, a ministry spokeswoman says. She adds that the government will do everything within its power to help the airport as its closure would be a huge loss to the community and the entire entity. Airport employees have begun court procedures against the airport for unpaid wages.

Banja Luka Airport was opened on May 21, 1985 but was restricted to domestic traffic only. The airport never had too many customers with links to Belgrade, Vienna, Frankfurt, Athens and Tivat over the years. Banja Luka Airport experienced its greatest boom from 1999 to 2003 thanks to Air Srpska, set up by JAT Yugoslav Airlines. However, with the situation normalising back home, JAT withdrew from Air Srpska and the airlines ceased operations.