From MAT Airways to Kon Tiki Sky to Alfa Air
Kon Tiki Sky (branded as MAT Airways), led by disgraced Dutch businessmen Harry van Achteren, has found a way to operate flights out of Skopje as Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki Travel confirmed it has sold its stake in MAT Airways to Bays Air from the Netherlands and has no connection to Kon Tiki Sky. Last week, Kon Tiki Sky announced it would launch fourteen new destinations out of Skopje but later noted the mentioned destinations were only a list of cities the airline would wish to fly to since it did not receive a license from the Macedonian Civil Aviation Directorate.
However, it has now found a solution. Kon Tiki will operate under Alfa Air codes, which is an airline based in Romania. It will use its aircraft as well (pictured above). As a result, the MAT Airways Boeing 737-500 won’t be used. Kon Tiki Sky says it will launch low cost flights from Skopje to Basel (5 times per week), Dusseldorf (3X p/w), Stuttgart (2X p/w), Hamburg (2X p/w), Berlin (2X p/w), Malmo (2X p/w) and Istanbul (2X p/w) from April 30. From May 28 the airline will launch services to Ancona (3X p/w), Milan (3X p/w), Bologna (3X p/w), Rome (4X p/w), Trieste (4X p/w) and Bratislava (4X p/w). All flights will operate with two Alfa Air British Aerospace RJ85 jets.
According to Kon Tiki Sky reservations can already be made. Ticket prices, which start from 45 euros, can already be seen on the airline’s website but are still unavailable for online purchase. If the flights do go ahead they should help boost Skopje Airport and its passenger numbers. Kon Tiki Sky will also be up for a chance to receive government subsidies designated for low cost airlines.
Scam master running Kon Tiki Sky
Kon Tiki Sky, also known as MAT Airways, which recently announced the launch of fourteen new destinations from Skopje, says it has not obtained a license for any of its advertised flights. It has emerged that Kon Tiki Sky is no longer owned or run by the Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki, rather, it has been taken over by Harry van Achteren, who has been involved in several scandals and bankruptcies. The airline has advertised low cost flights from Skopje to Antwerp, Ancona, Bologna, Bratislava, Basel, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Rome, Milan, Trieste, Stuttgart, Istanbul and Malmo.
However, on its website the airline states, “Kon Tiki Sky was not yet able to negotiate commercial terms, with Skopje Airport and/or local authorities, justifying the start of its scheduled routes out of an “emerging market” like Macedonia. Under the chapter “Coming Soon” on our website we mentioned all of the routes Kon Tiki Sky would like to operate out of Skopje”.
In 2004, Harry van Achteren set up jetsSky.com in his native Netherlands. The airline never took off the ground but sold “ghost” flights via its website, meaning it sold tickets for nonexistent flights. Last year van Achteren was arrested on fraud charges in connection to the collapse of the Antwerp Container Repair & Trading Company. Skopje Airport, which has already seen strong growth at the start of 2012, could have significantly profited from the above mentioned flights which were advertised to begin from May 1.
MAT to launch fourteen destinations from Skopje
The charter airline MAT Airways will resume operations from Skopje for the first time since August 2011. The airline, owned by the Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki, will launch fourteen destinations from May 1. The carrier will first inaugurate two weekly flights to Antwerp in Belgium. Just over a month later, on June 18, Mat Airways will launch flights to Ancona (3 times per week), Milan-Bergamo (3 p/w), Bologna (3 p/w), Rome (4 p/w), Trieste (4 p/w), Bratislava (4 p/w), Basel (5 p/w), Dusseldorf (3 p/w), Stuttgart (2 p/w), Hamburg (2 p/w), Berlin (2 p/w) Malmo (2 p/w) and Istanbul-Sabiha Gokcen (2 p/w).
The airline owns a sole Boeing 737-500 but is also likely to use Sky Wings International’s Boeing 737-300, which has been sitting at Skopje Airport for months. MAT operated flights last summer but suspended operations due to poor loads in August. The new flights can be booked via the airline’s website. Prices start from 45 euros. MAT could also be interested in applying for subsidies to be offered by the Macedonian government for low cost airlines.
If the flights get off to a successful start it will be a major coup for Skopje Airport which has already seen strong growth this year. In February, Macedonia’s two commercial airports (Skopje and Ohrid) handled 49.031 passengers, an increase of 22% compared to the same month last year. It was accompanied by a 4% increase in the number of operated flights to and from the airports. Recently, Skopje Alexander the Great Airport finally received a public transport bus link to the city centre, allowing passengers easier access to the country’s main airport.
B&H cancels all flights
B&H Airlines has cancelled all flights as its ATR72 leaves for Germany. Officially the aircraft has joined the other B&H Airlines ATR72 for maintenance. The airline’s Airbus A319 is grounded in Istanbul. As a result, the Bosnian carrier has cancelled all operations until further notice.
Turkish Airlines Macedonia’s only regular carrier
The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency has confirmed that Turkish Airlines has been given the status of a “regular carrier”, thus granting it numerous privileges over other airlines operating to the country. Experts believe that the regular carrier status is another step towards Turkish becoming Macedonia’s national carrier. Turkish Airlines, which operates daily flights to Skopje, will now have exclusivity over other airlines in selecting destinations as well as landing and handling fee exemptions at Skopje and Ohrid airports. Turkish Airlines is the only to have been granted the status of a regular carrier in Macedonia, with Mat Airways having the status of charter airline until June. TAV has been lobbying since 2010 for Turkish to become Macedonia's national airline.
The former head of Macedonia’s two airports says that the country must have a national carrier because every serious state does. Macedonia has so far had two national airlines, Palair Macedonia and MAT Macedonian Airlines which replaced Palair following its bankruptcy. MAT ceased operations in 2009 upon the order of the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency under the pretext of a faulty aircraft. However, the airline was also high in debt. Skopje Airport handled the most passengers in 2000 when it saw over one million passengers and in 1999 when it handled 970.000 passengers. This summer B&H Airlines will launch flights from Sarajevo to the Macedonian capital while Jetairfly will operate seasonal flights from Brussels to both Skopje and Ohrid. The Civil Aviation Agency says there have been no other applications for new flights this summer. ČSA Czech Airlines will terminate flights from Prague on March 24.
Meanwhile, the former head of the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency, Zoran Krstevski, who was instrumental in the grounding of MAT, is under investigation on suspicion of corruption. It is believed that Krstevski misused the Agency’s funds and is accused of reckless spending on mobile phone bills and car petrol.
ČSA farewells Skopje
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| ČSA farewells Skopje |
ČSA Czech Airlines will suspend services to Skopje at the end of the 2011/2012 winter season on March 25. The Czech national carrier is in the process of implementing severe service cuts as it looks to curb losses and become attractive to a potential new owner. A total of six weekly flights were planned between Prague and Skopje this summer. The airline has relied heavily on transfer passengers on the route. Over the past few years Prague has constantly featured as one of the top ten busiest destinations being operated out of the Macedonian capital on an annual basis. Skopje won’t be the only causality of ČSA’s service cuts as the airline also intends to suspend flights to Athens and Oslo.
Last year, ČSA terminated flights to Belgrade as well, despite having a complete monopoly on the route. It even operated double daily flights between the Czech and Serbian capitals in 2011. Elsewhere, in the EX-YU region, ČSA will be reducing flights to Ljubljana from twelve to ten times per week while flights to Zagreb, the airline’s first international service dating back from 1930, will increase from five to six weekly.
Skopje Airport recently saw another cancellation, as the low cost Italian airline Blu-express terminated its two weekly service from Rome due to poor loads. The route has been operating for only two months. Skopje Alexander the Great Airport handled just over 800.000 passengers in 2011, making it one of its best years in recent history but still short of its all time record of 1.020.000 passengers achieved in 2000. B&H Airlines and Jetairfly from Brussels are the only new airlines to announce flights to Skopje this summer, with Jetairfly to operate only a seasonal service. MAT Airways, which operated regular charter flights from Skopje last year is unlikely to get its license renewed by the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency. It expires on June 15. The airline has been grounded since September 2011.
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| Czech Airlines |
Soon in Skopje
In just under two weeks, Skopje will once again see a direct air service from Rome Fiumicino Airport. The low cost Italian airline Blu-express will operate the service twice per week from Sunday, October 30. Currently, a return ticket in November will set passengers back 80 Euros, all taxes included. Blu-express is the low cost and short haul subsidiary of Blue Panorama Airlines which operates flights from Italy to holiday destinations such as Havana, Cancun and Montego Bay. The new service from Rome to Skopje will operate with a Boeing 737-300. Flight details can be found
here.
Since MAT Airways grounded its single aircraft more than a month ago due to poor ticket sales, Skopje Airport hasn’t had scheduled flights to the Italian capital. The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency has in the past two months been in pursuit of airlines interested to commence flights from Zurich, Rome, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam to the Macedonian capital in order to fill in the void left by MAT. The airline is unlikely to see its operating license extended for the 2012 summer season.
Meanwhile, Macedonian plane spotters had a sight for sore eyes on Monday when a VIP Qatar Airways Airbus A340-500 jetted into Skopje carrying the Emir of Qatar along with another Airbus A320 for the Emir’s entourage. Both countries signed a bilateral agreement for the development of tourism. Last year, Qatar and Macedonia signed an Open Sky Agreement granting airlines from both countries the ability to operate an unlimited number of passenger and cargo flights using any type of aircraft. The two countries also agreed to adopt an open skies policy in order to include third, fourth and fifth freedom passenger rights on intermediate routes and beyond.
New flights to Milan, Dublin, Basel, Paris, Barcelona and Dubai
The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency has announced that Skopje will soon get direct flights to Milan, Dublin, Basel, Paris, Barcelona and Dubai but did not reveal the airlines which would operate the services. The Agency adds that several low cost airlines have expressed interest to fly to Skopje. Only a few days ago, Wizz Air launched flights from Venice (Treviso) to Skopje, their second destination to the Macedonian capital after inaugurating flights from London over the summer. German Sky Airlines, a subsidiary of Sky Airlines from Turkey will commence flights from Zurich to Skopje this winter.
The Civil Aviation Agency says that it is trying to attract as much airlines as possible which will in turn lead to a reduction in ticket prices, making flying more accessible to the general population. “We would like to point out that some thirty airlines are operating flights to Macedonia this year, an increase of 50% compared to last year. For the first time, Macedonia has direct air links to Moscow, Amsterdam, Rome, Ancona and Helsinki”, the Agency said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Skopje based MAT Airways has been grounded for over a month. Its single Boeing 737-500 has been parked at Skopje Airport and the airline has halted ticket sales. Although there is no official confirmation as to why it has ceased operations, it is believed that poor ticket sales have forced the airline to suspend services for a second time this summer. MAT Airways has an operational license from the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency until mid 2012. It is unlikely that it will be extended.
Grand opening next week
Next Tuesday the new terminal building at Skopje’s Alexander the Great Airport will open. New details are now emerging regarding the grand opening on September 6. The opening ceremony will take place at 13.30. Turkish Airlines is chartering a special flight to the Macedonian capital on Tuesday carrying members of the Turkish Government and businessmen. Shortly after, Turkish’s scheduled service from Istanbul will touch down in Skopje together with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who will open the new terminal with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski. As a result, Turkish Airlines will be the first to use the new facilities. Later that day Malév, Adria Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Croatia Airlines and Jat Airways will also use the new terminal.
TAV, the airport’s operator, is keeping the interior of the new terminal a closely guarded secret. Known so far is that the terminal will have 23 check-in desks, 6 air bridges and 15 passport control counters. The new terminal also features a large statue of Alexander the Great and several duty free stores and restaurants including the first Burger King fast food restaurant in Macedonia. Skopje’s city transportation company will operate two double-decker busses from the city centre to the airport on the opening day so those interested can see the final product of the 110 million Euro investment.
Meanwhile, Mat Airways, the only passenger airline which calls Skopje its home has once again ceased operations, a second time it has done so this summer. It is unknown when and if the airline will resume flights. The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency is talks with several airlines in hope that one will base an aircraft in Skopje from the 2011/12 winter season. One of them is a national airline from the former Yugoslavia which operates flights to Skopje.
MAT Airways ends flight hiatus
MAT Airways has resumed services after nearly 4 weeks from its hub in Skopje with a flight to Rome yesterday evening. The airline voluntarily grounded its sole aircraft, a Boeing 737-500. According to MAT’s management it did so in order to review its position on the market in face of increased competition. However, other sources claim that the airline has been having financial problems. Passengers are still unable to purchase tickets with the airline. Within the next few days MAT will not be operating its full schedule. Its next service is planned for tomorrow morning, to Dusseldorf.
MAT Airways began operations last year as a charter carrier, although its own management has admitted that the airline is aspiring to become Macedonia’s national carrier sometime in the near future. Currently, the airline has a license to operate flights out of Macedonia until June 15, 2012 after which the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency will review its permit.
MAT went through a short term tie up with struggling charter airline Skywings International Airlines earlier this year, in turn adding a Boeing 737-300 to its fleet. However, the two are no longer partners. The operator of Skopje and Ohrid airports, TAV, has expressed its anguish at the fact that the country does not have a flag carrier.
Mat voluntarily grounds aircraft to prepare for competition
Macedonia’s Mat Airways could resume services next week after it grounded one of its aircraft, as reported on Monday. The airline says that it voluntarily grounded its Boeing 737-500 and took “time out” to reconsider its position on the market and better prepare for increased competition. Mat Airways operated its last service on June 20. Since then its sole aircraft has been grounded while Skywings International Airlines decided to split from Mat, only a month after it joined the charter airline. Mat’s management says that its aircraft will probably return to the sky next week and has been given a new look. On the other hand, Mat has halted the sale of all its tickets.
The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency says that it did not play a part in Mat’s service suspension and adds that the airline has a permit to operate flights from Skopje and Ohrid to Zurich, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna and Copenhagen until June 15, 2012.
Meanwhile, the Turkish low cost Pegasus Airlines will commence 3 weekly flights from Istanbul’s Gokcen Airport to Skopje and 2 weekly flights from Izmir to the Macedonian capital. The airline will compete against Turkish Airlines, which operates flights to Skopje out of Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. Flights from Izmir commence on August 15, while services from Istanbul will begin a day later on August 16. Flight details can be found on the right hand side in the new route launches section.
Another Mat ceases operations
Source : EXYU aviation news : http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com can reveal that Mat Airways, Macedonia’s largest airline, has suspended all services until further notice. Although it started operations only a year ago it seems the airline could have the same fate as its predecessor MAT Macedonian Airlines. Mat Airways is owned by Serbia’s largest tour operator – Kon Tiki Travel. However, the Belgrade based company has been experiencing financial difficulty of its own and wants to concentrate on its core business in Serbia rather than finance an airline in Macedonia.
Mat Airways’ Boeing 737-500 operated its last service on June 20 and has been grounded ever since. Macedonia’s other charter airline, Skywings International, which tied up with Mat due to both financial problems and problems with the Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency has managed to restart its own flights, offering services from Sarajevo to Dusseldorf with its Boeing 737-300. Mat managed to restart operations to most destinations once served by MAT Macedonian Airlines. Only 2 days after it ceased flights on June 20 it was to commence flights from Ohrid to Tel Aviv in Israel. The airline has not officially commented on the suspension of flights. Only several days ago Mat’s CEO said that the airline would commence scheduled flights from Skopje in September.
Macedonia hasn’t had much success with its own airlines. The country’s first national carrier ceased operations in 1996 after 5 years in service due to fledgling passenger numbers and finances. A new airline, MAT Macedonian Airlines, was set up in 1994 and became the country’s flag carrier in 2000. It suffered financial problems and due to building debt was banned from landing at several key airports. In 2009 the Civil Aviation Agency grounded the airline’s single aircraft due to safety concerns although politics and corruption is said to have been involved in the airline’s grounding.
Nevertheless, it’s the end of another Mat for now. The difference this time being that those travelling from Skopje and Ohrid have a much wider array of airlines to choose from.
Mat launches Amsterdam flights
Macedonia’s Mat Airways inaugurated flights from Skopje to Amsterdam last week and plans to further expand its operations after a recent tie up with Skywings International Airlines. Mat launched flights between the Macedonian capital and Amsterdam on April 22 and operates the service once per week, every Friday, with a Boeing 737-500. The route used to be served regularly during the summer peak season by MAT Macedonian Airlines, last operating in the summer of 2007. In addition to direct sales, the new service will also be marketed through the Dutch tour operator Karatanova Tours, which specialises package holidays to the Balkans. For video coverage of Mat Airways’ welcoming to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport, click
here.
Skywings International Airlines, Macedonia’s largest charter airline, was recently left without an operating license and decided to merge with its rival Mat, with the aim of reducing costs and optimising operations. As a result, Mat now operates 2 aircraft (1 B737-300 fitted with winglets and 1 B737-500) to 8 destinations.
Wizz Air plans new Skopje flights
Low cost airline, Wizz Air, will commence 2 weekly flights from Venice to Skopje to compliment its new service from London Luton. Wizz Air is set to commence flights to the Macedonian capital on June 20 with the inauguration of the London Luton route, which will initially operate 4 times per week, decreasing to 2 from September 15.
The Macedonian Civil Aviation Agency has confirmed that Wizz will fly from Venice to Skopje 2 times per week, starting June 21 as flight W67751 and W67752. However, the airline is yet to officially confirm the new launch. Flights are set to operate every Tuesday and Saturday. The no frills airline will have competition from Belle Air Europe which is set to launch the same service from April 17, also twice per week. Furthermore, Mat Airways has announced that during the summer it will be operating flights from Skopje to Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Vienna and Zurich.
Soon in Skopje
It has been a Macedonian infused week of news and the latest is sure to be warmly greeted by aviation enthusiasts. Wizz Air is once again spreading its wings in the EX-YU region. The low cost airline will commence scheduled seasonal flights from London’s Luton Airport to Alexander the Great Airport in Skopje. Flights are set to operate 3 times per week, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The service will be inaugurated on June 20.
Wizz Air’s arrival in Macedonia is the first major win for Skopje Airport’s operator, TAV, which has been working on attracting low cost airlines to the country. Wizz Air CEO, Josef Varadi, told the “Utrinski Vesnik” newspaper that the airline is considering commencing flights to Skopje out of Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
There is more good news for Macedonia’s hub with Mat Airways planning to commence flights to Amsterdam this summer season. A total of 40 flights are planned between the two cities. Skopje Airport handled 700.000 passengers in 2010, an increase of 13.7% compared to 2009.
Flight details for the new Wizz Air service can be found in the new route launches section on the right hand side.
Ohrid awaits new flights and tourists
Flights from Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport to Amsterdam and the Finnish capital Helsinki will commence in 2011. The Turkish based Corendon Airlines will operate scheduled charter flights from Ohrid to Amsterdam from May until the end of October. The airline will use one of its Boeing B737-800s on the route and will carry out 46 flights between the two cities. Corendon operated flights from Antalya to Skopje during the 2010 summer season.
In 2011, Macedonia will see its first direct flights to Finland, the head of Macedonia's Agency for Tourism Support and Promotion announced last week. While the airline that will operate the flights is yet to be named, they are scheduled to run from May until the end September. Both of the abovementioned services are expected to carry Dutch and Finnish tourists to the Macedonian resort town.
Both Skopje and Ohrid airports will end 2010 on a high. The Turkish operator TAV has taken control of both airports and construction on a new terminal in Skopje and the expansion of the existing terminal in Ohrid are underway. Furthermore, both airports have recorded a significant increase in passenger numbers. A month ago, the Skopje based Mat Airways began scheduled charter flights. The airline operates one weekly flight from Skopje to Berlin, Ancona, Verona and Copenhagen, two weekly flights to Rome and Dusseldorf and four weekly flights to Zurich. From Ohrid, the airline serves Zurich once per week.
Mat begins flights from Skopje base
The reincarnated MAT Macedonian Airlines, now known as Mat Airways, has begun scheduled charter flights from Skopje Alexander the Great Airport to Zurich and Dusseldorf. The airline, owned by Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki, is also offering flights from Ohrid to Zurich. It has been awarded the IATA prefix 6F. The airline is currently operating its flights with a single Boeing B737-500. Its other aircraft, a leased Aviogenex B737-200, has been returned to its owner and is now flying for Jat Airways. Currently, passengers can only book Mat Airways tickets at their offices in Skopje and Belgrade.
According to the Mat’s owners, the airline plans to commence flights to Rome, Barcelona and Prague in the near future. “Our plan is to expand our fleet and purchase another aircraft. We aim to be the best in the airline industry, slowly but surely reaching the top”, Zoran Milevski, the President of the board of the Metropolitan Investment Group (one of Mat’s owners) said.
Meanwhile, work on the new terminal at Skopje Airport is progressing although some changes have been made to the initial design of the terminal building. Currently, the runway is being lengthened. Skopje’s new multi million Euro terminal should open its doors to passengers in just under a year from now, on October 20, 2011.
Skopje from September
The reincarnated MAT Macedonian Airlines, will begin operations from Skopje in September, the airline reports. Mat Airways, which has been operating summer flights for the Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki Travel from Belgrade, plans to move to its new home in Skopje. The first scheduled charter destinations to be launched are Zurich, Prague, Rome and Barcelona. Flights to Germany, as well as Priština, are also expected to commence in the near future, the “Kanal 5” network reports.
“Our plan is to expand our fleet and purchase another aircraft. We aim to be the best in the airline industry, slowly but surely reaching the top”, Zoran Milevski, the president of the board of the Metropolitan Investment Group (one of Mat’s owners) said. Mat Airways currently owns a Boeing B737-500 which carries a hybrid livery comprising of the airline’s logo and bits and pieces of the Macedonian flag. Danijela Pusara, the airline’s PR manager, said that Mat is currently not seeking to become Macedonia’s national carrier but she did not rule out the possibility for the future.
The Macedonian based Airlift Service receives new aircraft
Macedonia continues to be one of the rare European countries which lacks a national flag carrier. No airline is interested in becoming Macedonia’s national airline and the Macedonian Government has shown no interest in setting one up either. The “Daily Macedonia” reports that the Government has concluded that setting up a national carrier would be too costly and would only produce losses.
The owner of Macedonia’s two international airports, TAV, has called on the Macedonian Government to create a national carrier in order for the two airports to profit and expand. The CEO of Airlift Service (which operates charter flights from Skopje under the name Skywings International), Ajan Džaferovski, explains that there is no need for a national airline. “I can’t name a country which has created a national carrier in the past twenty years. Most countries want to get rid of them or sell them, as is the case with Jat”. On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport says that any future national airline in Macedonia will be privately owned and won’t have any state capital.
Airlift Service operates charter flights out of Macedonia and recently received a Boeing B737-300 (registered Z3-AAN). The newly established Mat Airways received its registration code, 6F, but still operates charter flights out of Belgrade, Serbia on behalf of tour operator Kon Tiki Travel.
Mat’s B737-500 ready for takeoff
Macedonia’s newest charter airline, Mat Airways, will be operating its flights under the Aviogenex code (AGX). Darko Milačić, one of the founders of Mat Airways, revealed the news in a recent interview to the “Kielo” agency. The inauguration of services has been pushed back to August when the airline plans to commence flights from Skopje (although Mat’s aircraft will be operating charters from Belgrade to other destinations in the meantime). Milačić revealed that the airline is currently not interested in becoming the national carrier of Macedonia, rather it plans to develop scheduled charter flights. However, Milačić does not exclude the possibility of the airline eventually becoming a national carrier.
“We are in the process of acquiring an IATA certificate and we expect the process to be complete within the next 5 months. We will be using Aviogenex’s code for our flights”, Milačić said. He also disclosed that Kon Tiki Travel, the founder of the new Mat, is interested in setting up an airline in Serbia and purchasing Aviogenex, a Serbian charter airline. Furthermore, the company plans to purchase a Boeing B737-300 jet by the end of the year, although this purchase would depend on the outcome of Aviogenex’s takeover.
For starters, Mat plans to operate the service Belgrade – Ohrid – Tel Aviv. Darko Milačić believes that the service would be popular and said that an Israeli tour operator is also interested in cooperating on the route.
On the left hand side you can register your vote whether you believe that Mat Airways will be successful or a disaster waiting to happen.
Photo published with the approval of the author, the “aviokarta.net” portal
Kon Tiki Sky (branded as MAT Airways), led by disgraced Dutch businessmen Harry van Achteren, has found a way to operate flights out of Skopje as Serbian tour operator Kon Tiki Travel confirmed it has sold its stake in MAT Airways to Bays Air from the Netherlands and has no connection to Kon Tiki Sky. Last week, Kon Tiki Sky announced it would launch fourteen new destinations out of Skopje but later noted the mentioned destinations were only a list of cities the airline would wish to fly to since it did not receive a license from the Macedonian Civil Aviation Directorate.
According to Kon Tiki Sky reservations can already be made. Ticket prices, which start from 45 euros, can already be seen on the airline’s website but are still unavailable for online purchase. If the flights do go ahead they should help boost Skopje Airport and its passenger numbers. Kon Tiki Sky will also be up for a chance to receive government subsidies designated for low cost airlines.
