An airport in the Balkans is going to replace Hungarian Wizz Air’s services with that of Ryanair?
Sarajevo Airport in the Balkans is in conversation with Ryanair to replace the Hungarian Wizz Air. Ryanair already has multiple ongoing operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Wizz Air suspended 17 of the 19 routes to Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
After Wizz Air’s departure from Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ), Ryanair might be the one to replace the Hungarian airline. SJJ airport has already began talks with Ryanair to add flights to replace the few that were to be suspended, reports simpleflying.com. Even though now these routes are only suspended, Wizz Air may leave for good. Therefore, Ryanair could be a great option for the airport in the Balkans. Sarajevo Airport had previously described the opening of Wizz Air’s base as being of “strategic interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, writes exyuaviation.com.
Wizz Air’s departure cuts off Sarajevo Airport from important European destinations
With Wizz Air’s departure, Sarajevo Airport is losing all flights to Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Italy, as well as year-round operations to Sweden, Denmark and Norway. This leaves a significant market gap and it looks like Ryanair is the main candidate. Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline and it entered the Bosnian air transit market in 2018. That was the first time Ryanair opened a route servicing the nation’s Banja Luka International Airport (BNX). Now it operates routes to seven cities around the region from BNX. However, the airline is launching its route connecting BNX with Berlin, Germany, at the end of October.
- Read also: Budapest Airport has announced good news!
Ryanair is expanding its routes
While Wizz Air is pulling nearly all services from SJJ, Ryanair is expanding. In addition to its new operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the carrier will launch operations to Tuzla in November. TZL will be serviced from Stockholm, Memmingen, and Vienna. The director of route development for Ryanair, Ray Kelliher, said: “We look forward to growing in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the coming years and being able to announce more new and exciting routes for next summer.”
Source: exyuaviation.com, simpleflying.com