Bosnia and Herzegovina federal Minister of Transport and Communications Denis Lasić visited Mostar Airport on April 06, 2021. where acting Director Ivan Ljubić informed him about the situation caused by Covid-19 pandemic, but also about future plans and status of negotiations with numerous airlines on the future flight introductions to the airport.
The Minister expressed his commitment to continue supporting the survival and development of Mostar Airport until airport reaches financial self-sustainability and announced the imminent signing of a contract for capital transfer and current government subsidies for the year 2021.
The total value of government subsidies for the airport is
3,5 million Bosnian Convertible Marks (1,8 million Euros), of which one million
KM refers to the program of spending the current transfer "Subsidies to
public companies" for the improvement of air transport, and 2,5 million KM
for airport’s stuff salaries and keeping airport operational since airport does
not have any airline-passengers or cargo traffic due to Covid-19 pandemic. But,
even before the pandemic the airport did not have any serious air traffic for the last two years.
Main reason, mismanagement!
This season Eurowings is the only airline that will operate extremely
limited number of flights from Duesseldorf (only 9 round-trip flights).
The airport management should be more proactive on bringing
airlines and using the subsidies to attract new airlines that would bring
businesses to the airport and the whole tourist sector industry to the city of
Mostar (hotels, restaurants, rent a car, railways, shopping) instead government
subsidies are used for management and employee’s paychecks for the work they
don’t do (airport does not have any flights, NONE).
The government of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
should stop issuing blank checks to the airport management and paying them for
doing absolutely nothing. If the airport’s management is not capable of doing
what they are paid for, they should be replaced or Mostar Airport should be
closed, since the airport is open so they can only serve themselves.
Mostar Airport potential is huge! City of Mostar is second
most visited city in the country, right after Sarajevo. If the airport had a
management who was working for the airports development instead of staling it
due to political gains, by now Mostar Airport could have been second busiest in
the country with 600.000 yearly passengers. City of Mostar and Herzegovina
region has big advantages for a low-cost carrier base:
-Proximity of Adriatic coast (airport could offer 3 Euro
passenger fee to attract new airlines and take some passengers from Split and
Dubrovnik), but again politics, not economy play major role here.
-Mostar and Hercegovina with its climate could be advertised
as winter destination for UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia.
-Medjugorje has huge potential, flights to Poland, Ireland,
Italy with two weekly flights could work year-round.
-Railway link to Sarajevo and Capljina (Scenic train ride
from Mostar to Sarajevo is one of the most beautiful in the world, and this
could be used as another advantage for LCC). Bosnia has most modern trains in all
of the Balkans, Talgo trains with scenic and wonderfully comfortable ride can
reach Sarajevo in less than two hours.
-Tourist potential of the city and whole region of
Herzegovina is unlimited and to the most part untapped. City of Mostar, Neretva
rafting, Buna, Medjugorje, Herzegovina Wine route, Rotimlja settlement, Neum,
Hutovo Blato, Wild horses’ habitat in Livno, and many more!
-Red Bull Stari Most cliff diving tournament (this event is
attracting about 25.000-35.000 visitors every September).
The time has come for Federal Government to decide either to
change management or close the airport, there in no third option here!
Source: Flying Bosnian
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