Ryanair has released its flight schedule for the summer of 2026 (April to October), revealing a significant reduction in operations at Banja Luka Airport. The airline plans to cut its route offerings from the city by 40%. The most substantial reduction will be on the Memmingen route, where weekly flights will drop from 10 to 5. Other notable cuts include the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden route, which will decrease from 4 weekly flights to 2, Vienna from 5 to 2, and Stockholm from 3 to 2.
In the summer timetable of 2025, Ryanair operated a total of 56 weekly round-trip flights from Banja Luka, while for the summer of 2026, this figure will drop to just 34 weekly round trips. Although the exact reasons for this reduction are unclear, it is widely speculated that Ryanair is shifting its focus toward more profitable markets in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly at Sarajevo Airport. With Wizz Air establishing a base at Tuzla Airport and Ryanair focusing its efforts on Sarajevo, the future prospects for Banja Luka Airport appear uncertain.
Financially, Banja Luka Airport is facing serious challenges. It has taken out a loan of 6 million Bosnian Marks (approximately 3 million Euros) to cover outstanding debts: 5,4 million Bosnian Marks owed to the Investment and Development Bank of Republika Srpska and 600.000 Bosnian Marks in overdue obligations to suppliers.
To recap, the airport previously secured a loan of 7 million Bosnian Marks from the Investment and Development Bank of Republika Srpska in mid-2016, which had a 48-month grace period. With that period now expired, the airport has requested an extension for repayment. The funds were initially used to address operational expenses and resolve ongoing issues, enabling the airport to retain its operating license.
In the past two years, management has repeatedly warned that the airport would struggle to meet its financial obligations on time. Despite this, the airport's director, Valentina Kecman, recently claimed that Banja Luka Airport is on track to achieve a record number of passengers in 2024, surpassing the 460.000 passengers recorded in 2023, effectively downplaying the serious financial challenges facing the airport.
For the first half of 2025, Banja Luka Airport reported a loss of 600.000 Bosnian Marks. In the past, the airport has come dangerously close to losing its international operating license due to mismanagement and mounting financial difficulties.
The Government of Republika Srpska, which owns Banja Luka Airport, has shown little interest in addressing its current and future viability. The airport urgently requires professional management to develop and implement a sustainable master plan, with collaboration from all levels of government. Without significant investment from its owner, Banja Luka Airport is at risk of bankruptcy. Public-private partnerships should be considered as a potential solution to safeguard the airport’s future.
Source: Zahid Krkić
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