✈ AJet launches Istanbul-Tuzla flights

Türkiye's  airline Ajet, the low-cost subsidiary of Turkish Airlines (THY), launched direct flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Tuzla International Airport located in northeastern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The opening of the new route was marked with a ceremony at Tuzla International Airport, attended by Turkish Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, AJet CEO Kerem Sarp and the local authorities.

The flights are scheduled to operate once per week on Mondays pending an increase in case of rising demand, Sarp said. Speaking at the ceremony, Uraloğlu expressed his believe that "the launch of Istanbul-Tuzla flights will improve relations and trade between the two countries."

Türkiye is known to have strong historical and cultural ties with Bosnia-Herzegovina, and many Turkish companies, from construction and health to banking and financing sectors, are operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Recently, Pegasus Airlines, also launched flights on the same route, with plans to continue expansion on Bosnian market with introduction of flights between Istanbul and Mostar. Uraloğlu, in his speech, recalled the expansion of AJet following the start of its operations under its new name in March this year, noting that since Oct. 1, the carrier introduced seven new routes, adding that Tuzla is the eighth.

He also pointed to Turkish Airlines and Ajet extensive flight network, adding that they aim to further increase the number of points the carriers fly to by the end of the year. "Today, we fly from Türkiye to 347 different points in 131 countries. We will increase this to 349 by the end of the year," he said. For his part, Sarp said that with this flight, they built "another bridge" between Türkiye and Bosnia-Herzegovina, two friendly countries.

He also noted that Ajet carry their passengers to 95 different destinations, with a modernized fleet of 85 aircraft. He added that the new route represents their second line in Bosnia-Herzegovina as they operate seven weekly flights to the capital, Sarajevo.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈ London (all airports) - Sarajevo air traffic statistics data for 2024.

London Stansted Airport (STN)

London market is served by two airlines from Sarajevo Airport. Ryanair operates three weekly flights from London Stansted Airport, while Wizzair operates two weekly flights from London Luton Airport. As an answer to Ryanair introducing flights from London Stansted, Wizzair is increasing its service from London Luton to Sarajevo from two to four weekly flights. Beginning next month London-Sarajevo routes will be served seven times weekly (Wizzair 4x and Ryanair 3x). The seat capacity offered between two cities will increase to 3.046 round-trip seats on a weekly basis.

• During this year Wizzair has a total of 56.580 seats on offer between London Luton and Sarajevo.
• During this year Ryanair has a total of 44.226 seats on offer between London Luton and Sarajevo.
• During 2024, the total number of seats offered between London (LTN and STN) and Sarajevo is 100.806.
• During the first six months of the year, Wizzair transported 20.642 passengers on 120 flights with an average cabin load factor of 74,78%.

History of Wizzair Sarajevo-London (LTN) flights

• Wizz Air is increasing Sarajevo-London (LTN) flights from 02.11.2024. from two weekly flights to four weekly.
• Wizz Air restarted Sarajevo-London (LTN) flights on 25.09.2023. with A321 aircraft.
• Wizz Air suspended Sarajevo-London (LTN) flights from 24.03.2023 until 25.09.2023.
• Wizz Air started Sarajevo-London (LTN) flights on 29.03.2022. with two weekly flights with A320 aircraft.
• 

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Ryanair launched London Stansted-Sarajevo flights on 02.04.2024. operating flights three times a week, with Boeing 737-800 aircraft (capacity 189 seats). 

During the first four months of operations (April-August 2024) the airline transported 17.137 passengers on 104 flights with an average cabin load factor of 87,17%.

United Kingdom is one of the largest airline markets in Europe but until this year flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina were very minimal. With the arrival of Ryanair in Sarajevo this is finally changing. With Ryanair and Wizzair as LCC there is a market for third airline like easyJet and in near future Biritish Airways that would open great number of connections via its hub at London Heathrow Airport.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Sarajevo Airport Winter 2024/2025

The 2024/25 winter timetable enters into force on Sunday, October 27th, 2024. and will run until March 29, 2025. During this time period the passengers will be able to fly to 14 countries to 22 destinations on 16 different airlines.

The new destination this winter season is Rome (FCO), which will be served with 3 weekly flights by Wizz Air. The flights are scheduled to begin on October 29, 2024. and will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an Airbus 321 aircraft offering 239 seats.

Only one route will be cut during the upcoming winter timetable, Aegean Airlines is discontinuing Skopje-Sarajevo flights from November 28, 2024. just after one year of operations.

Sarajevo Airport will be connected with 118 weekly flights (one way). The most served route is Istanbul-Sarajevo with five daily flights. Three airlines with the most seats on offer are Pegasus Airlines with 128.350 seats, followed by Turkish Airlines with 99.660 seats and Ryanair with 88.830 seats.

Three countries with largest seats offer from Sarajevo Airport are Türkiye with 294.766 seats or 39,15% of all seats, Germany with 94.218 seats or 12,51% of all seats and Austria with 67.200 seats or 8,92% of all seats.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈ Record September for Sarajevo Airport

Sarajevo International Airport has recorded its busiest September by handling 188.040  passengers, representing an increase of 30,57% or 44.027 passengers more when compared to the same month of last year. Aircraft operations recorded an increase of 21%, while cargo decreased by 32% . Year to date Sarajevo Airport handled 1.439.181 passengers, an increase of 32,94%. During January-September of this year, on average Sarajevo Airport has been handling 5.271 passengers per day.

Yesterday (October 13, 2024) Sarajevo Airport recorded its 1.500.000 passenger, first ever during one year in 70 years of airport's history.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Ryanair, Sarajevo–London (STN) route statistics

Ryanair launched London Stansted-Sarajevo flights on 02.04.2024. operating flights three times a week, with Boeing 737-800 aircraft (capacity 189 seats). During the first four months of operations (April-August 2024) the airline transported 17.137 passengers on 104 flights with an average cabin load factor of 87,17%.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈AJet to launch Istanbul-Tuzla flights

Turkish low-cost carrier AJet will connect Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Tuzla, with one weekly service starting October 07^h using an Airbus 321neo aircraft offering 211 seats. This will be the second airline serving Tuzla from Istanbul, after Pegasus Airlines announced the launch of flights from Istanbul to Tuzla last week.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Ajet is increasing Istanbul-Sarajevo flights to daily

Beginning August 1^st Turkish low-cost carrier Ajet is upgrading Istanbul (SAW) – Sarajevo flights from 3 weekly to daily. Flights are scheduled to operate daily until the end of summer schedule (October 26, 2024). With Ajet flight increase Istanbul (both airports) and Sarajevo will be connected with six daily flights. All Ajet flights are scheduled to operate with an Airbus 321neo aircraft offering 211 seats.

• 3 daily flights by Turkish Airlines
• 2 daily flights by Pegasus Airlines
• 1 daily flight by Ajet

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈LOT Polish Airlines upgrades Sarajevo to year-round flights

LOT Polish Airlines is upgrading Warsaw-Sarajevo flights to year-round. With the beginning of winter schedule, the airline will operate Warsaw-Sarajevo flights twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays until January 11^th. From January 11^th until March 3^rd there will be no flights operated. March  3^rd LOT will resume Sarajevo service with three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays until the beginning of summer scheduled. From April 2025 LOT will operate daily flights between Warsaw and Sarajevo. All flights are scheduled to operate with Embraer 195 aircraft, offering 112 seats.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Pegasus Airlines to launch Istanbul-Tuzla flights

Pegasus Airlines Airbus 320neo at Tuzla International Airport

Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines will connect Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Tuzla with one weekly service starting August 24^th. The flights are scheduled to operate on year-round basis with an Airbus 320neo aircraft offering 180 seats.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Record June for Sarajevo Airport

Sarajevo International Airport has recorded its busiest June by handling 202.515  passengers, representing an increase of 51,19% or 68.570 passengers more when compared to the same month of last year. Aircraft operations recorded an increase of 33%, while cargo slightly decreased by 0,52% . Year to date Sarajevo Airport handled 727.981 passengers, an increase of 35,45%.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Wizz Air to launch Rome-Sarajevo flights

Wizz Air has scheduled year-round three weekly flights  between Rome and Sarajevo. Flights begin on October 29 and will operate with Airbus 321 aircraft. Together with four weekly flights to London Luton, Wizz Air will have seven weekly flights from Sarajevo during the winter timetable. Rome is second destination in Italy to be served from Sarajevo, after Ryanair started flights from Milan Bergamo to Sarajevo in April of this year.

Source:Zahid Krkić

✈Arkia upgrades Sarajevo service

Due to large tourist groups booking vacation packages in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Arkia Airlines is upgrading its Tel Aviv-Sarajevo service to Airbus 321. Arkia Airlines Airbus 321 has capacity to seat 220 passengers. The airline has scheduled 34 flights both ways, with 7.480 available seats.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Bosnia and Herzegovina -Sweden air traffic report for 2023.

Before Wizz Air discontinued routes between Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden was one of the largest air travel markets from Bosnia and Herzegovina. At one-point Banjaluka, Tuzla and Sarajevo were all connected to major airports in Sweden. The year 2022/2023 has seen major cuts for Bosnia-Sweden routes. During 2022/2023 Wizz Air closed its bases at Tuzla and Sarajevo Airports resulting in cancelations of all Wizz Air flights from Bosnian airports to Sweden. Record year was 2022 when 182.212 passengers traveled between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sweden, while 2023 that number has slipped away to 145.094 passengers. 

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Ryanair London (STN) – Sarajevo statistic data for April 2024

During April of 2024, very first month of operations between London Stansted and Sarajevo, Ryanair operated a total of 26 flights (both ways), transporting 4.000 passengers with the average cabin load factor of 81,48% or 154 passengers per flight on average. The result represents a very successful launch of operation for both Ryanair and Sarajevo Airport. Ryanair operates three weekly flights between London Stansted and Sarajevo, while Wizz Air operates two weekly flights between London Luton and Sarajevo. From the beginning of winter timetable Wizz Air will increase London Luton – Sarajevo flights to four weekly.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈Bosnia and Herzegovina air traffic report for May 2024

Banja Luka International Airport - photo by David Segic

During the month of May, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 209.345 passengers going through its four international airports. Sarajevo Airport recorded 151.152 passengers  followed by Banja Luka with 40.408, Tuzla 13.023, and Mostar with 4.762 passengers. When compared to May of 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 9% passengers decrease. Year to date, the country has recorded 743.888 passengers representing a 15% decrease when compared to the same time of the last year.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo (SJJ)
Tuzla (TZL)
Banja Luka (BNX)
Mostar (OMO)

Source: Zahid Krkić and BHDCA