✈ Busy summer expected at Sarajevo Int. Airport

The month of August this year is going to be busiest on the record for Sarajevo International Airport. According to the schedule of the airlines operating flights to and from Sarajevo, the airlines will offer over 135.000 seats during the month of August 2016. August is usually the busiest month of the year for Sarajevo Int. Airport. Average cabin load factor during August is reaching high 90%. This year, airport is expecting to handle over 110.000 passengers during August, braking last year’s record when 101.307 passengers used the airport.

Sarajevo International Airport, August 2016: number of flights by airline and seats offered

AIRLINE	DESTINATIONS	NUMBER OF FLIGHTS	AVAILABALE SEATS
Turkish Airlines	Istanbul (IST) Antalya (AYT)	91x2	32.360
Austrian Airlines	Vienna (VIE)	62x2	18.972
Fly Dubai	Dubai (DXB)	53x2	18.444
Pegasus Airlines	Istanbul (SAW)	31x2	11.718
Lufthansa	Munich (MUC)	31x2	10.416
Croatia Airlines	Zagreb (ZAG)	58x2	8.816
Air Arabia	Sharjah (SHJ)	26x2	8.424
Eurowings	Cologne (CGN) Stuttgart (STR)	25x2	7.200
Norwegian Air	Stockholm (ARN) Oslo (OSL) Copenhagen (CPH)	19x2	7.182
Air Serbia	Belgrade (BEG)	31x2	4.092
Adria Airways	Ljubljana (LJU)	18x2	3.096
Swiss Int. Airlines	Zurich (ZRH)	13x2	2.522
Borajet	Antalya (AYT)	9x2	1.800
		467x2	135.042

Source: FlyingBosnian

✈ My Cargo Boeing 747 to operate cargo flights from Tuzla Int. Airport

Tuzla Int. Airport is ready for Boeing 747-400 cargo flights

My Cargo Boeing 747-400

“All preconditions for the export of meat and meat products to Turkey from the  Tuzla International Airport are met and exports should officially start in the second week of June. The contract with Turkish cargo airline My Cargo Airline has already been signed and everything is going according to the plan,” said the Director of the Tuzla International Airport, Rifat Karasalihovic, adding:

“We have already signed a contract with the airline My Cargo from Turkey and according to the contract, the export is planned with Boeing 747 aircraft, one of the largest airplanes currently, whose capacity is 110 tons. According to plans, these planes will fly three times a week from the airport. We will see if this will change later.”

Karasalihovic emphasized that everything, both technical and administrative, conditions have been met for one of the most important projects for the region recently. In order for everything to go according to plan, the Government of Tuzla Canton held a special session on Thursday, and made a decision on approval of 250,000 BAM, in order for all preconditions for the start of the project to be met.

My Cargo Airlines has a fleet of eight Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft. It operates international scheduled and charter air cargo service, as well as wet and dry lease services. Its main base is Istabul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. The airline's European hub is based at Liege Airport in Belgium.

✈ Qatar Airways has postponed Sarajevo launch

Qatar Airways in last week’s schedule update, has made further frequency changes on a number of destinations, as a result of aircraft shortage and redeployment, including Sarajevo, between June and October 2016. Planned Doha-Sarajevo service launch from 07. September 2016. is postponed to 02. November 2016. Flight schedule and frequencies are still unchanged.

QR293 DOH 0730 – 1155 SJJ (--3-5-7) Airbus 320

QR294 SJJ 1255 – 1840 DOH (--3-5-7) Airbus 320

✈ Air Serbia performance at Banja Luka International Airport

Air Serbia is the only airline operating to/from Banja Luka International Airport with five weekly flights from Belgrade using ATR-72 aircraft with 66 seats. Four weekly flights were introduced with the beginning of summer time table on March 27^th, additional fifth weekly flight started on April 20^th and will last until October 29, when flights will go back to three weekly. With the beginning of Air Serbia’s flights to New York on June 23^rd, number of passengers on flight to and from Banja Luka should improve too.

Month 2016	Total transported PAX	Total  Departing  PAX	Total Arriving PAX	Total number of flights	Average number of PAX per flight	Average CLF
January	1.105	597	508	26	43	65,15%
February	875	455	420	22	40	60,60%
March	1.310	678	632	32	41	62,12%
April	1.425	643	782	38	38	57,57%
TOTAL Jan-Apr 2016	4.715	2.373	2.342	118	40	60,60%

PAX- passengers / CLF-cabin load factor

✈Bosnia and Herzegovina air traffic statistics for April 2016.

Sarajevo Int. Airport, photo by Fahrudin Krestalica

During month of April, number of passengers using airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina has increased from 89.145 to 98.292 (+10,26% or 9.147 passengers increase). Tuzla International Airport recorded largest increase in passengers handled,+43,42% or 7.518 passengers increase. Sarajevo International Airport recorded increase of 7,96% or 5.021 more comparing to same month last year.Banja Luka and Mostar airport yet again recorded decrees.

 Passengers statistics for airports  in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

(January-April 2016)

Airport	April   2015	April   2016	Change	Year to date	YTD Change
SARAJEVO	63.064	68.085	+7,26%	205.298	+4,24%
TUZLA	17.311	24.829	+43,42%	87.601	+54,22%
MOSTAR	6.680	3.797	-43,15%	5.169	-48,64%
B. LUKA	2.090	1.581	-24,35%	5.308	-17,07%
BiH Total	89.145	98.292	+10,26%	303.376	+12,27%

Total number of passengers for Bosnia and Herzegovina  Jan-Apr 2015: 270.212

Total number of passengers for Bosnia and Herzegovina  Jan-Apr 2016: 303.376 (+12,27%)

✈Bosnia and Herzegovina air traffic statistics for March 2016.

Sarajevo Airport photo by Kontrolaletenja.net

During month of March number of passengers using airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina has increased from 68.499 to 79.526 (+16,09% or 11.027 passengers increase). Tuzla International Airport recorded largest increase in passengers handled +63,03% or 9.124 passengers increase. Sarajevo International Airport recorded increase of 6,29% or 3.165 passengers increase, comparing to same month last year. Banja Luka airport recorded small increase of 3,08% or 41 more passengers. Mostar airport yet again recorded decrees.

✈ Cargo flights from Tuzla Airport to begin from June

Tuzla Int. Airport, photo my Mirza Ibrahimovic

June 1^st 2016. is the date when first airplane loaded with food of animal origin made by Bosnian farmers should take off from Tuzla International Airport heading to Turkey, officially establishing international cargo traffic from the airport. With the start of cargo flights, Tuzla airport and whole region sees great opportunity for economic development.

Minister of Trade, Tourism and Transport of Tuzla County Mirsad Gluhic stated in an interview to Klix.ba that the establishment of cargo traffic will be of great importance for the economy of this region and for the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Republic of Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina have both signed an agreement on duty-free export of fresh meat and products made from fresh meat as of two years ago. Last year meat was exported from airports in both Sarajevo and Banjaluka. However, fraud involving Bosnian companies abusing duty-free export of meat to Turkey by importing meat from other European countries (Poland and Romania) and labeling it as a product of Bosnian origin, have seriously shaken the stability of this agreement. The export of meat was suspended at the beginning of the year. During official visit of members of Bosnian presidency to Turkey and meeting with the Turkish president, export of meat is unblocked under very strict rules. Bosnian officials agreed to investigate and prosecute the companies and individuals responsible for fraud.  The prosecutor's office of Bosnia and Herzegovina and State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) are investigating companies involved in this fraud.

During this year alone, 6,000 tons of fresh beef and 1,000 tons of beef products will be exported to Turkey. Last year a total of 47 million Euros worth of meat was exported, compared to 2,8 million Euros in the year 2014.   Five companies from Bosnia and Herzegovina got approval to export fresh meat and meat products by air to Turkey.

Sarajevo Int. Airport, Turkish Airlines Airbus 330F

"We were given a second opportunity to export meat to Turkey, and this time we cannot afford to do something wrong. The agreement is a form of support of Republic of Turkey to Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is clearly stated that we can export only products made in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities on the highest level, including the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina have to be involved to monitor the work of all subjects involved in export “said Minister Gluhic.

Tuzla Int. Airport, photo by Kontrolaletenja.net

Tuzla International Airport is providing separate cargo platform through which it will carry out cargo operations. Freight air traffic is separated from the passenger. Tuzla County Government headed by Prime Minister Bego Gutic has invested great efforts in Tuzla Airport to obtain all permits to transport perishable goods. At the moment we have a great increase in passenger traffic, and with cargo operations in place in the coming period we have to start a process of expanding and modernization of the airport, which will surely be a great support to the Tuzla county economy, concludes Gluhic.

 
Banja Luka Int. Airport, photo by banjaluka-airport.com

Exports of meat from Bosnia and Herzegovinay to Turkey in 2015 were done through airports Sarajevo and Banjaluka. At the beginning of this year airports in Tuzla and Mostar received necessary permits for exports of meat to Turkey as well. All airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina are competing for air cargo flights to Turkey since all flight are operated with wide body aircraft from Turkish Airlines (Airbus 330F) and MNG Airlines (Airbus 310F), representing great income to the airports. Each aircraft can carry up to 45 tons of cargo. Last year air cargo traffic to Turkey was the only source of income for Banjaluka airport. During this year most of the cargo flights to Turkey will be carried out from airports in Sarajevo and Tuzla. In 2016. Turkish Airlines is scheduled to operate 74 round trip cargo flights from Tuzla to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Flights will operate 2 to 3 times per week (depending on demand) with Airbus 330-200 freighter aircraft, capable to carry up to 64 metric tons of cargo.

✈ Sarajevo Airport busy summer ahead

Sarajevo Airport photo by Kontrolaletenja.net

Summer season is always very busy at Sarajevo International Airport and this year it will be busiest on the record. Many flights are booked way in advance like Fly Dubai flights from Dubai, Norwegian Air flights from Stockholm and Copenhagen, Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Pegasus Airlines flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Many airlines are using larger aircraft on its flights to Sarajevo.

• Turkish Airlines is using Airbus 321 on most of its flights (180 seats) up to 3 daily flights.
• Austrian Airlines is using Airbus 319/320 (138/168 seats) 2 daily flights.
• Lufthansa is using Airbus 320 (168 seats) 1 daily flights.

Sarajevo airport air cargo increased this year as well. Today alone, Sarajevo Int. Airport serviced three air cargo operations. The airport is still awaiting beginning of Turkish Airlines cargo operations from/to Istanbul with an Airbus 330 freighter aircraft.

✈ Emirates luxury Airbus 319 visiting Sarajevo today

Luxury Airbus 319 belonging to Emirates Airlines (world’s best airline), will be visiting Sarajevo International Airport today. Luxury division of the airline called Emirates Executive is offering high end clientele luxury private jet service which can now be booked on Emirates-executive website. Customers seeking unsurpassed luxury in air travel can book a tailor-made experience on Emirates Executive ultra-spacious Airbus 319 aircraft, with capacity to accommodate  19 guests. The aircraft with registration A6-CJE is offering 10 private suites and 5 lie-flat beds. Maximum range is 7000 kilometers. Emirates will fly Airbus 319 from Riyadh King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia to Sarajevo International Airport with scheduled arrival at Sarajevo airport at 19:35.

Emirates Airbus 319, photo by Jaffa Pix

Airline	Flight number	Route	Departing	Arriving
Emirates 05/10/16	EK 2565	Riyadh-Sarajevo		19:35
Emirates 05/11/16	EK 2567	Sarajevo-Farnborough	13:30

✈ Hungary will subsidise Budapest-Sarajevo flights

New routes from Budapest

The Hungarian National Development Ministry has published a tender for interested airlines to operate flights from Budapest to: Sarajevo, Skopje, Pristina, Podgorica and Tirana. Flights will be subsidized by Hungarian government. All carriers holding AOC registered within the European Union are eligible to apply for the subsidies. According to tender procedure May 19th is the deadline to submit an application, by July 15th airline operating flights will be chosen. 

Airlines willing to take part in tender procedure have to fulfill following:

• minimum 2 return flights per week
• aircraft must have minimum 30 seats
• aircraft can’t be older than 8 years
• minimum one Hungarian speaking flight attendant

Most likely Wizz Air will be the airline operating the flights, since the airline has large presence in the region, and its low cost model is most suitable for this type of flights.

Detailed information on tender procedure of scheduled air services from Budapest to five Western Balkan countries can be found by visiting: 

(Hungarian National Development Ministry)