✈Bosnia visa-free entry for citizens of Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has formally approved visa-free entry for citizens of Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia for the upcoming summer season. This temporary measure is intended to simplify travel arrangements and encourage visitors to experience Bosnia and Herzegovina during its peak tourism period.

Key Details of the Decision:

Validity Period: June 1 to September 30, 2026.

Permitted Stay: Up to 30 days

Objective: To promote tourism and strengthen bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the participating countries.

The introduction of visa-free travel is also expected to benefit the aviation sector, with several airlines planning or already scheduling flights from these markets to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Scheduled flights from : Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia

In the past, Gulf Air operated scheduled charter flights between Bahrain and Sarajevo. These flights, running once or twice weekly, were arranged on behalf of tour operators in Bahrain offering vacation packages to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Source: Zahid Krkić

✈ Salam Air inaugurated flights from Muscat to Sarajevo

Salam Air, an airline from Oman, based at Muscat International Airport, has started regular scheduled flights to Sarajevo. The airline initially scheduled one weekly flight, but due to the high demand has increased it to twice a week. Flights will operate on Mondays and Fridays, with modern Airbus 320 neo airplanes. Through an innovative business model, Salam Air significantly expands Oman's connectivity, and for the first time enables a direct air link between Muscat and Sarajevo.

✈Salam Air to start Muscat (Oman)-Sarajevo flights

Omani low-cost carrier Salam Air will introduce one weekly service from Omani capital Muscat to Sarajevo starting July 12, flights will operate until September 13. Total of 10 round trip flights are scheduled, operating with Airbus 320neo aircraft offering 180 seats. Salam Air will offer a total of 3.600 seats in both directions.

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈ FlyBosnia Summer timetable 2020

Note: Flight schedule was completed before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak

As of today (March 31, 2020) FlyBosnia is on schedule to relaunch all operations in June of 2020 (pending coronavirus pandemic control and Governments travel advisories).

FlyBosnia destination map (summer 2020)

FlyBosnia is planing to lease two more Airbus 319 aircraft (for a total of three A319) for summer schedule beginning in the last week of the month of May. The airline has scheduled following destinations:

FlyBosnia number of flights by the month and destination

FlyBosnia number of seats offered by the month and destination

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈Record August for Sarajevo Airport

Sarajevo Airport has recorded its busiest August on the record since opening its doors 50 years ago. During the month of August, the airport has recorded 178.943 passengers, representing an increase of 12,18%, or 19.437 passengers more compared to the same month of the last year. Year to date airport recorded 817.606 passengers, representing an increase of 9,15% or 68.578 passengers more. 

Double digit increase in passengers was fueled by the introduction of many flights to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. During August FlyBosnia operated daily flights to Riyadh, two weekly flights to Jeddah and Kuwait and one weekly flights to Bahrain, Gassim and Monastir. Also, during last month the airline operated 12 flights from Medina to Sarajevo bringing around 1.700 Bosian pilgrims returning home from Hajj pilgrimage. 

Flynas had strong presence in Sarajevo during the last month with its daily flights from Riyadh and five weekly flights from Jeddah. Initially Flynas scheduled 3 weekly flights from Riyadh and two weekly flights from Jeddah, but due to extremely high demand flights were upgraded to daily and five weekly. 

Qatar Airways significantly increased capacity on its Doha-Sarajevo route by upgrading aircraft from Airbus 320 to Airbus 321 for the first half of the month, and increasing it again to Airbus 330-200 during the second half of August. 

From the first week of June until the last week of August demand for airline seats from: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman is increasing every year, due to many tourist agencies offering vacation packages to Bosnia and Herzegovina promoting Halal tourism. In the past three years many tourists from these countries switched from vacationing in Turkey and other European countries to Bosnia and Herzegovina due to its hospitality towards Muslim population and safety. In coming years, we can see these numbers growing with more airlines discovering Bosnia and Herzegovina as perfect tourist destination.

New flights operating this year (August 2019 vs. August 2018)

Airline	Destination	Weekly flights
Aegean Airlines	Athens	2 weekly
Eurowings	Berlin	2 weekly
FlyBosnia	Riyadh	7 weekly
	Jeddah	2 weekly
	Kuwait	2 weekly
	Bahrain	1 weekly
	Gassim	1 weekly
	Monastir	1 weekly
Flynas	Riyadh	7 weekly
	Jeddah	5 weekly
Norwegian	Gothenburg	1 weekly
Total		31 weekly

Compared to August 2018 number of weekly flights from Sarajevo Airport increased by 31 new weekly flights.

Source: Flying Bosnian and Sarajevo Airport