✈Turkish Airlines to increase Istanbul-Sarajevo flights to three times daily

Turkish Airlines is increasing Istanbul-Sarajevo flights from currently 10 weekly to 21 weekly, or three times daily from the beginning of summer timetable. Turkish Airlines low-cost brand Anadolujet will fly three times weekly from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport as well, while Pegasus Airlines will operate eleven weekly flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Sarajevo. From April, Istanbul and Sarajevo will be connected with 35 weekly flights, or five daily. For majority of its flights to Sarajevo Turkish Airlines is using Airbus 321neo aircraft.

✈Sarajevo Airport statistics for November 2022

Last month Sarajevo Airport recorded 68.243 passengers, representing an increase of 10% when compared to the same month of 2021. The January-November period airport handled 1.310.309 passengers, representing an increase of 88% when compared to the same time of the last year. This is the first full month since Wizz Air has closed its Sarajevo base and discontinued all its flights except London and Abu Dhabi. Even though Wizz Air is no longer operating Sarajevo base, the airport managed to increase passenger numbers by 10%, recording 6.254 passengers more than in November of 2021. The increase is coming from airlines operating larger aircraft, mostly Pegasus Airlines switching all its Istanbul-Sarajevo flights from Airbus 320 to Airbus 321, with capacity to seat 239 passengers. Also, majority of its flights to Sarajevo, Turkish Airlines is operating with an Airbus 321 (180 seat capacity). From November 1^st Wizz Air has switched London Luton-Sarajevo flights from Airbus 320 to Airbus321 (239 seats). During this month Sarajevo Airport will welcome TUI Airways new service from London Gatwick. From December 23^rd flydubai will increase its service from Dubai from currently four weekly flights to 10 weekly. During the month of December Sarajevo Airport has 94.000 seats on offer.

Source: Z.K. @flyingbosnian

✈ Trip report: Sarajevo (SJJ) – Zagreb (ZAG) – Istanbul (IST)

Travel date: July 20, 2021.

Airline: Croatia Airlines and Turkish Airlines

I was flying yesterday from Sarajevo to Istanbul via Zagreb. My first flight was on Croatia Airlines Dash 8-400 (reg. 9A-CQA), the second one on Turkish Airlines Airbus 321 (reg. TC-JTG). Early morning at  Sarajevo Airport was kind of busy with three flights leaving in one hour time: Wizz Air to Dortmund, Croatia Airlines to Zagreb and Austrian Airlines to Vienna. While I was waiting for my flight, I had a chance to talk to a agent who was working on Dortmund flight, she informed me that Wizz Air flight to Dortmund was almost full with only 5 empty seats. My flight to Zagreb was surprisingly empty!? I took this flight many times in the past and usually this flight was always full of transfer passengers to the USA and Canada. It looks like Turkish Airlines and Austrian Airlines are doing majority of transfer to North America now. Our Zagreb flight OU341 had only 17 passengers, only a small  bottle of water was served, which is okay for such a short flight (it took us 35 minutes from Sarajevo to reach our gate at Zagreb Airport). This was my first time visiting new Zagreb Airport terminal, compared to the old one is huge improvement. I was surprised how empty the whole airport was, barely any passengers! While I was waiting at the gate for my flight to Istanbul, next to us Ryanair was boarding the flight to Milan-Bergamo, I counted 95 passengers boarding that flight. Our flight to Istanbul was on Airbus 321 aircraft (TC-JTG) with 103 passengers.

Sarajevo Airport

 

 

Zagreb Airport

 

Istanbul Airport

 

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈ Trip report: Chicago (ORD) – Istanbul (IST) – Sarajevo (SJJ)

Turkish Airlines Airbus 321neo (delivered June 14. 2021)

I was flying from the USA to Bosnia yesterday, Seattle (SEA) – Chicago (ORD) – Istanbul (IST) – Sarajevo (SJJ). I was surprised on how many people were flying from Chicago to Sarajevo via Istanbul. There were at least 60 passengers from Chicago, connecting on Turkish Airlines flight to Sarajevo. Istanbul new airport is excellent, very specious, and modern. My flight from Istanbul to Sarajevo was on Turkish Airlines brand new Airbus 321neo aircraft (TC-LTH). The flight was completely booked in economy class (162 seats), while business class had eight empty seats out of 20. Photos from the flight

✈ Sarajevo Airport summer timetable 2021

In upcoming summer months Sarajevo International Airport will be connected to record number of destinations on three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe). Sarajevo Airport will have connections to 27 destinations in 15 countries (largest network for Sarajevo Airport, due to Wizz Air opening its base at the airport, with nine new routes across Europe. Anadolujet is newcomer to the airport with three new destinations in Turkey (Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul). Norwegian Air will reintroduce its Scandinavian network with two weekly flights to Oslo and Stockholm, and one weekly flight to Copenhagen. Lufthansa Group will have strong presence at Sarajevo Airport this summer with Austrian Airlines operating 14 weekly departures to Vienna, Lufthansa will introduce daily flights from its hub at Frankfurt Airport, Eurowings will operate 3 weekly flights from Cologne and 2 weekly flights from Stuttgart, and finally Swiss Air Lines will operate 2 weekly flights from Zurich. Lufthansa Group will operate a total of 28 weekly departing flights from Sarajevo, putting the airline group at the second spot of weekly departures from Sarajevo International Airport, right after Turkish Airlines Group with 32 weekly departures, followed by Wizz Air with 21 weekly departures from Sarajevo. 

✈ Anadolujet to start Sarajevo flights

Anadolujet will start three weekly flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Sarajevo with the beginning of summer timetable 2021 (first week of April). Flights will operate on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays by Boeing 737-800 aircraft offering 189 seats. Anadolujet is fully owned by Turkish Airlines and all Anadolujet flights carry Turkish Airlines flight numbers. Turkish Airlines operated flights from Istanbul-Sabiha airport to Sarajevo back in 2014. Anadolujet will directly compete with Pegasus Airlines operating up to nine weekly flights between Istanbul’s Asian side airport and Sarajevo. During the summer season Sarajevo and Istanbul will be connected with record 33 weekly flights (Turkish Airlines 21, Pegasus Airlines 9 and Anadolujet 3).

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈Sarajevo Airport Winter 2020-21

The 2020/21 winter timetable enters into force on Sunday, October 25^th. 2020. until March 27^th of 2021. This winter season will be like no other due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Majority of the world airlines are in survival mode operating at 20-30% capacity. 

Sarajevo Airport has been hit extremely hard with flight cancelations and airlines temporary withdrawal from the airport due to border closures and ever-changing entry rules. Passengers traffic is expected to plummet even deeper during upcoming winter months. Last winter season passengers were able to fly to 14 destinations in 11 countries in Europe and Gulf region with 81 weekly departures.

This winter season Sarajevo Airport will be served by: Air Serbia (Belgrade), Austrian Airlines (Vienna), Croatia Airlines (Zagreb), Eurowings (Cologne and Stuttgart), Flydubai (Dubai), Lufthansa (Munich), Pegasus Airlines (Istanbul) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul). 10 destinations in 7 countries will be served with 44 weekly departures. Two largest markets out of Sarajevo are Turkey and Germany and will be served with following frequencies: Turkey will be served with 11 weekly flights: Turkish Airlines (5 flights) and Pegasus Airlines (6 flights), Germany will be served with 9 weekly flights: Lufthansa (4 flights) and Eurowings (5 flights). Due to entry regulations and decreased demand for air travel changes in schedules are highly likely (Schedule as of October 11, 2020). 

During Winter timetable 2020/21 number of available seats is 217.664, representing a decrease of -52,24% or -238.144 seats less, compared to the same time of the last year.

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈Sarajevo Airport flight resumption schedule

The airlines are slowly resuming Sarajevo operations, with 2-3 flights per week, gradually increasing to pre corona services during July and August.

 Sarajevo International Airport flights resumption schedule :

15.06.2020. Austrian Airlines (Vienna)

15.06.2020. Croatia Airlines (Zagreb)

16.06.2020. Eurowings (Cologne)

18.06.2020. Pegasus Airlines (Istanbul-SAW)

21.06.2020. Turkish Airlines (Istanbul-IST)

01.07.2020. Flydubai (Dubai)

01.07.2020. FlyBosnia (Antalya, Riyadh, Muscat)

01.07.2020. Air Arabia (Sharjah)

02.07.2020. FlyBosnia (Manama, Jeddah)

02.07.2020. Flynas (Riyadh)

03.07.2020. FlyBosnia (Kuwait City, Gassim)

06.07.2020. Lufthansa (Munich)

09.07.2020. FlyBosnia (Hail)

20.07.2020. Eurowings (Stuttgart)

03.08.2020. Eurowings (Berlin)

Source: Flying Bosnian

✈ Sarajevo Airport Summer 2020 flight schedule

Note: Flight schedule was completed before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak

Sarajevo International Airport destination map (Summer 2020) ADRIA AIRWAYS Adria Airways went bankrupt in September of 2019 and ceased all operation. The airline operated daily flights to Sarajevo with Bombardier CRJ-900 Aircraft. During 2019 Adria Airways transported 21.795 passengers between Ljubljana and Sarajevo. With Adria Airways bankruptcy Bosnia-Herzegovina has lost its only air link with Slovenia. AEGEAN AIRLINES Greek airline Aegean Airlines has canceled previous plans on relaunching summer seasonal flights from Athens to Sarajevo. Cancellation came as a result of coronavirus pandemic outbreak. Aegean Airlines was selling tickets Athens-Sarajevo until March 1st. FLYBOSNIA FlyBosnia has scheduled two new  destinations in the Gulf region, Hail in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman. FlyBosnia will be operating majority of charter flights out of Sarajevo this summer with flights being reserved by Bosnian travel agencies, securing solid and safe earning for the airline. FlyBosnia will operate charter flights to Antalya in Turkey (daily flights), Hurghada in Egypt and Monastir in Tunisia. During April-October the airline is offering around 100.000 seats on its flights from Sarajevo and Mostar. FlyBosnia will operate following flights during summer timetable 2020: Destination Flight Number Operating Days Dates From-To Antalya (AYT) 6W401/6W402 1234567 01.06.-26.09. Gassim (ELQ) 6W207/6W208 ---4--7 25.05.-30.08. Hail (HAS) 6W205/6W206 1-3—6- 15.06.-06.09. Jeddah (JED) 6W103/6W104 ---4-6- 25.05.-29.08. Kuwait City (KWI) 6W118/6W119 -2—5-7 18.05.-23.10. Manama (BAH) 6W116/6W117 -23-5-7 15.06.-20.08. Muscat (MCT) 6W211/6W212 --3---7 25.05.-13.09. Riyadh (RUH) 6W101/6W102 1234567 18.05.-06.09. Rome (FCO) 6W107/6W108 1—4--- 30.03.-22.10. Monastir (MIR) 6W/6W Charter flights 17.06.-16.09. Hurghada (HRG) 6W/6W Charter flights 25.05.-16.10. AIR SERBIA Air Serbia will be operating early morning flight on Thursday’s offering connection to its Belgrade-New York flight. The airline will be using leased Bombardier CRJ-1000 aircraft offering 100 seats (an increase of 34 seats when compared to usual ATR-72 that Air Serbia operates on Belgrade-Sarajevo route). CROATIA AIRLINES Croatia Airlines is increasing Zagreb-Sarajevo service, from 13 weekly to 14 weekly, all flights are scheduled to operate with Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft. With this increase Croatia Airlines will offer a total of 418 round-trip flights between Zagreb and Sarajevo, representing an increase of 5% or 20 round-trip flights more, adding additional 3.040 seats when compared to the same time of the last year. AIR ARABIA Air Arabia is slightly decreasing number of flights from Sharjah to Sarajevo, from last year’s 143 round-trip flights to this year 135. Reduction will result in 2.592 seats less on offer when compared to the summer of 2019. FLYDUBAI The largest reductions of flights in summer timetable will be by Flydubai on its service from Dubai to Sarajevo. Due to the fleet shortage caused by grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft Flydubai is reducing Sarajevo service from last year’s three daily flights to this year’s one daily. Last year Flydubai operated a total of 332 round-trip flights, while this year the airline has scheduled 181 round-trip flight. Seats offered are down from 115.536 to 62.988, a decrease of 45% or 52.548 seats less. FLYNAS For upcoming summer season Saudi low-cost airline flynas is expanding Sarajevo network by introducing one more destination from Saudi Arabia to Sarajevo. Flights from Gassim (Qassim) to Sarajevo will be introduced on May 25th with three weekly services on board of Airbus 320 aircraft with capacity to seat 164 passengers. For the 2020 summer season flynas is adding additional flights from both, Riyadh and Jeddah (when compared to the last summer). Flights are starting in May and extending to the end of September. Riyadh-Sarajevo flights will be operated six times weekly from May 19th to September 5th, while Jeddah-Sarajevo flights will be operated five times weekly from May 19th to September 5th and then three weekly  from September 6th to September 30th. For summer 2020 Flynas is offering a total of 74.456 seats, representing an increase of 161% or 45.920 seats more. KUWAIT AIRWAYS Kuwait Airways has scheduled Kuwait City - Sarajevo flights beginning June 9th. Flights are scheduled to operate from June 9th  to September 12th , three times weekly with brand new Airbus 320NEO aircraft offering 134 seats (122 economy and 12 in business class seating configuration). Kuwait Airways is offering a total of 11.256 seats in both directions between Kuwait City and Sarajevo. LUFTHANSA Lufthansa is introducing second daily Munich-Sarajevo service. Second daily flight LH1742 will be leaving Munich at 21:30, arriving in Sarajevo at 22:50. Returning flight LH1743 is next day, early morning, leaving Sarajevo at 06:30, arriving in Munich at 07:55. This flight will enable many connections to Lufthansa’s worldwide network, making Sarajevo and Lufthansa’s world network reachable with only one stop in Munich! All flights will operate with Airbus 320 aircraft.

Airlines operating at Sarajevo International Airport (Summer 2020)

Source: Flying Bosnian