In the post-Adria Airways era and as the world continues to emerge from the devastating and all-encompassing effects of the novel coronavirus, Slovenia continues to identify the challenges it must overcome to reconnect the Central European state with the wider world. As though has become abundantly clear: identifying is one thing; overcoming is quite another.…
A continued lack of air connectivity is reputationally and economically damaging to Slovenia
It will come as no surprise to those versed with the nuances of Slovenian aviation that talks between the country's Ministry of Infrastructure and low-cost carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair have drawn a blank, facilitating a continued stasis in growth at both Ljubljana and Maribor airports. Despite the outcome being highly predictable it is nevertheless…
Slovenia and Ryanair: Does the airline simply wish to complete the EU set, or has the previously missing middle ground finally been found?
It has been assumed by many aviation analysts and even those without a professional interest in the industry that Ljubljana's Fraport-owned and operated Brnik Airport held all the cards as to why Slovenia is the only nation within the European Union(EU) where Irish Low Cost Carrier(LCC) Ryanair does not operate. Who though is the puppet…
Slovenia: The lack of a flag carrier does not justify poor connectivity
It is not a big surprise that Slovenia will not during its incumbent administration seek to (re)establish a new national flag carrier. Perhaps more surprising is that a country of two million people previously had such an entity but any incredulity does a serious disservice to the much missed Adria Airways. I first used Adria…
Air Adriatic falls at the first hurdle in its quest to replace Adria Airways
Should a country the size of Slovenia expect to have a national airline? A nation of just over two million citizens is not an ideal market for an established flag carrier or one that is considering starting up, and had the former Yugoslav republic not previously been serviced by the now defunct Adria Airways, I…
Adria Airways and Sukhoi: Cancelled agreement mired in claim and counterclaim
The dramatic cancellation of a deal to supply Slovenian flag-carrier Adria Airways with a phased delivery of fifteen Sukhoi Superjets has provoked a divergence of reasons behind the now annulled agreement. Much is therefore unclear, although it is blatantly unequivocal that both parties will insist on pursuing their own face-saving narrative. The need for owners…
Adria Airways: No Sukhoi Superjets, and no obvious Plan B
Adria Airways' summer schedule was presumably released by the Brnik-based flag carrier on the proviso that it was to begin receiving, through a phased introduction, the first two of what was to be a deal for up to fifteen Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft. The introduction of the Russian-made jets to the Star Alliance member's fleet…
Maribor Airport the real victim of VLM Airlines’ demise
To describe VLM Airlines as Maribor Airport's 'anchor tenant' somewhat stretches a definition more associated with large retail concerns, situated to attract custom to smaller, adjacent businesses. Despite offering a modern, fit for purpose terminal, VLM were though all Maribor's Edvard Rusjan Airport had, aside from sporadic charter flights for visiting soccer teams. Having recently…
Adria Airways widens regional reach with Paderborn base and additions to its fleet
Slovenian flag-carrier Adria Airways are to facilitate the opening of a new base in the German city of Paderborn with the addition of six Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft, sourced from the now defunct Switzerland-based Darwin Airline. Although only a single Saab will be based in the western German city it will enable Adria to connect…
Should its new-found stability encourage Adria Airways to stick or twist?
Adria Airways' tacit core strategy of concentrating on its 'bread and butter' routes from Ljubljana's Brnik Airport has been further underlined by an increased commitment by the Slovenian flag carrier to extend services into its fellow former-Yugoslav republics. Despite there always being a wide disparity between the relatively prosperous northern Yugoslavia and the comparatively impoverished…
Adria Airways: 2015 passenger numbers fail to offset rumoured €5 million loss
During the course of 2015 Adria Airways operated 17,931 flights from Ljubljana's Brnik Aerodrome and the likes of Pristina and Tirana, averaging out at a rather ordinary 58.3 travellers per flight. An aggregated total of 1,045,442 passengers over the 12 month period saw load factors marginally drop to 68%. Despite the 14% year on year spike…
Maribor Airport: no return of London flights but services confirmed to Duesseldorf and Split
Adria Airways have confirmed that flights operated by the Slovenian flag carrier from Maribor's Edvard Rusjan Airport will not recommence during 2016, dashing hopes that its 2015 route into London Southend, its first service from Maribor in fifteen years, will be reintroduced for the summer season. This decision was presumably made before Adria's new owners,…
Adria Airways: new Olsztyn service the only surprise in summer 2016 timetable
There are few surprises within Adria Airways' recently released summer schedule, most of the destinations in a timetable slated to come into force on March 26th have figured in the Slovenian flag carrier's roster for many years. Although ownership of the Brnik-based airline has now passed to German investment vehicle 4K Invest Adria's schedule is…
Adria Airways: sale of Slovenian flag carrier agreed in principal
GOING...GOING...FINALLY GONEThe seemingly interminable denationalisation of the troubled Slovenian flag carrier has been concluded, at the second time of asking, although the wishes of the Slovenian government to divest themselves of Adria Airways have been bubbling under the surface since its initial failed attempt in 2012.As widely reported in the Slovenian media, on the Ex-Yugoslav…
Adria Airways to sell for €1 – but there’s a catch…
The imminent sale of Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways has taken a decisive step towards its denouement, with the country's incumbent administration agreeing to facilitate the airline's disposal with a rumoured €2-4 million cash injection that could potentially be used to service the Brnik-based operator's debts, one of the reported conditions demanded by interested parties…
Ljubljana Airport hopeful of one, perhaps two, new terminal buildings
An airport terminal to match the ambition and heavy investment from owners Fraport could soon become a reality at Ljubljana's Brnik Aerodrome, following news that work to bring the dated facility into the 21st century is due to commence early in 2016, with completion tentatively slated for 2018.Check in and security have for some years…
Adria Airways to operate seasonal Klagenfurt-Cephalonia service
In a ongoing programme of expansion outside of Slovenia's borders, flag carrier Adria Airways have announced its intention to operate services from Klagenfurt Airport, a short journey across the frontier it shares with Austria and based at the heart of its Carinthia province.Having taken the unusual step of stepping into the breach vacated by the…
Adria Airways set to welcome additional CRJ700-class jet to its fleet
A twelve year old Bombardier CRJ700-class aircraft formerly operated by Lufthansa is over the next few weeks due to enter service with Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways. Joining a similar jet in Adria's fleet acquired in March that predominantly operates out of their hub in the Polish city of Lodz, the plane is currently in…
Adria Airways: a January sale of the Slovenian flag carrier?
The protracted sale process of Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways appears to be entering its denouement, following reports that a meeting scheduled for 19th January 2016 called to discuss and vote on a recapitalisation package, rumoured to total €8 million and designed to see the ailing airline through the notoriously lean winter season, will decide…
Adria Airways loses Istanbul route but gains Brnik service to Cologne
Adria Airways have of late scored some notable successes over rival airlines, especially the decision of Swiss to discontinue their only recently reinstated Ljubljana to Zurich route, in the face of fierce competition from the Slovenian flag carrier. Elsewhere, Adria secured its fifth route out of Tirana's Mother Teresa Airport that saw the shelving of…
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