Pristina Airport is on monitor to greater than double its pre-pandemic passenger volumes this yr. Following the arrival of recent carriers, a revised incentive coverage and the growth of its terminal, EX-YU Aviation Information spoke to Pristina Airport CEO Gokhan Acikgoz about upcoming plans, together with goal markets, prospects for long-haul providers and additional infrastructure upgrades.
Pristina Airport is as soon as once more experiencing report passenger visitors this yr. What are the primary drivers behind this development, and what’s your general goal for 2025?
Certainly, 2025 is shaping as much as be one other record-breaking yr for Pristina Worldwide Airport. As an organization, one in all our priorities has been to make air journey extra accessible to the folks of Kosovo and its widespread diaspora. To that finish, we’ve targeted our efforts on encouraging airways to undertake extra aggressive pricing methods. By constant dialogue, data-driven route help, and tailor-made incentive packages, we’ve efficiently influenced the market in ways in which immediately profit our passengers.
A number of key drivers are fuelling this development. First, the sturdy ties of our diaspora throughout Europe proceed to generate vital demand, significantly in the course of the summer season season. Second, our strategic concentrate on route growth, coupled with shut cooperation with the authorities of Kosovo and our airline companions, has led to the launch of recent locations and elevated frequencies on high-performing routes. Third, our enhanced incentive coverage has helped us stay aggressive within the area, attracting each new entrants and extra capability from present carriers.
Our 16% year-on-year aeronautical development displays not solely rising passenger volumes but in addition our capability to form market dynamics by way of strategic communication and a deep understanding of each airline priorities and traveller behaviour.
Trying forward, our goal is to achieve 4.5 million passengers in 2025, a milestone that displays the momentum we’ve constructed and the boldness we’ve in Pristina Airport’s continued development as a key hub within the Western Balkans.
Completely. The latest launch of flights to Saudi Arabia marks just the start of our growth technique past conventional European routes. We’re proactively concentrating on leisure markets, particularly in Spain and France, as a part of our 2026 development agenda. These locations are well-suited to serve each outbound Kosovar holidaymakers and inbound vacationers drawn to the Mediterranean’s wealthy cultural and leisure choices.
This technique is rooted in broader European airport traits. Airports Council Worldwide (ACI Europe) notes that leisure and VFR [Visiting Friends & Relatives] demand, coupled with development in low value provider providers, are driving connectivity throughout Europe. Many airports are capitalising on this development, leveraging seasonal routes to Spain, France, Portugal and Greece to diversify their networks.
We’re at present in lively discussions with each low value and scheduled carriers relating to seasonal leisure routes to Spain and France, and we’re optimistic that these efforts will end in new providers kicking off by summer season 2026. This displays our ongoing dedication to positioning Pristina as a key gateway for each outbound and inbound leisure journey within the area.
Establishing a direct route between Pristina and the USA is an thrilling milestone for our airport. Nonetheless, additionally it is a fancy and difficult endeavour that requires shut collaboration and help past the airport itself. We’re actively engaged in ongoing discussions with state authorities in each the USA and Kosovo, in addition to in talks with numerous airways.
We firmly consider {that a} direct flight between Pristina and the USA is not going to solely open new journey alternatives for our passengers but in addition elevate the strategic significance of our airport and nation inside the area.
Now we have been working tirelessly to make this imaginative and prescient a actuality. A big achievement on this journey was efficiently passing the TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) evaluation final yr, with no discovering, a important milestone within the course of.
Whereas formal agreements have but to be finalised, we’re optimistic that, by way of continued efforts, this essential connection, alongside a number of different strategic routes, can be launched quickly. This may considerably enhance accessibility for our diaspora and additional strengthen bilateral ties.
For the reason that introduction of our revised incentive coverage, we’ve noticed a transparent and measurable improve in airline engagement and route growth. The coverage was considerately crafted to supply focused help that aligns with airline industrial methods, mitigating preliminary danger and inspiring funding in new or underserved markets.
Consequently, we anticipate the launch of a number of new routes, together with each leisure locations and strategically vital connections, as beforehand famous. In parallel, the coverage has additionally helped strengthen {our relationships} with present airline companions, encouraging them to extend frequencies and increase capability on high-performing routes.
General, the motivation program has confirmed to be a extremely efficient device in enhancing Pristina Airport’s connectivity and competitiveness inside the area. We stay dedicated to repeatedly monitoring and refining the coverage to make sure it stays attentive to evolving market circumstances and airline wants.
Concerning infrastructure, what are the subsequent deliberate developments or upgrades on the airport?
We’re actively advancing a complete infrastructure growth plan to make sure Pristina Worldwide Airport stays a contemporary, environment friendly and future-ready hub for the area. Our technique focuses on increasing capability, enhancing the passenger expertise, enhancing operational effectivity and investing in sustainability.
Digitally, we’re working very laborious to modernise our complete passenger journey by way of a cloud-based platform. This contains self-service kiosks, automated bag-drop and biometric boarding, together with a centralised Airport Administration Suite that permits real-time, data-driven decision-making throughout operations.
The continuing investments are a testomony to our long-term imaginative and prescient for Pristina Airport as a high-performing, passenger-focused, and sustainable gateway for the Western Balkans.
