The Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure has issued a contemporary tender to spice up the nation’s air connectivity, offering monetary incentives for airways to introduce new scheduled providers from the nation’s airports. The state will present subsidies masking as much as 50% of airport costs for a most of two years from the beginning of operations. Eligible prices embrace touchdown, take-off, parking, passenger processing and floor dealing with costs at Slovenian airports. Not like a direct low cost, carriers should first pay the complete airport charges and can then be reimbursed upon submitting invoices.
Solely airways registered and based mostly within the European Frequent Aviation Space (ECAA) are eligible for the subsidies. The ECAA is made up of states which might be a part of the European Union, in addition to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Kosovo and Montenegro. The Slovenian authorities is primarily focusing on the introduction of flights to Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, and Lisbon, though all locations inside the ECAA are eligible. Purposes should embrace an in depth marketing strategy displaying that the route can turn into worthwhile past the subsidy interval. This plan ought to embrace projected passenger numbers, profitability forecasts, and advertising methods. If no marketing strategy is submitted, carriers should present a binding written declaration committing to function the route for no less than so long as the interval of support.
Airways could function supported routes seasonally quite than year-round, offered they adjust to the submitted marketing strategy. Candidates should additionally set the utmost one-way financial system fare (excluding taxes and baggage charges), which will likely be assessed if a number of carriers apply for a similar route. The ministry has clarified that support can’t be mixed with subsidies from different states for a similar route, and if an airline ceases operations with out fulfilling obligations, the monetary help have to be repaid in full. In case of a number of candidates for a similar route, these providing stronger connectivity on the vacation spot airport or working inside the popular time blocks will achieve further factors.
Airways should submit functions by October 25, 2025. The federal government hopes this spherical of tenders will assist Slovenia shut its connectivity hole and strengthen hyperlinks with precedence markets. The earlier public calls garnered blended outcomes. Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, Eurowings, Cyprus Airways and Air Albania utilized over the eight earlier tenders., though not all certified for the subsidies.
