Wizz Air has recorded sturdy outcomes on its Skopje – Ljubljana service launched in 2023, nevertheless, the service sees restricted scope for broader enlargement from the Slovenian capital, twenty years after first coming into the market. As EX-YU Aviation Information learns, Wizz Air doesn’t consider the present state subsidies, launched to draw airways following the collapse of Adria Airways and the impression of the Covid-19 pandemic, are structured in a manner that may enable it to profitably scale up operations from Ljubljana. Though the low price service has expressed curiosity in rising its presence in Slovenia, it considers the present incentive framework misaligned with its industrial mannequin. Over the previous two years, Wizz Air has held a number of conferences with Slovenian authorities officers to discover potential enlargement alternatives. Whereas discussions have taken place, no concrete development plans have materialised beneath the current subsidy scheme.
Wizz Air first entered the Slovenian market in 2006, launching providers from Charleroi and London Luton. Each routes proved short-lived, with the Luton service ending in February 2007 and Charleroi discontinued in January 2008. The airline returned to Ljubljana in 2012, reinstating flights to Charleroi, which have been maintained till late 2022, whereas the Luton route continued till 2024. In late 2023, Wizz Air launched flights between Skopje and Ljubljana, supported beneath a three-year subsidy settlement with the Macedonian authorities. Beneath the phrases of that association, the airline is required to take care of the service past September 2026 for an extra three-year interval. In 2025, Wizz Air carried 68.060 passengers on the Skopje – Ljubljana route, reaching a mean cabin load issue of 92.9%,
The Slovenian authorities’s subsidy program, launched to enhance the nation’s air connectivity, has delivered combined outcomes. Over the course of 9 public calls to airways, Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, Eurowings, Cyprus Airways and Air Albania submitted purposes. Of the 2 low price carriers that participated within the scheme, Eurowings has since discontinued flights to Ljubljana, whereas Norwegian continues to function seasonal providers to Copenhagen. The result has raised questions over the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the present incentive framework in attracting and retaining low price capability.
Wizz Air final held official talks with the Slovenian authorities in March 2025, Wizz Air publicly acknowledged that it wants extra readability on Slovenia’s subsidy program. Ljubljana Airport has beforehand stated it goals to extend its share of low price carriers to 30%. It famous, “Now we have a number of aims, however one of many largest challenges is growing the share of low price carriers. We’re properly coated by full service airways, nevertheless, a stronger low price presence would additional improve our enterprise. That doesn’t imply we purpose to turn out to be a low price hub. Low price carriers at the moment account for round 20% of site visitors at our airport, and we want to see that determine rise. On the identical time, we aren’t a hub airport, so our connectivity relies on hyperlinks to main hub airports, which low price carriers don’t at all times serve. Sustaining hub connections stays important for total connectivity. Our objective is to extend the LCC share to 30%”.
