June 26, 2018
In a detailed report posted last Friday, the website Ex-Yu Aviation News goes over Ljubljana Airports current plans, as part of an interview with the General Manager, Zmago Skobir. He stated that “the Gulf is our priority, but we would also like to add more flights from Italy, Spain and Scandinavia to our network”, adding that Germany is especially important. “That’s the reason why Adria Airways and other carriers will introduce flights to the northern part of Germany, while easyJet will commence services from Berlin Tegel this summer”.
Mr Skobir also noted the start on June 23 of All Nippon Airways’ charter flights to Slovenia, being serviced for the first time by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. "Even though Slovenia is a small country, it is the best place for travellers from Asia to start their journey and continue to our neighbouring countries."
Staying with Asia, another report quoted the Slovenian Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Počivalšek, as saying “We expect that direct flights between China's north-western city of Xi'an and our capital city Ljubljana will be established soon", with the Chinese airport run by Fraport, the same firm that manages Ljubljana Airport.
Aside from new routes, the airport is also focused on enlarging its passenger terminal, with work on the facility due to begin later this year, and scheduled to be in operation for the summer 2020 season. This should increase the number of passengers that can be handled from 500 and hour to 1,280.
Mr Skobir also noted that the airport is both benefiting from and facilitating Slovenia’s status as a hi-tech nation. This is seen, for example, in American Airlines Cargo’s use of the facility, which serves as a hub from which cargo is then moved by truck to nearby European destinations.
