Ljubljana Airport “Jože Pučnik” has revived talks with Air India in order for the Indian national carrier to launch its once planned flights from Mumbai to New York via Ljubljana. Last year Air India and Adria Airways signed a memorandum of understanding
which was to see Air India code share on Adria’s regional flights, while in return the Indian national carrier would operate some of its services to the United States via the Slovenian capital.
The Managing Director of Ljubljana Airport, Zmago Skobir, has said he is an optimist when it comes to talks with Air India. A recently signed air transport agreement between the two countries has removed bureaucratic obstacles for the flights to be launched. However, Skobir did not want to give dates as to when services could be launched since the planed flights did not materialise the last time around.
Furthermore, Ljubljana has also begun talks with Chinese partners over potential flights. Skobir says the airport will work hard to attract additional low cost airlines in 2013. In just over a month, Wizz Air will launch services from London and Charleroi to the Slovenian capital.
This year, Jože Pučnik Airport has been hit by a decline in passenger numbers and profits, which it puts down to the financial crisis and Adria Airways’ woes. The Slovenian carrier holds a 70% share of all flights to and from the Slovenian capital. In the first half of the year, Ljubljana Airport posted a profit of 14.5 million euros, down 5.8% compared to the same period last year. It handled 527.151 passengers, compared to last year’s 607.088, representing a decrease of 13.2%