Wizz Air is closing its base in Tuzla and suspending several routes. The reason, they say, is the changing economic environment. For the airport administration and the Tuzla Canton, the reasons are unjustified.
“Despite the positive indicators, when it comes to the number of passengers, and the well-regarded business policy of Tuzla International Airport, the airline company Wizz Air decided to cancel its base here from September. With this, when it comes to Wizz Air, it will fly to only four destinations,” the company announced.
Basel Mulhouse, Dortmund, Frankfurt-Hahn and Memmingen are the Wizz Air routes that remain at Tuzla International Airport since September. The management of the Tuzla airport was surprised.
Dzevad Halilcevic, director of Tuzla International Airport: “We are always ranked in the top three airports in terms of speed of service, low aircraft delay, everything they look at, so I don’t see any reason for this move.”
This year has been the best ever at Tuzla International Airport in terms of flight occupancy, with 410,000 passengers.
Tuzla International Airport is an important factor in the development of Tuzla Canton. They do not intend to leave significant investments and plans in the Government of Tuzla Canton to chance.
Denis Becirovic, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Transport in the Government of Tuzla Canton: “This year, we have one million and 880 thousand convertible marks, partly through subsidies, partly through capital expenditures and another million for the construction of the central line on the runway at the Tuzla International Airport. We will do everything to overcome the situation.”
Wizz Air is now the only company at Tuzla International Airport. Ryan Air pulled out very quickly on arrival, citing the 3 convertible mark fee they were paying to the Civil Aviation Agency.
“We are negotiating in many directions, whether that tax from DC should be completely abolished, at least when it comes to ultra low-cost carriers, to motivate airlines to fly.” Also, they have some other airlines, now we are in the negotiation phase,” Halilcevic said.
At the Tuzla International Airport, works on the construction of the third gate are nearing completion, documentation is being prepared for the installation of lights on the runway, and the construction of the atrium, as well as the parking lot, is in the final phase. All these, as they state, are prerequisites for more comfortable travel and attracting new airlines.
