Despite challenging weather conditions, a plane from Bratislava successfully landed at Tuzla International Airport tonight, marking the official launch of a new base by Wizz Air.
With the arrival of the airline’s second base aircraft, Tuzla is now connected to 15 destinations across eight countries. Six new routes have been introduced, offering flights to Larnaca, Paris, Bratislava, Gothenburg, Berlin and Frankfurt.
Director of Tuzla International Airport, Dževad Halilčević, highlighted the steady growth in operations, noting that the airport currently offers 13 destinations with Wizz Air. Additional connections to Istanbul are operated by Air Jet and Pegasus Airlines, while Chair Airlines is expected to launch flights to Zurich later this summer. Since the beginning of the year, nearly 90,000 passengers have passed through the airport, representing a 55 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The newly established Bratislava route will operate twice weekly. Roman Hloben emphasized the broader significance of the connection, stating that it will strengthen ties between the two countries and open new opportunities for travel and cooperation. He described Bratislava as “an entry ticket to Central Europe.”
Authorities in both Tuzla and Bratislava expect the new routes to boost economic development, tourism, and diaspora connectivity. The Government of Tuzla Canton continues to invest in the airport’s growth, allocating significant funds for infrastructure and flight subsidies.
Minister of Transport, Trade and Tourism of Tuzla Canton, Almir Žilić, announced that more than five million convertible marks have been planned for 2026, including over two million for subsidizing flights per arriving passenger, following the model of major European airports.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to introduce a third base aircraft at Tuzla. Negotiations with additional airlines are ongoing, and projections indicate that by the end of the year, around 760,000 passengers could be served — a record since the airport’s establishment.
