One of the largest European airlines – Wizz Air, has dramatically reduced its presence at all airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), although it is strengthening its commitment to our region.
Wizz Air was one of the most important airlines for BiH because it opened up the possibility of traveling to numerous European destinations at very favorable prices.
With the latest decisions of the company, the door is closing for many citizens who intended to travel to some European cities.
Other companies have fewer direct flights to Europe and their prices are much higher because they do not belong to the low-cost segment.
Wizz Air confirmed last week that it plans to close its base in Tuzla. Namely, in September of this year, they will move their two planes based in Tuzla to other bases within the network.
The company said they made the decision due to the changing economic environment, as well as operational challenges caused by the weather in the region, and to take advantage of growth opportunities by reallocating their capacity to other routes with higher demand.
“Although several routes will be suspended, Wizz Air will continue with flights on routes from Tuzla to Basel, Mulhouse, Dortmund, Frankfurt-Hahn, and Memmingen,” they announced.
However, the number of weekly flights will be reduced on these routes as well.
This effectively means the cancellation of the Wizz Air base, because both base planes will be relocated from the Tuzla International Airport.
The company canceled the flights to some of the most important destinations such as Vienna and Berlin, but also Billund, Cologne, Eindhoven, Friedrichshafen, Gothenburg, Baden-Baden, Malmo, Nuremberg and Stockholm Skavsta.
This news comes after it was announced earlier this month that Wizz Air will discontinue flights from Banja Luka to Stockholm Skavsta, with the last flight scheduled for August 28th, as well as from Banja Luka to Hamburg at the end of the summer season on October 28th.
Wizz Air will maintain operations from Banja Luka to Basel and Dortmund this winter.
It should be recalled that at the end of last year, Wizz Air closed its base in Sarajevo, relocated two planes, and canceled almost all routes from the capital of BiH.
Wizz Air then announced that the unfavorable situation on the market and the challenging business environment led to the closure of their base in Sarajevo.
Wizz Air is now announcing flights to London from September this year, but even then it will only have two routes from the capital.
It should be added that the company never started flights from Mostar, which was announced.
The cancellation of two bases and a huge number of lines, along with the reduction of flights to the few remaining lines, is a clear signal that BiH should be worried and that we are not doing something right.
Especially since Wizz Air continues its expansion in the region.
It should be emphasized that another low-cost company – Ryanair has also been reducing its presence in BiH in recent months.
Representatives of all relevant institutions would have to urgently sit down with the administrations of all airports in order to find an answer to this problem, which will make it impossible for the citizens of BiH to travel in Europe like our neighbors, Biznis Info reports.
E.Dz.
