Wizz Air has been selected as the winner of the latest public call issued by the Tuzla Canton Tourist Board for airline subsidies aimed at supporting the launch of new routes or the establishment of a base. The low cost carrier, which previously operated a two-aircraft base in Tuzla until its closure in September 2023, was the only airline to submit a bid during the unusually brief five-day tender period.
The local government has earmarked 615.000 euros in subsidies for the first year of operations (2025), with annual funding increasing to one million euros between 2026 and 2028. Under the scheme, Wizz Air will receive six euros per arriving passenger on newly launched routes.
The Tuzla Canton Tourist Board will now enter discussions with the airline to finalise the list of new routes and determine whether a base will be reopened in the city. A total of five new services are expected to be introduced – Eindhoven, Hahn, Berlin, Malmo and Gothenburg – complementing the upcoming Vienna route, which is scheduled to launch next Sunday.
Wizz Air has maintained a presence in Tuzla since the closure of its base, however, the number of flights and its network size have been significantly reduced causing a sharp decline in passenger numbers at the airport, Ex Yu Aviation news portal writes.
