Ljubljana (LJU) and Zagreb (ZAG) airports are stepping up efforts to attract new partners and expand airline routes, with Ljubljana Airport positioning itself as the “airport of choice for the region”. Ljubljana has easy access to Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. A resurgent Ljubljana held numerous meetings at the Routes World event, where airlines, airports and other stakeholders discussed new services. Ljubljana plans to reduce passenger leakage to nearby airports, including Zagreb, whilst Zagreb Airport plans to grow its aviation connections worldwide.
What is Ljubljana Airport doing to develop?
Ljubljana Airport has entered the winter season with 22 direct routes operated by 18 airlines, including new connections to London Luton and Tenerife. The expanded winter schedule responds to a successful summer for Slovenia’s main international airport. In August alone, Ljubljana Airport welcomed 222,958 passengers, exceeding its previous August record of 211,595 in 2019. The airport is preparing to welcome new services and travel options while maintaining connections to major European aviation hubs.
Ljubljana Airport’s CEO, Juergen Dieschel, said:
“We are surrounded by several international airports within driving distance, and passengers today compare schedules, prices, airline products and convenience very actively.
“The real question is therefore: how do we make Ljubljana the most attractive airport choice wherever we can compete? Our answer is clear: by expanding the route network, offering reliable and efficient operations, maintaining a high-quality passenger experience, and working with airlines and tourism stakeholders to build direct demand for Slovenia.”
Ljubljana Airport’s route development priorities include Italy, Germany, areas in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and additional city-break destinations. Long-haul connectivity remains a key focus, with the airport identifying opportunities in the Middle East and Asia, alongside its newly secured United States market.
What is Zagreb Airport trying to pursue?
After securing Air China flights from Beijing this year, Zagreb Airport is looking to further expand its network. Zagreb Airport is significantly larger than Ljubljana, both in passenger volume and scale, and this advantage could help it become Croatia’s largest international gateway. Zagreb Airport took part in Routes World and said:
“Zagreb Airport continues to benefit from one of its key competitive advantages: low seasonality. Unlike many leisure-focused destinations, Zagreb enjoys stable year-round traffic generated by a balanced mix of business, tourism, and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel. This provides airlines with greater sustainability and supports consistent connectivity throughout the year.”
Outlining its network development priorities, Zagreb Airport said:
“There are still markets in Europe that remain either unserved or underserved, and those are our priorities. When it comes to long-haul operations, the United States, China, India and Japan are the main unserved markets, and we are working on establishing direct connections with these.”
Zagreb Airport is actively discussing further route developments with its airline partners and expects to share positive news about its route portfolio soon.
Should small airports compete for long-haul routes over larger ones, or should they feed hubs instead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
