On todays press conference the hungarian low-cost carrier Wizzair disclosed plans to return to Bratislava. The first route to be launched is from Bratislava to the Macedonian capital Skopje. The route will be operated twice weekly (monday, friday) from 28th march onwards with Airbus 320 aircraft. While the carrier has been presenting expectations that this route will boost tourism between Slovakia and Macedonia, it is expected that the route will be primarily aimed at ethnic travelers between Skopje and Vienna.
Bratislava airport is located only about 50 kilometers from Vienna, so is perfectly positioned as a low cost alternative to the rather expensive airport in the austrian Capital.
While the carrier was hesitant to disclose further planned routes from Bratislava, it is in general expected to launch a new route from Sofia to Bratislava by end of 1H 2016, with at least 2 more routes to follow by the end of the year. Belgrade and Bucharest to Bratislava routes are rumored to follow at that stage.
Wizzair is becoming only the 5th scheduled carrier in Bratislava and its arrival is expected to signifficantly boost trafic at the largest airport in Slovakia in 2016. The airport has seen mixed fortunes after the demise of the home based SkyEurope airlines, but has recently been able to attract new carriers and routes, boosting growth to 15% this year.
