Slovenia has issued a seventh tender call for airlines to introduce new routes to the country as it attempts to improve its air connectivity. The Ministry for Infrastructure previously allocated a total of 16.8 million euros in funds for airlines between 2023, when the first public call was made, and 2026, when the last call is expected, although it can be extended if funds are left over. So far, just over one million euros have been used up. The funds equate to covering 50% of the carrier’s fees on the new route.
The previous public calls garnered mixed results. Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, Eurowings and Cyprus Airways have applied over the six previous tenders, although the latter did not submit complete documentation. Luxair (Luxembourg) has been granted 257.960 euros for operations between September 14, 2023, and May 31, 2025. airBaltic (Riga) will receive 284.408 euros for operations between May 2, 2024, and October 31, 2025. Norwegian Air Shuttle (Copenhagen) has been granted 557.518 euros between April 29, 2024 and October 31, 2025, while Iberia (Madrid) was the recipient of 18.774 euros between July 29, 2024, and September 5, 2024. The value of Eurowings’ subsidies has not been made public. So far, all the newly launched routes have been seasonal, with exception to airBaltic, which maintains year-round services, and Luxair, which operated throughout the 2023/24 winter and the 2024 summer, but has only a handful of flights this winter season.
Only airlines registered and based in the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) are eligible for the subsidies. The ECAA is made up of states that are part of the European Union, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Kosovo, and Montenegro. The Slovenian government is primarily targeting the introduction of flights from Vienna, Copenhagen, Madrid, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Oslo, Barcelona, and Lisbon, although all destinations within the ECAA are eligible. Interested carriers have until February 24, just before midnight, to submit their applications. Their opening will not be public and will be carried out by the Aid Granting Commission within fifteen days of the tender deadline.
Slovenia’s three commercial airports handled a total of 1.463.825 passengers in 2024. Of those, Ljubljana Airport accounted for 1.438.713, Portorož welcomed 22.782 customers and Maribor had 2.330 travellers. According to the 2024 Airport Industry Connectivity Report by Airports Council International Europe, Slovenia experienced a significant decline in air connectivity, ranking among the lowest in Europe. The report indicates that Slovenia’s total air connectivity in 2024 was 29% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels
