The Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Communications, Aleksandar Nikoloski, has said the government is working on the launch of long-haul flights from Skopje. “We are working intensively to make Skopje the third capital in the Balkans to offer transoceanic flights. Currently, long-haul flights are available from airports in Istanbul and Belgrade, and our goal is for Skopje to become the third city to provide such connections”, the Minister noted. Mr Nikoloski said the project is “ambitious” but noted the benefits for the country would be significant.
The Minister did not specify how long-haul flights would be established from Skopje, however, it is not the first time the idea has been floated. In 2017, the Macedonian government discussed the possible introduction of flights from Skopje to the United States and Canada with Turkish Airlines’ CEO Bilal Eksi. Macedonia and Turkey have an Open Skies Agreement in place with both the United States and Canada, which permits for a Turkish carrier to be issued fifth freedom rights by regulators from all parties involved. However, in order for Skopje to secure flights to the States, it would also have to undergo an audit by US authorities.
Commenting on the potential introduction of long-haul flights, the General Manager of airport operator TAV Macedonia, Nejat Kurt, said last year, “It is an ongoing conversation with airlines and our headquarters are working on this. We have all the tools, necessary equipment, and facilities to cater for long-haul flights to markets such as North America. I am personally convinced that this will happen in the nearest future. I believe that this is a good step forward and I hope that we will have a positive outcome with airlines that are willing to operate such flights”. Based on indirect traffic flow data, New York is Skopje’s busiest unserved long-haul destination. It is followed by Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, then Chicago, Toronto and Perth.
