Low cost airline easyJet will launch flights from London Gatwick Airport to Ljubljana this winter season, complementing its existing service from London Stansted to the Slovenian capital.

[pullquote]The budget carrier will run four weekly flights from Gatwick to Ljubljana, each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, starting December 5.
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It comes after the airline boosted operations from Stansted to Ljubljana from daily to nine per week this summer. During most of the coming winter months, the route will be maintained five times per week. The British carrier operates all of its flights to Jože Pučnik Airport with a mix of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

easyJet faces no direct competition on its new route, although rival Wizz Air operates services from London Luton to Ljubljana. On the other hand, Adria Airways maintains flights to Gatwick only on a seasonal summer basis.

Combined, the three airlines handled 150.000 passengers on services between the two cities last year.

easyJet’s Senior Route Manager, Dimitris Schoinas, said, “We are pleased to be adding this new route today giving more choice to connections to the UK’s capital city at affordable fares for both our business and leisure passengers departing from Slovenia and also offering a great airport for onward connections throughout Europe and the UK”. The low cost airline will expand its presence in the former Yugoslavia this winter season, with services from Paris to Pristina to be launched next month.

Ljubljana Airport, which has seen its passenger numbers decline over the past few months on the back of a weaker performance by its main customer – Adria Airways – is looking to ease its reliance on the carrier.

Earlier this year, LOT Polish Airlines launched services from Warsaw to the Slovenian capital, while Greece’s Aegean commenced seasonal flights from Athens. The airport recently held talks with Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai and Air Arabia, with the latter two believed to have shown the greatest interest in launching operations. Qatar Airways is also considering potential services to the Slovenian capital.

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