“We are discussing a direct service between Ljubljana and Ukraine”
Adria Airways has confirmed it is considering launching flights from Ljubljana to Ukraine. The carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, Thomas Hoess, said, “Ukraine has potential. We are now in negotiations with Ukrainian airports and are exchanging ideas. I cannot go into detail at this moment but we are discussing a direct service between Ljubljana and Ukraine”. It is unclear when the flights could commence. There are currently no air links between the two countries. Adria last operated to Kiev in 2011 on a seasonal summer basis, being the only carrier in the former Yugoslavia to serve Ukraine at the time. Flights were suspended as part of the airline’s wide-ranging cost cutting measures.
In 2014 the Slovenian carrier intended to resume the route and applied for permits and slots at Kiev Airport. However, those plans were shelved with the outbreak of violence in Ukraine. More recently, Adria maintained services from Belgrade to Kiev on behalf of Air Serbia using its Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.
After consolidating its operations over the past few months, the Slovenian airline aims to boost its flight offering over the coming years. It will increase frequencies on a number of routes this winter season and its management aims put a greater focus on Ljubljana as a transfer hub for passengers from the Balkans and eastern Europe towards the continent’s main airports in the west.
