The drop in passenger numbers can be attributed to the bankruptcy of Slovenia’s national air carrier, which up to its insolvency in early September had accounted for nearly half of all passengers at Ljubljana Airport. Nine of the 29 routes in the summer timetable were lost when Adria Airways stopped flying. In the winter timetable we have welcomed three new carriers to Brnik. Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Brussels Airlines have established routes to Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Brussels. The majority of the other carriers that fly to/from Ljubljana Airport have increased the frequency of their flights or started using larger planes. In the current winter timetable, twelve air carriers are providing regular flights, and will be joined by at least three more during the summer: British Airways with four flights per week to London Heathrow, Iberia with four flights per week to Madrid, and Finnair with a daily connection to Helsinki.

“We are satisfied with the compensation for the drop in volume in the last three months, as we initially expected a slightly larger drop in the number of passengers. According to current traffic forecasts we believe that traffic volume will continue to develop in accordance with expectations. In 2020 we are expecting at least 1.5 million passengers,” says Janez Krašnja, Head of Airline Management at Fraport Slovenija, with regard to the cessation of operations of Slovenia’s national airline.

Fraport Slovenija will also remember the past year as one of extensive investments in infrastructure. Construction of the new passenger terminal, which began in July, is proceeding according to schedule and will be completed by the summer of 2021. The concrete structure and load-bearing columns have already been built. The construction of the load-bearing structure for the first floor is nearing completion. We have already signed contracts for supply of the equipment for the baggage sorting area and for the provision of technical security at the new terminal.

The Fraport Aviation Academy was opened in March, in October we completed the central energy facility and the aircraft supply hangar, in November we completed the renovation and expansion of the firefighting and rescue station, and the construction of the internal road network, which allows the further development of the Airport City commercial zone, is also in its final stages. Last year, Fraport Slovenija also selected a new provider of civil aviation security services at the airport – Aktiva Varovanje, which began operations when the winter timetable went into effect.

In 2020, our efforts with regard to infrastructure development will be focused on the terminal, which is planned to be opened by the summer of 2021. We are also making preparations for the construction of two service car parks, which will be intended for our employees and all others who work at the airport. We have also initiated procedures for expansion of the main airport apron. The expansion will be carried out in two phases, and is planned to be completed no later than the end of 2022.