No airline has applied for the Slovenian government’s ninth public tender aimed at encouraging carriers to launch new flights to the country in return for subsidies. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, the Ministry for Infrastructure confirmed that no applications have been submitted so far, with the tender set to close on Saturday. The Ministry has allocated 1.35 million euros for this round, with an additional 1.2 million euros per year to be made available in 2026 and 2027. To date, the state has concluded agreements with airlines worth two million euros, of which 670.000 euros have been paid out under the previous eight tender calls, five of which were successful.
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. Applications must include a detailed business plan showing that the route can become profitable beyond the subsidy period. This plan should include projected passenger numbers, profitability forecasts and marketing strategies. If no business plan is submitted, carriers must provide a binding written declaration committing to operate the route for at least as long as the period of aid. Airlines may operate supported routes seasonally rather than year-round, provided they comply with the submitted business plan. Applicants must also set the maximum one-way economy fare (excluding taxes and baggage fees), which will be assessed if multiple carriers apply for the same route. The Ministry has clarified that aid cannot be combined with subsidies from other states for the same route.
The previous subsidy calls produced mixed results. Over the past eight tenders, Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, Eurowings, Cyprus Airways and Air Albania submitted applications, although not all met the criteria to qualify for funding.
The Ministry has not ruled out the possibility of establishing a new national carrier, although such a development appears unlikely at this stage. In a recent statement to Bloomberg Adria, the Ministry noted, “The possibility of establishing a national airline is still a relevant option”.
Meanwhile, Ljubljana Airport is preparing for a strong winter season, with four new routes set to launch, followed by two more next summer. During the upcoming 2025/26 winter season, which begins this Sunday, the airport will offer 640.510 seats on scheduled flights, representing an increase of 16.5% compared to last winter. Apart from scheduled services, there will be charters to Italy, Portugal, Spain, Iceland, Turkey, Netherlands, Malta, Egypt and Jordan.
