Passenger numbers at Ljubljana airport in H1 plummet y/y

Brnik – Ljubljana airport saw around 70,000 passengers in the first half of 2021, which is almost three times fewer than in the same period last year. An increased number of passengers was recorded in the last two months, and the airport operator is also happy with new links with Ljubljana being established.

Fraport Slovenija, the operator of Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, told the STA on Friday that 70,011 passengers and almost 6,800 aircraft movements were recorded in the first six months of the year.

The number of aircraft movements was actually lower in the same period in 2020, while the number of passengers was much higher, above 197,000.

The first half of last year was more successful than the same period this year as the operator managed to quickly compensate in the first two months and a half for a drop in traffic caused by the bankruptcy of the flag carrier Adria Airways.

However, last year’s numbers are completely unrelatable to the pre-coronavirus year 2019, when the airport saw almost 860,000 passengers and recorded almost 17,000 aircraft movements.

The dramatic drop in the number of passengers in the first half of 2020 is mostly attributed to the government’s decree banning air passenger traffic between 17 March and 12 May due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Drop in cargo traffic was much smaller, as 5,400 tonnes of cargo was transshipped at the airport in the first half of 2021, compared to 5,700 tonnes in the same period in 2019. The number stood at 5,100 tonnes in the first half of 2020.

While Covid-19 restrictions are still felt in air transport, Fraport Slovenija said that “in the summer months, an increased number of passengers could be seen also at our airport.”

The operator is happy that the network of flights is increasing despite the demanding situation. “Airlines are adding new flights for the existing destinations all the time, and are also establishing new links.”

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