North Macedonia is pushing to reestablish direct air connections with the Gulf region, with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport, Aleksandar Nikoloski, confirming active negotiations with low-cost carrier Air Arabia to launch two new routes from the United Arab Emirates.
During an official visit to the UAE, Minister Nikoloski revealed that the talks with Air Arabia are focused on introducing at least two nonstop services, one of which could serve the tourist hotspot of Ohrid. “We are in discussions with Air Arabia to establish at least two new routes, one of which we hope will serve the Ohrid region to further boost tourism,” he stated.
Air Arabia, which operates bases in both Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, is being considered as a key partner in the government’s broader aviation strategy, particularly as Macedonia has lacked direct flights to the Gulf since 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Flydubai and Qatar Airways to suspend their Skopje services, and neither has returned to the Macedonian market at full strength since.
Flydubai had planned to relaunch its Dubai–Skopje route this summer, but the launch has been delayed. Nevertheless, the airline remains committed to the route. “A nonstop Flydubai service between Dubai and Skopje is expected to launch soon. Flights have been temporarily postponed, though the airline remains committed to launching the route in the near future,” Nikoloski said.
As part of a new government initiative to improve air connectivity, six international routes from Skopje and Ohrid have already been secured for 2025, including the upcoming Flydubai service. The efforts are supported by a revised subsidy programme aimed at attracting airlines. “Through targeted support and a revised subsidy model, we’ve managed to attract new airlines, and the results speak for themselves,” Nikoloski noted. “Under the government’s 2025–2027 financial support programme, a total of 5.9 million euros has been allocated to subsidise new air routes. The programme is designed to boost air traffic, make travel more accessible for citizens, and support the development of civil aviation in the country.”
Despite its ambitions, Air Arabia’s track record in the former Yugoslavia has been mixed. The airline previously operated routes from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to Sarajevo, but none are scheduled for 2025. Attempts to serve Tuzla (2011), Pristina (2012), and Belgrade (2019) were also short-lived, with routes cancelled within months—or, in Belgrade’s case, never even launched.
Nonetheless, Macedonia appears optimistic that the current talks with Air Arabia—and the renewed interest from Flydubai—could finally restore vital air links with the Gulf, enhancing tourism, business, and regional connectivity in the process.
Source: exyuaviation.com
