The Ministry of Trade, Tourism, and Transport of the Tuzla Canton has announced plans to launch a public call for subsidies aimed at airlines introducing new routes from Tuzla Airport. A total of €615,000 has been allocated to support flights to destinations such as Eindhoven, Hahn, Vienna, Berlin, Malmö, and Gothenburg. The proposal is expected to receive government approval next week, after which the official call for applications will be issued. Airlines will have a 15-day window to submit their applications.
“Establishing flights between Tuzla Canton and cities across the European Union significantly enhances tourism in our region and positively impacts the economy. Similar financial incentives are provided by other countries in the region and the EU to encourage airlines to launch new routes,” said Tuzla Canton Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Transport, Almir Žilić.
The upcoming tender is widely believed to be aimed at Wizz Air, which closed its base at Tuzla Airport in 2023. The airline recently announced a new service between Vienna and Tuzla, set to commence in mid-June, making it eligible for the subsidies. Additionally, Tuzla Airport has confirmed ongoing discussions with Wizz Air regarding potential flights to Malmö and Gothenburg. Although Wizz Air has continued operating at Tuzla since closing its base, the number of flights and destinations has been significantly reduced, leading to a sharp decline in passenger traffic at the airport.
Following Wizz Air’s withdrawal, Tuzla Airport has launched multiple public calls to attract new airlines, most of which have been unsuccessful. In November 2023, local authorities allocated €1.27 million to encourage a carrier to establish a base in Tuzla. Greece’s Lumiwings was the sole applicant, deploying a Boeing 737-700 and introducing flights to Skavsta, Halmstad, Maastricht, Saarbrücken, and Esbjerg. However, due to disputes over subsidy payments and low demand, Lumiwings ceased its Tuzla operations within just a month. A subsequent call for applications failed to attract any bidders.
Source: exyuaviation.com
