Germanwings sees low Sarajevo demand

Germanwings has warned of poor ticket sales on its newly launched service from Berlin to Sarajevo. The airline inaugurated flights from the German capital to Sarajevo this Tuesday but has already advised it could cancel the service soon, indicating poor advanced ticket sales. The airline recently informed the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Germany that demand for the new route has been poor and flights could be cancelled during the initial trial period. The Lufthansa subsidiary called on authorities in Bosnia for assistance. Germanwings will operate flights from Berlin to the Bosnian capital every Tuesday and Thursday morning with a 150-seat Airbus A319.

Since the request, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina has informed the country’s Foreign Trade Chamber to promote the new service to its business partners. Germanwings already has a notable presence at Sarajevo Airport, with flights from Cologne and Stuttgart as well. With no direct or indirect competition on these routes, the hybrid low cost/full fare airline has been performing well on its Sarajevo flights. However, as of late, there have been increasing suggestions the airline could face off against Wizz Air, which is believed to be close to announcing services from the Bosnian capital. Wizz Air’s arrival to Sarajevo has been tipped for several months now and its recent announcement to downscale operations from Belgrade could see it push for flights from Sarajevo sooner rather than later. It has been suggested the airline will launch several routes out of the Bosnian capital as early as this winter.

Sarajevo Airport is currently served by only one low cost airline, Pegasus, and two hybrid low cost/full fare carriers - Germanwings and Norwegian Air Shuttle. However, Bosnia’s busiest airport has aspirations to attract more no frills airlines and passengers alike. The airport is in the planning stages of opening a low cost terminal. The building is presently being used by the airport’s management, which will move to its new headquarters by the end of the month and, as a result, vacate facilities for low cost airlines.