Photos: New spectacular bridge in downtown Skopje

Skopje - Gothenburg flights for 28 euros

Skopje-Gothenburg is the new direct flight of company WizzAir, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe.

The new flight, due to operate as of May 31, is expected to annually carry 350,000 passengers.

The initial price for tickets, which are already available, is Denar 1,690 (EUR 28) for a one-way ticket, including a booking fee.

"Scandinavian countries are becoming increasingly interesting for tourism across Europe, and I personally believe Macedonia will also become popular for Swedish clients thanks to WizzAir. Our list of ten destinations from the Skopje airport gives Macedonian clients an exceptional choice", says WizzAir Executive Vice President John Stephenson.

Gothenburg, located on Sweden's west coast, is renowned for its quality sea food, sea safari and recreational fishing.

The Skopje-Gothenburg flight will operate every Monday and Friday.

Czech Republic to use Macedonia's official name

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki sent a letter of gratitude to his Czech colleague Karel Schwarzenberg over the decision of the Czech Republic to affirm and make official its practice thus far to use Macedonia's constitutional name in the bilateral communication.

Macedonia highly appreciates the Czech Republic support of Macedonia since its independence It particularly welcomes the support  within the European Union for prompt launching of Macedonia's EU accession talks, the letter reads.

This decision of the Czech authorities is yet another proof of the excellent relations and a special friendly gesture towards further deepening of the confidence and friendship between the two countries, MoFA said in a press release.

"Alexander the Great" wins ACI's airport quality award

Skopje-based "Alexander the Great" airport has won the 2012 award for best airport in Europe in the category up to two million passengers annually. "Alexander the Great" is recognised out of 275 airports in the Best Airport by Size category by the Airports Council International (ACI).

The award is presented based on interviews with passengers about the quality of airport services.

Murat Ornekol - Operations Director of TAV Airports Holding, the concessioner of the two Macedonian airports - told a press conference on Wednesday that the company "is honored by this prestigious accolade for the Skopje airport." "It was rebuilt and started providing services in a very short time owning to our knowledge and experience."

Ornekol added that TAV's objective for 2013 was to increase the number of passengers using the Skopje airport up to one million.

Figures show that 906.871 passengers travelled through "Alexander the Great" in 2012. Between 2009 and 2012, the number of passengers handled by the Skopje airport increased by 17.5%. At the moment, there are direct flights to 20 destinations, thus "Skopje is being connected with most of Europe and via Istanbul to any other place worldwide."

Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski said that the accolade for airport service quality "comes as a result of the project for the reconstruction and modernisation of the Macedonian airports by being taken over by TAV company."

"After completing the new airport, new standards in airport services in Macedonia have been introduced, which is now being recognised with this award," Janakieski stated adding that measures were being taken in cooperation with the concessioner to attract new airlines and to increase the number of flights in a bid to bolster the number of passengers up to one million.

Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska said that "Alexander the Great" after being constructed and modernized nowadays represented a facility "that each and everyone of us can be proud of."

"Professionally, all MoI staff have made utmost efforts to provide efficient services and simple procedures to the passengers," she added.

The ACI award is considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry.