With Wizz Air to Paris, Brussels and Frankfurt for $32

As of April 2014, low-cost airline Wizz Air is to introduce flights from Skopje to Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris, subsidized by the Macedonian Government.

The airline will introduce two flights a week to the three destinations, with ticket prices starting at Denar 1,500 (EUR 25).

Wizz Air will also put into use its new passenger plane Airbus A-320 next April, thus increasing its pool at Skopje-based airport "Alexander the Great".

Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski and Wizz Air Executive Vice-President John Stephenson said at Monday's press conference that frequency of flights to majority of the existing destinations - Malmo, Basel, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Goteborg and Munich - would also increase.

According to Minister Janakieski, subsidizing has contributed to the increase of passengers by 18.2 percent at the Skopje and Ohrid airports.

Wizz Air has a 35.2-percent share in the total number of passengers, followed by Turkish Airlines, Austria Airlines, Adriatic Airlines and Pegasus.

TAV Macedonia, which operates the Macedonia's airports, has said efforts are invested for more flights to Italy and re-establishment of flights to Budapest and Prague.

Starting December direct flights Skopje - Berlin

Minister of Transport, Communications Mile Janakieski and representatives of a German carrier agreed Wednesday on launching a direct Skopje-Berlin flight in December.

As of December 20, the carrier 'Fly Germania' will offer a direct flight from Skopje to Berlin to the citizens of Macedonia every Monday and Friday, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a press release.

The meeting also reviewed possibilities for the German carrier to also introduce flights to Hamburg, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.

The German carrier, established 26 years ago, operates with a fleet of 18 passenger aircraft.

The Ministry believes that an introduction of new destinations will increase the number of passengers, as well as the frequency of flights within Macedonia's air space.

The Ministry will keep working on attracting new, renowned airlines to operate in Macedonia, the press release reads.

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.

Wizz Air inaugurates flights from Skopje to six European destinations

As of Sunday, Hungarian low-cost airline "Wizz Air" will start to operate flights from Skopje to six European destinations, subsidized by the Macedonian Government.

The first Skopje-Eindhoven flight will take off today and operate twice a week. It is also the case with the flights to  Milan, Malmo, Munich and Dortmund. The flight to Basel is available  three times a week.

In line with a three-year agreement, the Government allocates Denar 306 million (EUR 5 million) in Wizz Air subsidies.

According to preliminary announcements from Wizz Air, the new flights will cost the company US$ 80 million, accompanied by the opening of 300 jobs.

The airline is mulling the introduction of direct flights to Brussels, Rome and Barcelona in 2013, depending on the needs of Macedonian passengers.

Expected effects from the Government subsidizing are at least 120,000 new passengers in the first year, rising to 135,000 in the second, up to 150,000 in the third.

The figures are solid indicator for the good strategy of this Government, Vice-Premier Vladimir Pesevski said at at the inaugurating ceremony on Sunday.

"We expect a larger inflow of tourists to Macedonia next year as a direct result of our investment in low-cost air traffic," Presevski said.

Wizz Air Group Executive Vice President John Stephenson said he was very happy that today the company was opening its 16-low cost base in Skopje.

"Since our announcement for the new six attractive destinations, over 25.000 customers, from Macedonia and countries we are linking Skopje to, have booked tickets, raising the total number of Wizz Air passengers to more than 100.000 from the launching of our operations in the country less than a year ago," Stephenson said.

He expects for the number of passengers to reach 300.000 in one year-period. Stephenson also extended gratitude to the Macedonian Government for its support of the promotion of tourism by low-cost flights.

"We are celebrating today's opening of the base by offering tickets at favorable prices of only Denar 550 (about EUR 9) on wizzair.com," Stephenson said.

Wizz Air is the largest low-fare, low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe and operates a fleet of 38 Airbus A320 aircraft from 16 bases with 245 routes connecting 78 destinations across 27 countries.

Inauguration of direct Skopje-Dubai flight

FLYDUBAI.

Macedonia has gotten its first link to the Middle East on Monday. Starting from today FlyDubai launches two Skopje-Dubai flights per week, namely on Monday and Thursday.

Skopje is FlyDubai's regional center for this part of the world.

"We are certain that the Macedonian route will be successful," low-cost carrier CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said today at a press conference.

The new line will bring UAE tourists to Macedonia, who wish to get familiar with the country, he said.

"By adding Skopje as our destination, we connect UAE with yet another market that has been underserved thus far. This move demonstrates our commitment to the region and  offers more choice to our customers, increasing international travel options and avenues for trade," the CEO said.

The flights offers a network of 150 destinations to the citizens of Macedonia, including Australia and Middle East. The ticket price for Skopje-Dubai flight is at EUR 390.

This project will be beneficial for all involved parties, namely FlyDubai, Macedonia's Government and TAV Airports Holding, TAV Macedonia Director Murat Ornekol said.

"Launching of the direct Skopje-Dubai flight will be rather beneficial for the Macedonian Diaspora in Australia. It is also the case for citizens of Macedonia and their neighbours, who may now fly directly to Dubai from the Skopje Airport - Alexander the Great," Ornekol said.

Low-cost carriers, such as FlyDubai, offer flights at substantially lower prices in comparison to regular airliners, Minister of Transport and Communication Mile Janakieski said.

"Regions included in their network very often see swift economic development," he added.

Founded in March 2008, Flydubai is the first low fare airline based in Dubai with the fastest growth rate among the world's newly established airlines. Since the start of operations in June 2009, the company has developed a network of over 50 destinations in the Persian Gulf countries, Middle East, North Africa, Indian subcontinent, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe and a fleet of 26 aircrafts.

Conditions created for direct flights between Macedonia and US

A legal framework establishing direct regular and charter flights between Macedonia and the United States is provided by an air traffic agreement between the countries that was signed Thursday in Skopje by Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker.

By signing the agreement, conditions are created to start lobbying with airlines showing possible interest to launch flights between Macedonia and the U.S., according to the Minister.

"As soon as tomorrow, we'll start lobbying and stimulating airlines to point out this possibility and benefits offered by Macedonian airports first and foremost. I expect interest to be shown, however it depends on the business logic and commercial aspect of establishing flights," Janakieski said after signing the treaty.

The document, he elaborated, opens opportunities to expand Macedonia's aviation market, to improve bilateral ties and to advance the services for passengers.

On his part, Reeker said that the U.S. international aviation policy was based on market competitiveness, whereas the agreement implied trust toward Macedonia.

According to Reeker, the open sky treaty lifted all administrative hurdles for establishing air connection between Macedonia and the United States.

"We want to do everything we can to strengthen the relations between the U.S. and Macedonia. By signing the accord, we will boost the economic cooperation and bilateral ties, especially this time when the focus is on economy, economic growth and reforms that are crucial," the U.S. diplomat stressed adding that promoting Macedonia's development was a long-term important priority for the U.S.

An effective air transport, Reeker noted, is a precondition to develop the industrial, financial, trade and tourist sector. International air connections are key for the transportation of passengers and goods. It is estimated that 40% of the global trade is accomplished through air transportation.

"Consequently, the message is clear, every country needs to create air connections in order to do trade," Reeker concluded adding that Macedonia become one of the 90 open-sky partners of the United States.

The signing of the Macedonia-U.S. air traffic agreement comes after the text of an open sky agreement and a memorandum were initialed in 2011.

Corendon tour operator to launch charter flights to Ohrid airport next year

Ohrid airport from the north.

As a result of the interest of tourists from Benelux countries and their positive experiences after spending their summer holidays on the Ohrid and Struga riviera for a second year in a row, the Dutch tour operator "Corendon" has decided to put into use six charter flights per week to the Ohrid-based "St. Paul the Apostle" airport as of next year.

"Corendon" representatives have been staying in Ohrid to sign an agreement on cooperation for three more seasons that stipulates an increase in the number of booked hotel rooms for arrangements of the Dutch tour operator.

"We've decided to extend the contract with our Macedonian partner 'Fibula Air Travel' for three more years. As of next season, two more weekly charter flights from Brussels will be introduced. We are planning in Ohrid to bring over 20.000 tourists from Benelux countries," said Corendon manager Atilay Uslu.

Corendon managers estimate that this season over 15.000 tourists from Benelux countries will spend their summer holidays in Macedonia.

The Dutch tour operator included Macedonia in its tourist offer last year and an agreement was signed for the next three seasons i.e. 2012, 2013 and 2014 due to the huge interest by tourists from Benelux to visit Macedonia. This year, the agreement has been extended for the 2015 season.

Wizz Air to add Six new flights from Skopje

As of November 2012, Macedonian citizens will be able to fly from Skopje’s Alexander the Great Airport to six new low-cost flights of the Hungarian airline Wizz Air with Government’s subsidies.

Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Jankieski and Deputy Prime Ministers Zoran Stavreski and Vladimir Pesevski announced this at Thursday's press conference presenting the government’s decision to subsiding Wizz Air, company that was chosen as a result of the international tender call to low-cost airlines which offers government subsidies to those willing to operate flights to Macedonian capital.

Wizz Air flights will be subsided over the next 3 years. As of Oct. 28 should launch flights to Milan, Eindhoven, Dortmund and Munch twice a week, as of Oct. 29 flights to Malmo twice a week as well as flights to Basel three times a week as of Oct. 30.

Kon Tiki Sky to connect Skopje with 14 locations

Serbian airline Kon Tiki Sky, part of Travel company Kon Tiki Travel has announced beginning May 1st they will be flying out of Alexander the Great airport to 14 locations.

The first destination is Antwerp, Belgium twice weekly, while beginning June 18, Kon Tiki Sky will connect Skopje to Stuttgart, Hamburg, Berlin, Malmo and Istanbul. Three weekly flights will be scheduled to Ancona, Milan and Bologna, while four weekly flights are scheduled to Rome, Trieste, Bratislava and Dusseldorf. Basel, Switzerland will have 5 weekly flights.

The prices of the tickets will be around 50 EUR to the cities nearby and 70 to 90 EUR to the cities in northern Europe. These prices are one way.

Cheap Skopje - Rome Flights via Blu-Express Airlines

Italian low-cost airline Blu-express, a division of Blue Panorama Airlines, will introduce regular Skopje-Rome flights on October 30.
The flights are scheduled for Thursday and Sunday, said Italy's Embassy via a press release this morning.
This flight connection will certainly contribute to bolstering the economic cooperation between the two friendly countries, the press release reads.
Few weeks ago a direct Skopje-Venice flight was also promoted.

79 Euros Flights to Venice and Ancona Promoted

As of Sunday, Italy's Belle Air Europe airline kicked off new flights Skopje-Ancona-Skopje and Skopje-Venice-Skopje. Thus, regular connections to Ancona and Venice from Skopje-based Alexander the Great airport are being established twice a week - every Thursday and Sunday.
Swiss tour operator Air Pristina organises the flights from Macedonia to Ancona and Venice in cooperation with Belle Air.One-way tickets for both destinations cost 79 euros including airport taxes.
TAV Macedonia company, which manages the Skopje airport, organised on Sunday a welcome ceremony for the first flight from Ancona, which landed this morning. A Belle Air Europe plane from Skopje to Venice took off also in the morning.
"We are glad for introducing these two important new destinations. We believe that the flights from Skopje to Ancona and Venice will offer opportunities for tourists from Italy to visit Macedonia, thus advancing country's tourist potential," TAV Macedonia's general director Zoran Krstevski said.

Done Deal: Macedonia and USA Sign "Open Skies" Agreement

The United States and Macedonia today reached an Open-Skies aviation agreement, which will allow airlines of the two countries to select routes, destinations and prices for both passenger and cargo service based on consumer demand and market conditions. It is the first aviation agreement between the two countries.
“By agreeing on an open market for aviation services now, we are setting the stage for travel and trade between the United State and Macedonia to develop in the future,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We welcome Macedonia as an Open-Skies partner.
”Open-Skies agreements allow unrestricted access by the airlines of each side to fly to, from and beyond the other’s territory, without restriction on how often carriers fly, the kind of aircraft they use and the prices they charge.
The new opportunities are available immediately. The agreement makes Macedonia the 103rd U.S. Open-Skies partner.

Lets go to Venice! Skopje - Venice Flight 25.99 Euros

Starting from September 20, you can fly from Skopje to Venice with one-way fares starting at 25.99 EUR, all taxes and fees included, Hungarian low cost airline Wizz-air said in a statement. 

‘This is only the beginning. We plan to introduce other flight routes’, Commercial Director of Wizz Air, Gyorgy Abran said at today’s press conference. 

WizzAir has launched flights from Skopje to London, as of June 19. So far, WizzAir has sold about 8250 one-way tickets to London. 

The company expects that by the end of the year at least 25.000 people will book flights to London or Venice. 

You can book tickets easily by paying online using your credit or debit card. You can get a cheaper deal by booking your flight early.