At a press conference held yesterday in Sarajevo, it was announced that the Canton would be connected by direct flights to 23 new destinations over the next two years. This initiative aims to further strengthen the tourism and economic potential of Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Canton. New routes include cities such as Berlin, Hanover, Geneva, Dusseldorf, and Hamburg, adding to existing destinations like Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Memmingen, Warsaw, Gothenburg, London, Brussels, Milan, Rome, Abu Dhabi, Thessaloniki, Antalya, and Izmir. Notably, Ryanair will introduce five additional new routes, including a recently announced service to Stockholm.
These new air links are the result of a collaborative effort between the Government of Sarajevo Canton, the Ministry of Economy, the Sarajevo Tourist Board, and the Sarajevo International Airport, all working together to enhance the accessibility of Sarajevo as a top tourist destination.
Expanding Economic Impact and Connectivity
During the press conference, Zlatko Mijatović, the Minister of Economy of Sarajevo Canton, Haris Fazlagić, the President of the Sarajevo Tourist Board, and Vedrana Vikić Musić, Director of Airport Services at Sarajevo International Airport, addressed the gathered media.
Minister Mijatović emphasized the significant economic impact of the new air routes. He noted that research shows that a 10% increase in connectivity can boost GDP per capita by 0.5%. In fact, Sarajevo’s connectivity has already increased by 16% compared to 2023. “One euro invested in incentives to improve air travel connectivity can bring 15 euros back to the economy. Motivated by these results, the Ministry of Economy intends to continue supporting such projects and work together with our partners to develop the tourism sector sustainably,” Minister Mijatović said.
Record-Breaking Year for Sarajevo Airport
Vedrana Vikić Musić highlighted the success of the public tenders that led to the new air connections. She shared that Sarajevo Airport is experiencing its best year to date, with passenger numbers exceeding 1.5 million in the first half of October, setting a new record for the airport. According to figures from the first 10 months of 2024, Sarajevo has seen 1,587,583 passengers, 14,535 flights, 33 airlines, and 37 direct destinations.
“Through five successful public tenders aimed at boosting air traffic in Sarajevo Canton, we have attracted new airlines and routes. The most recent and most successful public call for incentives (covering the period 2024-2026) saw the highest number of applications yet, from seven airlines, including Norwegian, Lot Polish Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Eurowings, Swiss, and SunExpress. Together, these airlines will connect Sarajevo to 23 destinations over the next two years, including eight completely new cities,” said Vikić Musić.
Looking Ahead: A Bright Future for Sarajevo’s Tourism and Economy
With the introduction of these new routes, Sarajevo is set to become even more accessible to international travelers, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on both the tourism industry and the broader economy. As the city prepares to expand its air travel network, the collaborative efforts of government agencies, tourism organizations, and the airport are paving the way for continued growth and success in the coming years.
As Minister Mijatović aptly put it: “This is just the beginning of an even more successful period for our tourism and business community.”
