The Slovenian government is trying to find a solution for Maribor Airport, which remains one of the least frequented airports in the former Yugoslavia. In 2024, the airport recorded just 2.330 passengers. Although Maribor has no regular scheduled flights, Portorož Airport on the country's coast was only able to welcome 22.782 travelers - despite a smaller catchment area. The majority of Maribor's passenger traffic comes from charter flights, which mainly transport sports teams.
Despite some efforts to find an operator for the airport, attempts in 2023 were unsuccessful. A promising joint proposal from the SIDrone aviation school and the Ključavničarstvo Kunc metalworking company failed to gain approval. SIDrone is now trying again to take over the management of the airport and recently presented a strategy to the National Council. This includes, among other things, the construction of a maintenance center for passenger and cargo aircraft and cooperation with neighboring airports. SIDrone is aiming for a long-term partnership that should last at least ten years.
In recent years, talks have also taken place with representatives of the leisure conglomerate Tui Group, who expressed interest in establishing a maintenance base in Maribor. The airport has been managed by DRI, a state-owned consulting and engineering company, since 2019, after the early withdrawal of Chinese investors in 2017 ended the previous 15-year lease agreement. However, a major obstacle for potential investors remains the lack of a spatial plan that would allow for expansion of the airport.