Low-cost airline Wizz Air plans to open a new base in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. This would be in direct competition with that of the Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings Europe.
Robert Carey, who has served as President of the Wizz Air Group for some time, held discussions with members of the Kosovo government on the matter. During the corona pandemic, the Pristina routes not only proved to be particularly stable, but the airport was even able to increase the number of passengers, in contrast to almost all other airports in Europe.
The manager explained, among other things, that around 2023 travelers to/from Pristina are expected in 600.000. Traffic in the DA-CH region is to be greatly expanded, but Carey did not give any further details, whether there would be increases and/or new routes. Many people with Kosovar roots live and work in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, who want to visit their friends and acquaintances back home on a regular basis. Incidentally, long-distance bus companies such as Flixbus are considered the main competitor of the flights, because the customers are loyal but price-sensitive.
Carey also said that Wizz Air would also like to serve destinations in neighboring countries from the planned base in Pristina. They want to add as many new routes as possible and are in a kind of needs analysis with the airport and the government.