Slovenia is preparing a law on aid to aviation for greater connectivity
The Slovenian government is preparing a law that will enable airlines to be granted financial aid for introducing new routes or increasing frequencies on existing routes. This is part of the country’s efforts to improve air connectivity. Although in the last two years, Slovenia has financially encouraged airlines to maintain flights to the country, they were financed from the European Union’s aid package to mitigate the negative financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. As access to the EU emergency fund expires, the government is looking for ways to legally support carriers that fly to Ljubljana or want to introduce services to the Slovenian capital.
The Slovenian Ministry of Economic Development and Technology told Večer: “The basis of the new law is the EU guidelines on state aid to airlines and airports, which represent the legal framework for distributing aid to carriers in accordance with the bloc’s rules and regulations.” According to the new law, aid can be granted to establish new routes or to increase frequencies on existing lines connecting Slovenian airports with EU member states or possibly with third countries. The law is expected to be adopted by parliament in the coming months, and a new public tender for airlines will be published in the spring. As we previously reported, the focus will be on certain routes in the region.
Lufthansa, as the busiest Slovenian airline, was the biggest recipient of state financial incentives in the last two years. The German carrier saved 1.7 million euros in two years. It is followed by Turkish Airlines, which received 1.01 million euros, then Air Serbia, which received 569,280 euros, followed by Air France, which received 494,550 euros, and Swiss International Air Lines, which received 369,300 euros. , Wizz Air 348,492 euros, LOT Polish Airlines 341,971 euros, Brussels Airlines 325,809 euros, easyJet 190,149 euros, Air Montenegro 131,130 euros and Flydubai, the last to enter the Slovenian market, received 110,880 euros.