Four applications have been submitted for the launch of subsidised flights to Slovenia under the latest public call aimed at improving air connectivity, the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure has told EX-YU Aviation News. “The Ministry of Infrastructure received four applications by March 6, 2026. The committee’s decision will be announced shortly”, it said. If all four applications are deemed valid, this would mark the most successful round of the public call to date. The Ministry did not disclose which airlines submitted applications. Although the subsidy scheme is open to flights serving all three of Slovenia’s commercial airports, all four bids are believed to target Ljubljana, continuing the trend observed in previous nine rounds of the programme.
The Slovenian government had previously expressed hope this round of tendering will help Slovenia close its connectivity gap and strengthen links with priority markets. It has primarily been targeting the introduction of flights to Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Oslo and Lisbon. The Slovenian government plans to continue offering subsidies to airlines to encourage the launch of new routes to the country. Speaking on the initiative, Andrej Rajh, State Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, said recently, “Our goal is to develop the subsidies over the years, and we are committed to making it happen. The plan is to keep this going even into the next five to seven years, with similar amounts allocated”.
The previous public calls garnered mixed results. Luxair, airBaltic, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Iberia, Eurowings, Cyprus Airways and Air Albania applied over the nine previous tenders., although not all qualified for the subsidies. Only airlines registered and based in the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) are eligible for the subsidies. Applications must include a detailed business plan showing that the route can become profitable beyond the subsidy period. This plan should include projected passenger numbers, profitability forecasts and marketing strategies. If no business plan is submitted, carriers must provide a binding written declaration committing to operate the route for at least as long as the period of aid. Airlines may operate supported routes seasonally rather than year-round, provided they comply with the submitted business plan.
