The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport Northern Macedonia Aleksandar Nikoloski blamed her airline low cost Ryanair for «Blackmail behaviour» on the possibility of starting flights in the country.
As Nikoloski said, the government is currently subsidizing airlines with nine and twelve euros per passenger to transport travelers to the country's two airports (Skopion and Ohrid), as part of the strengthening of the country's air connectivity.
According to him, Ryanair requested a subsidy of EUR 25 per passenger, which - as it argued - cannot be accepted as it would create conditions for distortion of competition in the local aviation market.
«Currently, we provide grants of nine euros for Skopje airport and twelve euros for Ohrid airport per passenger, which are among the highest in the region. It is no coincidence that in less than two years since the election of this government 28 new air lines have been opened. Ryanair’s requirements for a subsidy of EUR 25 per passenger are more than twice the current applicable to Skopje airport»Nikoloski said.
The country's transport minister further argued that Ryanair set additional conditions to operate in North Macedonia by requesting, inter alia, priority in the service of its aircraft, but also exemption from certain services provided by the country's two airports for charge.
«They even have their own stairs inside the aircraft. In addition, they requested that certain destinations currently served by other airlines be cancelled. I think this is a blackmailing approach.»Nicoloski noted.
He added that low-cost airlines, such as Wizz Air and EasyJet, are already operating in North Macedonia, which - as he said - continue to expand their activity, even in times of crisis, launching new destinations and contributing to increased passenger traffic at Skopje and Ohrid airports.
In contrast, as the North Macedonia Transport Minister argued, Ryanair closes its bases at the airports of Thessaloniki and Vienna and in a period of crisis, due to the situation in the Middle East, it suspends several of its flights.
