Wizz Air has engaged in a major expansion in Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, with the launch of a total of 26 new routes. The Hungarian airline is a major reason why FlyBosnia, the country's startup flag carrier, cannot break into the European markets.

Wizz Air is launching 26 new routes from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2021

Throughout 2021, Wizz Air is launching a staggering 24 new routes out of three cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Banja Luka. 14 routes have already been launched, with 12 more to go.

In Tuzla Airport (TZL), Wizz Air successfully saw off Ryanair and now holds a full monopoly there.

In Sarajevo Airport (SJJ), Wizz Air is building such a strong presence that the startup flag carrier of Bosnia, privately-owned FlyBosnia, is unable to position itself in the market.

In Banja Luka Airport (BNX), Wizz Air is slowly edging out Ryanair, which is focusing on its brand new base of three Lauda Europe A320 aircraft in Zagreb.

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KYIV, UKRAINE - JUNE 24, 2021 - A Wizz Air plane takes off from the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany), Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. (Photo credit should read Yevhen Liubimov/ Ukrinform/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Which routes have been launched already?

Wizz Air has already launched 14 new routes in Bosnia in 2021. The first wave of route launches came in May when the airline stationed an A320 in Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ).

  • Sarajevo - Dortmund (DTM), launched 20th May and operating thrice-weekly until mid-November
  • Sarajevo - Memmingen (FMM), launched 20th May and operating twice weekly until December
  • Sarajevo - Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL), launched 21st May and operating two to three times weekly year-round
  • Sarajevo - Copenhagen (CPH), launched 22nd May and operating twice weekly until mid-November
  • Sarajevo - Eindhoven (EIN), launched 23rd May and operating twice weekly until October
  • Sarajevo - Gothenburg (GOT), launched 23rd May and operating two to three times weekly year-round

Then came an expansion in Banja Luka Airport (BNX). Wizz Air entered this market without opening a base in the airport, so all these routes are operated by aircraft from other bases.

  • Banja Luka - Dortmund (DTM), launched 3rd June and operating twice weekly until November
  • Banja Luka - Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (MLH), launched 6th June and operating twice weekly year-round
  • Banja Luka - Stockholm Skavsta (NYO), launched 6th June and operating twice weekly until October
  • Banja Luka - Malmö (MMX), launched 7th June and operating twice weekly year-round
  • Banja Luka - Eindhoven (EIN), launched 11th June and operating once to twice weekly year-round
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Photo: Getty Images

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More routes are being added

Wizz Air has been adding more routes progressively to its Sarajevo base as follows:

  • Sarajevo - Brussels Charleroi (CRL), launched 14th June and operating twice weekly until November
  • Sarajevo - Paris Beauvais (BVA), launched 15th June and operating twice weekly year-round
  • Sarajevo - Stockholm Skavsta (NYO), launched 18th June and operating twice weekly until October

Finally, the following 12 routes remain to be launched, including three from an existing base in Tuzla Airport (TZL) and eight from Sarajevo where Wizz Air will add one more aircraft:

  • Sarajevo - Abu Dhabi (AUH), operated by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and launching on 3rd October
  • Banja Luka - Vienna (VIE) from 1st November
  • Tuzla - Nuremberg (NUE) from 14th December
  • Sarajevo - Venice Treviso (TSF) from 14th December
  • Sarajevo - Malmö (MMX), from 14th December
  • Sarajevo - Frankfurt Hahn (HHN), from 14th December
  • Sarajevo - Cologne (CGN), from 14th December
  • Sarajevo - Oslo Sandefjord (TRF), from 15th December
  • Sarajevo - Hamburg (HAM), from 16th December
  • Sarajevo - Billund (BLL), from 17th December
  • Banja Luka - Hamburg (HAM), from 17th December
  • Tuzla - Milan Malpensa (MXP), from 17th December

Only one route so far, Sarajevo to London Luton, has been shelved.

What do you think of Wizz Air's Bosnia expansion? Let us know in the comments below.