The Sarajevo Canton Tourism Association has opened a public call offering financial incentives to airlines that launch new routes, maintain strategically important services or increase frequencies from Sarajevo International Airport. The programme applies to 2027 operations and combines fixed monthly payments with passenger-based support, including up to €75,000 per month for carriers establishing a base at Sarajevo.
The call, open until 7 November, covers destinations not served by scheduled flights from Sarajevo during the previous 12 months, destinations on the airport’s strategic list and existing routes operated no more than five times weekly. Eligible services must generally operate at least twice weekly, use aircraft with a minimum of 100 seats and continue for at least eight consecutive weeks. The programme also provides incentives for long-haul services exceeding six hours.
Fixed support ranges from €5,000 per month for one or two qualifying routes to €50,000 for airlines operating at least ten. Passenger payments range from €1 to €3 per arriving traveller, rising to €4 for carriers establishing a base. Year-round operations and airlines exceeding 50,000 arriving passengers can receive additional bonuses.
The call forms part of a wider incentive programme covering 2027–2029. The Canton Tourism Association has spent more than €5.1 million supporting air services over the past two years and allocated a further €1.8 million for the current year. Funding will depend on Canton budget allocations, while applications will be assessed on proposed routes and operating plans. Ryanair is considering additional Sarajevo routes for summer 2027, but no airline has yet been confirmed as a recipient under the new call.