North Macedonia's Ohrid airport welcomes inaugural Austrian Airlines Vienna route

Launch of the Vienna-Ohrid flight is of enormous significance for the Ohrid airport. It will lead to more foreign tourists and economic development of Ohrid and the surrounding region, says Deputy PM and Transport Minister of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Nikoloski.

The inaugural "Austrian Airlines" flight landed at the Ohrid-based St. Paul the Apostel airport early on Sunday. It will operate twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday, CE Report quotes MIA.

"The launch of this route is of enormous significance for the development of the Ohrid airport because the airport in Vienna is one of the largest European hubs, with over 200 connecting flights to 66 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Austrian Airlines is one of the top ten airlines in Europe, which reaffirms the seriousness of the investment and the quality of services offered to passengers," Deputy PM Nikoloski wrote in a Facebook post.

The Ohrid airport is now servicing 16 flights, of which 13 are regular and three are charter, a significant rise in destinations for citizens and visitors.

"Macedonia is now visible on the map of numerous tour operators and airlines. Through the active support measures, we are developing air traffic, increasing the country's tourism potential and ensuring quality and accessible services for citizens. Twenty-eight new airline destinations have opened as a result of the Government's policies. The Government's strategic commitment is to fully utilize the capacities of the Skopje and Ohrid airports through enlargement of the number of destinations, attraction of new airlines and ensuring quality services for passengers," says Nikoloski.

He adds that the Ohrid airport is currently undergoing rehabilitation, aimed at improving its capacities and infrastructure, while creating conditions for further growth of air traffic and number of passengers.

"The goal is for the two airports to serve more than 3,5 million passengers in 2026, with the number exceeding four million in the coming years. The measures for financial support of airlines give citizens the opportunity of easier and safer travel to European cities, which directly contributes to the development of the economy, education, culture, healthcare, and tourism," notes Nikoloski.

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