Slovak low-cost airline is leaving Krakow airport in Balice for good. Next year it plans to cut costs, as it ends its operations at its bases in Krakow and Budapest, concentrating with its 14 planes on flights from Vienna, Prague, and Bratislava.
Krakow turned out to bring earnings only in the 3 summer months and for a few days at Christmas time, while generating no revenue in the rest of the year. Plus the operating costs from Krakow were over 50 % higher than in Bratislava and 30% higher than in Prague. What's more Sky Europe had to deal with a frequent foggy weather conditions at Krakow airport, which is located in a valley. It also lacks the proper equipment - like support navigation system that helps pilots to take off and land in very difficult weather conditions. The airport doesn't even have a hangar.
Jason Bitter, Sky Europe's CEO says, his team tried to negotiate the airport fees but was given an unacceptable offer.
Sky Europe's last flight from Krakow will take off on October 28 and Balice airport will be left without any base of low-cost carrier. Ryanair serves only 6 destinations in England and Ireland from here, and EasyJet has connections with some British airports.
A partial replacement for Sky Europe will be Centralwings - a Polish low-cost carrier - which just signed an agreement with Krakow airport authorities and will be flying from here to Dublin, Manchester, Athens and Barcelona starting this winter, adding these new destinations to London and Italy that are already existing in its Krakow schedule.
No comments:
Post a Comment