Skopje, 25 October 2024 (MIA) - Six new flights - Dubai, Barcelona, Lyon, Stuttgart, Basel and Istanbul - will open in 2025, said Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski on Friday.

Minister Nikoloski told a press conference that four flights will operate from the Skopje airport - Dubai (twice a week as of March 30), Barcelona (twice a week as of June 30), Lyon (three times a week as of June 30) and Stuttgart (three times a week).

Flights to Basel (twice a week) and Istanbul (four times a week as of March 30) will operate from the Ohrid-based airport.

Nikoloski said the state is subsidizing EUR 12 per arriving passenger at the Ohrid airport and EUR 9 per arriving passenger at the Skopje airport, adding they expect 200,000 more passengers in the country with the addition of the six new flights.

"This is wonderful news for the Macedonian citizens. These flights will bring new tourists and facilitate travel for Macedonian citizens," noted Nikoloski.

"Wizz Air" will operate the flights to Stuttgart, Basel, Barcelona and Lyon, "Flydubai" is to manage the Dubai flight, while "Turkish Airlines" the Istanbul flight.

Forty-seven destinations are currently available from the Skopje airport (38 during the winter schedule), whereas the Ohrid airport operates eight destinations (four during the winter schedule).

MIA file photo