As it has been already announced, a direct flight route connecting Sarajevo and the capital of Poland – Warsaw is going to enrich the offer of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest Polish airline company LOT Polish Airlines is going to operate flights five times a week during the summer flight schedule.
Sarajevo International Airport has been actively engaged in finding options to develop new and to increase the existing flight routes in Sarajevo, especially after a decline caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several months long negotiations between the representatives of the airline company LOT Polish Airlines and Sarajevo International Airport resulted in launching of the flight route Warsaw – Sarajevo. Cooperation between Sarajevo International Airport and the representatives of the USAID's Project of sustainable tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Tourism) has definitely had a positive impact on the same, since numerous activities aiming at introducing new flight routes and expanding destination network have been launched as a part of this project.
Besides the attractive incentive schemes which Sarajevo International Airport offers, the USAID Tourism will cooperate with the airport and the partners to raise awareness about Bosnia and Herzegovina and to promote it as an attractive and interesting touristic destination. That will include roadshow, presenting destinations, participation at fares and organization of fam trips for companies which offer destinations across Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as visits of media representatives and influencers. These activities play an important role in increasing the demand and the bookings across consumer and business channels.
Sarajevo International Airport is not only an entry point to the capital and the most visited city, but also to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Therefore, the increase of frequencies and the passengers at this airport is going to have a strong economic impact on the entire country. Besides the significance of the Polish market for Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly concerning pilgrimage and summer tourism directed towards Neum, the flight route Warsaw – Sarajevo will have a crucial role in connecting Sarajevo with distant destinations such as North America. Since the flight route is going to operate throughout the year that will contribute to overcome seasonality which is being one of the burning issues of tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Launching of this flight route is of a paramount importance for tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, because this shows that, with innovative and collaborative methods of destination marketing, our country may be attractive to different types of airline companies including national flag carries, low-cost carriers and charter flight operators.