North Macedonia is negotiating with low-cost carrier Wizz Air to launch a direct route between Budapest and the lakeside city of Ohrid, which officials say offers greater tourism potential compared to the capital Skopje.
“We believe Ohrid’s lakeshore has much to offer, and the Budapest–Ohrid route would be more attractive,” Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski told Radio Lider. He said the government is developing a new model to attract airlines, which could result in at least 10 and potentially up to 20 new destinations.
The current model of subsidizing inbound passengers has already yielded results, with ten new routes introduced in recent months, Nikoloski said. The new approach aims to increase subsidies, provided that airlines commit to opening at least ten routes simultaneously.
“At present, we pay €9 per arriving passenger landing in Skopje and €12 for Ohrid. We are ready to go higher if an airline agrees to launch multiple routes,” Nikoloski said.
The Ministry of Transport confirmed that talks are underway with Wizz Air, whose largest regional hub is in Budapest. A previous Budapest–Skopje route was discontinued due to low demand and the expiration of Hungarian government subsidies.
“Ohrid offers far greater tourism potential, while Budapest was commercially less viable for Skopje because the city is already connected to closer destinations like Vienna and Bratislava,” Nikoloski added.
He also highlighted the importance of charter flights operated by Turkish carrier Freebird, which brings at least 180 tourists daily to Skopje. The goal, he said, is to have at least two charter flights per day at Ohrid Airport starting next year.
“If two planes land daily with 200 tourists each, that’s 800 guests staying for at least four days even during the off-season—filling hotels, restaurants, and local shops,” he said, noting that Turkish Airlines, the world’s top carrier, now operates direct flights from Istanbul to Ohrid.
Currently, North Macedonia is connected to 64 destinations—56 via Skopje Airport and eight via Ohrid—which Nikoloski described as a major achievement for both the government and concessionaire TAV.
This statement comes in the context of North Macedonia’s efforts to expand its aviation and tourism sectors by offering financial incentives (subsidies) to airlines that bring in international travelers. The government sees greater opportunity in boosting tourism in Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Lake Ohrid, especially outside the summer season. Talks with Wizz Air aim to improve regional connectivity, particularly with Central Europe, and the shift in strategy reflects a broader plan to strengthen tourism-driven economic growth.
