The Slovenian government is reviewing its airline subsidy program to enhance air connectivity, with the possibility of launching a new national carrier still on the table. The Ministry for Infrastructure has indicated that policy changes could follow the passage of Slovenia’s new aviation law later this year. This comes after mixed responses to seven public tenders aimed at improving connectivity, with only 494,376 euros spent out of the 16.8 million euros allocated.
The Ministry confirmed that the current public tender will run until October 2025, when the new Aviation Act takes effect. A new financial aid scheme could follow, potentially launching a new tender. The Ministry is also exploring long-term solutions to improve air connectivity, with ongoing discussions with airlines but no concrete proposals yet.
While the creation of a national airline remains a possibility, it would require collective government approval. In July 2023, the Slovenian Parliament’s Public Finances Oversight Commission suggested a strategic partnership with an established airline. The government has stated that the new carrier would only be formed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
A study by Grant Thornton Advisory commissioned by the Ministry found that launching a national carrier through a PPP could be viable. The study projected that the airline would break even by its seventh year, with cumulative losses reaching 35 million euros in the sixth year. The private partner would need to invest at least 35 million euros, or 70 million euros for a larger network.
