The Slovenian national carrier, Adria Airways, handled 987.000 passengers in 2012 representing a decrease of 15% compared to the year before. The number of operated flights decreased by 15% as well compared to 2011. However, the airline recorded one of its best average cabin load factors in years, standing at 67.5% in 2012 (2009 - 63.3%, 2010 - 66.5%, 2011 - 63%). Adria ended 2012 as the third busiest national carrier in the former Yugoslavia, behind Croatia Airlines, which welcomed 1.9 million passengers on board, and Jat Airways with 1.3 million passengers.
Adria is yet to disclose its financial results, although it is believed its losses amounted to 7.5 million euros, which has been halved compared to the year before when they totalled 15.3 million. The airline plans to make a profit in 2013 for the first time in five year. Adria’s worst financial result in recent times was recorded in 2010 when the carrier produced a loss of 59.7 million euros. The Slovenian carrier continues to do good business from its second base in Priština. Adria holds a market share of 10.1% in the city and is the fourth busiest airline after Belle Air, Germanwings and Edelweiss. From Priština, Adria operates flights to five cities with Venice being the latest addition to its network, launched in December 2012.
During this year Adria will resume services from Ljubljana to Paris which were suspended as part of its wide ranging cost cutting measures in 2011. Furthermore, it will also resume flights to London. However, both are planned to operate only as seasonal flights. Adria continues to run charters on behalf of the British car maker Land Rover, which has resulted in a boost in passenger numbers in late 2012. Mark Anžur was recently named as the carrier’s new CEO while the outcome of the 2012 tender for the sale of 74% of the airline’s shares remains a mystery.