Croatia Airlines is again reducing flights from Zagreb to Skopje and to Sarajevo. In June there will be seven flights a week to Skopje - down from nine a week in the same period last year. Sarajevo gets nine to ten flights a week, against 11 last year. The reduction started in the winter season and continues into the 2026/27 winter.

The reason is global: a drastic increase in kerosene prices. „Croatia Airlines" will cancel 900 flights across its network over the coming quarter. This is not just a problem for the Croatian carrier - it is a symptom of a crisis hitting the entire European aviation industry.

The second blow: Lufthansa ends flights between Frankfurt and Skopje from 1 June after more than three years of operations. The alternative offered: a connection via Vienna with subsidiary „Austrian Airlines" - which means long transfer waits and often more expensive tickets. For Macedonian business travellers and the many people who fly to Germany regularly, that is a real cost increase.

Transport minister Aleksandar Nikoloski last week announced „5 new air routes" as compensation: „Austrian Airlines" Vienna-Ohrid direct, Krakow-Ohrid and Wroclaw-Ohrid (two Polish routes), Palermo-Skopje and Alghero-Skopje (two Italian routes). It sounds good on paper. But - all are either for Ohrid (a seasonal tourist market) or for Italy/Poland (smaller markets compared to Germany).

The question that has to be asked: if Lufthansa leaves and Croatia is shrinking, who fills those seats? Turkish Airlines runs Skopje-Istanbul - and onward. Wizz Air has several routes. Pegasus has some. All of these make sense for tourists, but for business travellers who need to be in a Munich meeting tomorrow morning, a transfer in Istanbul is not the same as a direct flight.

Global aviation crisis + Macedonia's reliance on foreign carriers = pricier tickets, fewer options, more waiting. Translation: if you are planning a summer trip to Europe, book now. Before things get worse.