Skopje and Ohrid are entering the summer travel season with an expanded flight network, as Macedonia’s two international airports prepare to launch new direct connections to several European destinations.
The new routes are expected to strengthen air links with Italy, Austria and Poland at a time when regional aviation markets are facing higher operating costs, limited capacity and growing competition among airports.
Most of the expansion is focused on seasonal summer routes. From Skopje, new direct flights are planned to Palermo in Sicily and Alghero in Sardinia, two Mediterranean destinations expected to attract strong interest during the holiday season. According to the announcements, the Skopje-Palermo route is set to begin on July 15 and operate three times per week, while the Skopje-Alghero route is scheduled to start on July 18 with two weekly flights.
Ohrid Airport is also gaining a stronger position in the summer flight schedule. Austrian Airlines has announced a new Ohrid-Vienna route, while Wizz Air is expanding its presence with flights from Ohrid to the Polish cities of Katowice and Wrocław.
The new connections could help position Ohrid not only as a summer tourist destination, but also as a regional entry point for travelers from Central Europe.
According to TAV Macedonia, a total of ten new destinations are included in the summer flight schedule from Skopje and Ohrid. From Skopje, the new routes include Naples, Budapest, Palermo, Alghero, Trabzon and Samsun. From Ohrid, new connections are planned to Milan, Vienna, Wrocław and Katowice.
The government is continuing its financial support model for new air routes, offering subsidies of 9 euros per passenger for Skopje Airport and 12 euros per passenger for Ohrid Airport. The aim is to attract airlines, increase the number of destinations and improve the country’s air connectivity.
Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski has previously said the government is holding talks with several airlines, while emphasizing that it will not accept models that would create unequal treatment of carriers or disrupt market rules.
The expansion is expected to support tourism and the local economy. New links to Italy, Austria and Poland could bring more inbound travelers to Macedonia, while also giving residents easier access to European cities that previously required connecting flights.
For Ohrid, the new routes are particularly important because they could help extend tourist activity beyond the peak summer period.
TAV Macedonia says both airports have recorded strong passenger growth. In the first two months of 2026, Skopje and Ohrid airports handled 539,474 passengers, a 31% increase compared with the same period last year. The number of flights reached 3,766, marking a 14% year on year rise.
