TAV Macedonia: 30 years since the first Skopje-Vienna flight with Austrian Airlines

From 1996 to 2025, the airline carried 2.4 million passengers between the two capitals

Austrian Airlines today marks a significant anniversary on the Macedonian market - 30 years since the establishment of the Skopje - Vienna air route and the beginning of the successful cooperation with Skopje International Airport and TAV Macedonia.
At Skopje International Airport, passengers, cabin crew and the airline's management were welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute after the plane landed, marking this significant anniversary.
Nejat Kurt, TAV Macedonia General Manager, welcomed Stephan Linhart, Senior Director Sales for CEE, Israel and Turkey at Lufthansa Group, and Carsten Zang - Regional Sales Manager at Lufthansa Group.
At the meeting, they once again confirmed the importance of this airline connection that has successfully existed for three decades.
"We are proud that together with Austrian Airlines we are celebrating 30 years of successful cooperation, which has made a significant contribution to the development of air traffic in the country. This line is not only an air route, but a bridge that connects people, businesses and cultures between Skopje and Vienna. The continuous increase in the number of passengers and the increased frequency of flights are proof of the trust of passengers and the joint commitment to improving services and connectivity. We expect this partnership to continue to develop in the coming years, bringing new opportunities for the region," said Nejat Kurt, TAV Macedonia General Manager.
“At Austrian Airlines, we are extremely proud to celebrate 30 years of serving North Macedonia and connecting Skopje to the world via Vienna. This significant anniversary reflects not only our commitment to the region, but also the excellent cooperation with all our partners and stakeholders in North Macedonia. Their trust and support have been essential for this long-term success to be possible. We look forward to continuing to strengthen Skopje’s connection to our global network in the years to come,” said Stephan Linhart, Senior Director Sales for CEE, Israel and Turkey at Lufthansa Group.
From 1996 to 2025, a total of 27,999 flights were realized between Skopje and Vienna, carrying 2,432,089 passengers.
The number of flights and passengers carried by Austrian Airlines has been gradually increasing since TAV Macedonia took over management of Skopje airport.
In 2008, the airline transported 63.4 thousand passengers, and in 2010, it transported 80.3 thousand passengers. The annual figure exceeds 100 thousand passengers in 2012, and last year - in 2025, Austrian Airlines transported 126,911 passengers with 1,296 flights.
The positive trend continued this year, where in the period from January 1 to March 25, 228 operations were carried out with Airbus A320 and Embraer 195 aircraft, transporting a total of 17,285 passengers.
Austrian Airlines flies between Skopje and Vienna every day, sometimes with two rotations per day.
In the winter flight season, 10 flights per week were operated on the Skopje - Vienna route, while in the current summer season, in the period from from March 29 to May 11, the number will increase to 11 flights per week, 7 in the afternoon and 4 in the morning. From May 12, the line will reach 14 flights per week, or two flights per day. The route is operated by Airbus A320, Airbus A321 and Embraer 195.
The Skopje - Vienna route is of strategic importance for business travelers and one of the key gateways connecting the country with the world.
Through Vienna Airport, passengers from the country receive reliable and fast access to numerous European, intercontinental and overseas flights, making this route an important link for business, tourism and the diaspora. The high frequency of flights and reliable connectivity provide flexibility and comfort, further strengthening the role of this line as a vital link to the world.
TAV Macedonia, a subsidiary of TAV Airports, a member of the ADP Group, remains strongly committed the continuous development of air traffic in the country, through the improvement of airport infrastructure, attracting new airlines and opening new destinations, in order to strengthen the position of Skopje and Ohrid airports as regional hubs for connectivity and economic development.
This is also proved by the latest statistical data for the first two months of this year, which TAV Macedonia completed with 539,474 passengers transported at both Macedonian airports, which is a 31% increase in the number of passengers compared to the same period in 2025 and 3,766 flights, which is 14% more than the same period last year.