nMACEDONIAN AIRPORTS - CHEAPEST IN THE BALKANS

The Alexander the Great Airport in Skopje reduced the rates of its services by 17 percent and the St. Apostle Paul Airport in Ohrid cut rates by 27 percent, whereby they became the cheapest airports in the region, Transport Minister Mile Janakieski informed.

The goal of the cuts is encouraging airlines to reduce prices of plane tickets and attract flight re-routings to the Skopje and Ohrid airports.

"In order to attract organized flights transporting tourists with hotel accommodation arrangements, airport services for charter flights will be free of charge," Minister Janakieski explained.

Airports services in Skopje cost 950 euros, compared to 955 euros in Nis, 1,062 euros in Belgrade, 1,350 in Tirana, and 1,390 in Pristina.

The discount for the first year of the operations at the new destination will be 40 percent and for the second year 15 percent.

According to the director of the public company for airport services, Zoran Krstevski, home companies will benefit most from the rate cuts. For example, MAT, which makes up 25 percent of the air traffic, will pay rates for airport services cut by as much as 30 percent.

About 500,000 passengers landed and took off from the Skopje airport last year.

Source: MIC