Germanwings today announced plans to abandon plans for a new scheduled connection between Cologne/Bonn and Sarajevo , due to the continuing blockade by the transportation authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Shortly before the planned inaugural flight to Sarajevo at the end of March, the transportation authorities were denying flying rights to Germany´s premier low-cost airline, despite the country having signed the European Open Skies Agreement, which regulates free access to markets for airlines within Europe and from which foreign airlines also profit in Germany.

Despite intensive negotiations, in which the German authorities had also been participating, no agreement could be reached and Germanwings continues to be denied market access. Thomas Winkelmann, Spokesman for the Board of Germanwings, commented: “We cannot understand the protectionist attitude of the authorities of Bosnia Herzegovina.  Bookings for the route and feedback from both at home and from Bosnia Herzegovina over the last few weeks demonstrate that our low-cost connections have been eagerly anticipated. Travellers now have no other choice than to continue paying very high prices for flights or to make an arduous journey by car.”  Thomas Winkelmann continues: “We can only hope that free competition in air transportation is introduced in this part of Europe as quickly as possible.”

To avoid further disruption to the travel plans of passengers, Germanwings has now taken all affected flights off its summer flight schedule. Customers will be reimbursed the full cost of their flights as well as any taxes and fees. Germanwings very much regrets the inconvenience caused to its customers.