PM Fico: Number of Flights between Bratislava and Kosice Likely to Increase

Bratislava, 21 November (TASR) - A total of nine weekly flights are currently planned on the new Bratislava–Kosice air route, with their number likely to increase in the future, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said on Friday after the Wizz Air aircraft landed in Bratislava. The event was attended by Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee), Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) and Transport Ministry State Secretaries Igor Choma and Denisa Zilakova. "Taking into account the aircraft occupancy rate, the first results look very encouraging. Considering that nine flights per week are planned and this trend continues, it's very likely that we might increase the number of flights per week," said Fico. He recalled that resuming the air route between Kosice and Bratislava was one of the basic priorities that the transport minister was tasked with upon taking up office. "The Bratislava and Kosice route is extremely important because with the flight taking less than 50 minutes and tickets priced at roughly €70, there's nothing to compete with it," said Fico, adding that travelling by car really makes no sense in this situation. Raz added that he considers the Bratislava–Kosice air route to be a fast, safe and comfortable alternative for connecting western and eastern Slovakia. "We've capped the fares at the level of one full tank of fuel, which is €70," said Raz. jrg/df