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Brussels Airlines has already stepped up to maintain Star Alliance links to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, following the collapse of Adria Airways. The Belgian carrier says it will open a six-times-weekly service from Brussels from 4 November, using Airbus A319s configured with 141 seats. Brussels Airlines has not specifically mentioned the demise of Star partner Adria but its decision to launch the new route comes just 24h after the Slovenian airline revealed it would file for bankruptcy. Ljubljana airport operator Fraport Slovenija's managing director, Zmago Skobir, has welcomed the quick response from the Belgian airline. "I'm convinced that a carrier with an attractive network of flights, including onwards from Brussels, will attract many business and tourist travellers," he says. "We hope that this will be reflected in the occupancy of the aircraft from the initial flight period." Adria's failure has taken place just as work has started on an expanded passenger terminal for the airport, intended to relieve bottlenecks during peak periods in summer. The E17.3m project will be carried out over the next two years. "The capacities of airlines already flying to Ljubljana airport are already increasing, while our activities are focused on establishing connections with new airlines as soon as possible," says Skobir. "Visibility of Slovenia in foreign markets is increasing, and as a result the interest in travelling to Slovenia is increasing."<br/>

Ljubljana airport should be able to replace most flights lost in the collapse of Slovenia’s Adria Airways within a year and a half, its manager and owner Fraport said on Tuesday. Fraport is in talks with airlines to replace Adria flights, which accounted for 11 of 29 regular routes serving Ljubljana, Zmago Skobir, said business director of Fraport Slovenia. “There is demand for these destinations and we have received the first signals that they will be replaced,” Skobir said. Bankrupt Adria, which is owned by German investment firm 4K Invest, owes E4m to Fraport. Still, Fraport Slovenia expects to end the year in profit and does not does not plan to cut staff. Brussels Airlines said Tuesday it would start flying to Ljubljana in November, linking Brussels and Ljubljana six times a week. Monday’s bankruptcy of Adria, which employed about 500 people, could have a negative impact on Slovenia’s tourism sector and economy, according to some analysts. “Slovenia will be less connected to the world and that will mean that its competitive advantages will be reduced,” said Bogomir Kovac, a professor of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Economy. The government is contemplating establishing a new airline but Kovac said he does not believe that will happen, noting the government did not react in recent months to signs that Adria was in trouble.<br/>