Spanish flag carrier Iberia Airlines and Norway's budget carrier Norwegian Air have applied for subsidies offered by the Slovenian government under a scheme designed to improve the country's air connectivity.

Revealing the two bidders on 28 November, the Infrastructure Ministry said their applications would be examined in the coming weeks.

Norwegian applied to operate flights between Ljubljana and Copenhagen, and Iberia between Ljubljana and Madrid.

Slovenia, which has had poor air links since its flag carrier Adria Airways went bankrupt in 2019, is offering almost €17 million in the form of airport fee subsidies in 2023-2025.

Carriers can apply to get subsidies for new passenger air links covering 50% of airport fees at Slovenia's three international airports, Ljubljana, Maribor and Portorož.

This was the third call for applications. In the first two rounds Luxair was awarded subsidies to operate flights to Luxembourg, which have already been launched, and Air Baltic for flights to Riga, which are scheduled to launch next summer.

Earlier this month, Ex-Yu Aviation, a news portal dedicated to aviation, reported that Norwegian, Europe's fourth largest budget carrier, was looking to enter the Slovenian market next summer.