A colourful shift is taking place in the skies above Slovenia.
Pasha Balloons, the renowned Turkish manufacturer behind some of the world’s most iconic hot air balloons, is opening its first European factory in Murska Sobota.
Known for their handcrafted craftsmanship in Cappadocia, the company is investing over €1.5 million to launch a plant capable of producing 100+ balloons annually — including custom-designed fantasy and corporate models.
This isn’t just industrial expansion. It’s a cultural lift-off. With full compliance to EU aviation standards and the launch of a dedicated R&D and education centre, Pasha Balloons is building more than aircraft — it’s building community.
The factory will create over 40 local jobs and fuel the ambition to make the upcoming Sobota Balonfest (28–31 August) Europe’s largest hot air balloon festival within five years.
For a town already famed for ballooning, this marks the dawn of a new era — one that blends engineering, tourism, and soft power 3,000 feet above the ground.
