The 2016/17 winter season begins on Sunday October 30, with Air Serbia set to make changes to its network. Following cutbacks to its operations last year, the Serbian carrier plans to boost its frequencies on a number of routes, according to its preliminary schedule. Unlike last winter, the airline will operate flights to three additional destinations – Hamburg, Larnaca and New York – while services to St. Petersburg, which were introduced on a seasonal summer basis this June, will run between December and January twice per week. Furthermore, the carrier intends on adding an extra weekly flight to Berlin, Tirana and Tel Aviv each. As was the case over the past two years, additional flights will run on services to Amsterdam, Athens, Beirut, Brussels, Copenhagen, Ljubljana, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki and Zagreb during the busy holiday period between mid-December and mid-January. Podgorica will also see a boost for the first time during the peak travel season.
On the other hand, Air Serbia will suspend operations to Warsaw. Launched in May 2014, the service has struggled for some time and it is believed the route was only maintained over the past year since its competitor LOT temporarily suspended flights to Belgrade from July 2015 to January 2016 due to European Union imposed restructuring. Operations to Podgorica will also be reduced slightly, although this is believed to be in line with a new codeshare agreement between the carrier and Montenegro Airlines. Montenegrin press have suggested that under the deal Montenegro Airlines will introduce an additional daily departure between Podgorica and the Serbian capital.
Please note that the changes listed below are preliminary and based on current availability in the Global Distribution System (GDS). Both frequencies and destinations are subject to change. In the past, Air Serbia has both announced and introduced new destinations mid-way through its winter season operations. EX-YU Aviation News will bring you all the winter season modifications each national carrier in the former Yugoslavia will be making by the end of the month.
| Destination | Frequency W15/16 | Frequency W16/17 | Change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Amsterdam | 7 | 7 | - | 10 flights from DEC18 - JAN18 |
| Athens | 7 | 7 | - | 10 flights from DEC19 - JAN17 |
| Banja Luka | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Beirut | 4 | 4 | - | 5 flights from DEC20 - JAN20 |
| Berlin | 6 | 7 | ▲ 1 | - |
| Brussels | 5 | 5 | - | 6 flights from DEC22 - JAN19 |
| Bucharest | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Copenhagen | 4 | 4 | - | 5 flights from DEC20 - JAN17 |
| Dusseldorf | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Frankfurt | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Hamburg | 0 | 3 | ▲ 3 | - |
| Istanbul | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Larnaca | 0 | 3 | ▲ 3 | - |
| Ljubljana | 12 | 12 | - | 14 flights from DEC18 - JAN21 |
| London - Heathrow | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Milan | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Moscow | 7 | 7 | - | 11 flights from DEC18 - JAN18 |
| New York | 0 | 3 | ▲ 3 | 4 flights from DEC 23 - JAN03 |
| Paris | 13 | 13 | - | 14 flights from DEC18 - JAN21 |
| Podgorica | 21 | 18 | ▼ 3 | 21 flights from DEC18-JAN22 |
| Prague | 10 | 10 | - | - |
| Rome | 6 | 6 | - | 7 flights from DEC20 - JAN17 |
| Sarajevo | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Sofia | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Skopje | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Stockholm | 4 | 4 | - | 6 flights from DEC19 - JAN18 |
| Stuttgart | 4 | 4 | - | 6 flights from DEC20 - JAN17 |
| St. Petersburg | 0 | 2 | ▲ 2 | seasonal DEC21 - JAN22 |
| Tel Aviv | 4 | 5 | ▲ 1 | - |
| Tirana | 5 | 6 | ▲ 1 | - |
| Tivat | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Thessaloniki | 4 | 4 | - | 5 flights from DEC21 - JAN18 |
| Vienna | 14 | 14 | - | - |
| Warsaw | 4 | 0 | ▼ 4 | - |
| Zagreb | 12 | 12 | - | 14 flights from DEC19 - JAN21 |
| Zurich | 13 | 13 | - | - |
Kondic said a few weeks ago that there would be “surprises” to the network during the winter. Anyone know what it might be as I don’t think there is anything overly surprising about their published operations?
ReplyDeleteThey announced Zagreb in the winter less than a month before they started flights and not even the employees knew about it so who knows.
DeleteMaybe something will be announced during the third anniversary of the Jat/Air Serbia relaunch on 26 October?
DeleteI'm working on a theory it might have to do with this new leisure airline Etihad is setting up. Might be completely off though.
DeleteMaybe they announce PEK for next year :P
DeleteMuch better than last winter.
ReplyDeleteHow is it much better?
DeleteJust 9 more flights, connections still not good, New York feeding is with huge transfer time in Belgrade?
Flights are not well organised when it comes to connection to JFK. Biggest mistake is ATH and SKG which they are reducing to daily and 4 p/w for most of the year. On many occasions more than half of passengers that arrived to BEG from ATH would connect to JFK flights. Regional destinations connect to some flights while not to the others. I understand JU may have had difficulty getting the slots they wanted for JFK, but still loads will suffer.
DeleteAlso add Kiev to that mix since this route surprisingly had many transfer pax to JFK.
DeleteOd toga je prosto previse malo novca.
DeleteLooking at their destination map, Iberian peninsula missing big time.
ReplyDeleteIs passenger flow to MAD or BCN that seasonal that they couldn't make a go of it?
DeleteAfrica, S America, Asia all missing as well! )))
DeleteLet's not get ahead of ourselves :D
DeleteI thought they might keep Kiev for the winter. Warsaw cancellation expected.
ReplyDeleteWAW cancellation was announced a while back. LOT won over fairly and squarely on that one. Had they had a regional jet in their fleet like a CRJ then maybe it would have been kept.
DeleteCRJ would not make significant difference for Air Serbia on this route. LOT is expanding intercontinental destinations and expansion allows them to increase BEG-WAW pax. Both LO and OS are growing long haul destinations faster than JU, further increasing the long haul gap between JU and OS/LO. If Air Serbia wants to regain position of long haul hub in the (wider) region, they need to step on the gas and expand long haul at a faster pace than LO and OS.
DeleteHave they shuffled around any regional departure/arrival times to connect better with JFK ops?
ReplyDeleteYes, some like OTP, SKP, SOF... will have a few night flights to allow for connections onto the morning wave of departures.
DeleteI still think a three weekly night flight to ATH could work. The market there is booming, in September alone they had a 12% increase in passenger numbers and they are set to handle 20 million passengers this year.
Just a small correction NEMJEE , 14.2% increase for September (2.130.617 million) a little bit more than nine months of Zagreb airport.
DeleteYou're right my dear. I hope it works well for JU this winter.
DeleteFor a small-sized airline this is a respectable network.
ReplyDeleteWhat it really makes me wonder - how do they manage 12 p/w to ZAG and only 7p/w to SKP knowing many facts like less main hub destinations from SKP, beter position i.e south-nord connections, no natuonal carrier etc..
ReplyDeleteDespite the competition, Zagreb is the bigger market. Wizz Air has every major diaspora centre from Skopje covered.
DeleteMy guess is that there is also more O&D between BEG and ZAG. JU could easily keep double daily flights to Zagreb in winter if OU wasn't mentally retarded when they turned down their offer for a code-share.
DeleteZAG is there for prestigious reasons - the route is making big losses actually with small LF
DeleteYeah everything in JU's network is for "prestigious" reasons. Give me a break. If it were operating badly with huge losses they would not be operating the route with 12 flights p/w for a second year running.
DeleteI flew with them BEG-ZAG-BEG in June this year (on the same day - morning and evening) and it was full both ways. It must have been an exception since they are flying empty as you claim.
I flew ZAG-BEG-ZAG at least 10 times since it opens, and there was between 15 and 35 passengers on board. Just once there was 45.
DeleteNow situation is much better than at start but still there is usually less than 35 passengers on board.
Last time in middle of top season 18.8. 37 pax (56%)
21.6. 34 (51%)
Every time I flew it was almost full. Granted, I only twice flew over the winter season. However, I seriøusly doubt they would be increasing from 12 to 14 flights for "prestigious" reasons. No businesses operates that way, there clearly are indications the traffic will go up. I work with similar algorithm predictions in banking that airlines use too.
DeleteIn any case, what other alternative is there to fly to Belgrade and vice versa from Belgrade to Zagreb, so I am happy! Also they are adding a flight to Copenhagen, so less chance when I'm in Belgrade, I'll have to connect to Copenhagen!
Air Serbia...keep up the good work!!
It's interesting that they have put a lot of focus on Germany lately. Is it because of Air Berlin, or trying to weaken Lufthansa on Serbia-Germany market or there is just demand?
ReplyDeleteI think it's a mix of decent O&D demand plus connections with AB. JU and LH don't really compete for the same market. My guess is that most O&D from FRA fly on LH due to greater flexibility.
DeleteI'm happy to see Larnaca back in winter schedule. Last time I was on this route less than a month ago it was filled with transfers from western Europe and USA though it was still summer.
ReplyDeleteLooking at TGD flights they will be operating and optimal connecting times. I guess Montenegro Airlines will get the less desirable time slots.
ReplyDeleteIs the B737 still filed as an operational aircraft on some routes this winter?
ReplyDeleteKada se oduzmu smanjenja za Varsavu i dodaju svi novi letovi to dodje na 9 nedeljnih letova u odnosu na proslu zimu. Naravno izuzimajuci praznike, jer smo to pojacanje imali i prosle zime. Sve u svemu ocekivak sam malo vece pojacanje letova
ReplyDeleteSve mi se cini da se ostavlja prostor za jos jednu liniju pa to moze biti to "iznenadjenje" koje je najavljeno.
DeleteGood luck JU! I'm hoping for IKA and PEK next summer :)
ReplyDeleteI am still disappointed that VAR is seasonal only. They can compete with FB, OS and TK, S7 and W6 in the winter especially given many Russians living in Varna. The MOW and TLV routes will work best.
ReplyDeleteI think Varna failed badly for them. Even during the summer it isn't that full although they initially planned on flying year-round.
DeleteUntil they get more planes they can't really do much in terms of expanding. The winter they had 2 years ago is the limit in terms of frequencies but what's the point of flying empty. Better to have fewer frequencies and more bums on seats.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThey should have extended Split to year round. Also next summer they could consider Venice and Madrid maybe.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIf JU extend flights to Split all year round JU would be in direct competition to OU and LH and all flights going to east and west
DeleteTwo weekly on the Atr, three around the holidays could do wonders in SPU.
DeleteSo what? Fares for SPU in winter are very high compared to short routes to FRA/MUC all under 1h15 flying time - they can earn good money there, no need to dump prices and competition is almost non existing (only ZAG, FRA/MUC duopoly of LH/OU with bit of overprized EW to STR)
DeleteMa kakav Split zimi, tko molim vas ovakve informacije plasira u javnost?
DeleteZasto ne?
DeleteNeka bude Split zimi sa JU. Ja bi prvi letio a znam ih još dosta koji bi koristili tu liniju
DeleteZimi svakog dana oko 60 ljudi ide raznoraznim autobusima i "taksistima" između Splita i Beograda, po ceni ne mnogo nižoj od avionske karte u sezoni. Ne vidim zašto ova linija ne bi mogla da uspe dvaput nedeljno.
DeleteMože onda i Dubrovnik ako otvore Split
DeleteTrebaju kupiti/lizovati bar dva par novijih atrova, poslati u penziju 200 seriju i razviti lokalni saobracaj sa okolnim morima i Ankarom pa onda regionalne dzetove za dalje destinacije.
DeleteNext summer they will have even stronger competition from Wizz. They need to be smart about their scheduling and networking.
ReplyDeleteWhen flights from Beograd to Pristina will start? I read a 'neutral' airline will start it (so not Air Serbia for sure). Anyone knows if this connection will materialize with the winter schedule or not?
ReplyDeleteThere were some rumors that Air Berlin or Etihad Regional would run the route but since both are falling apart I'm not so sure. I know both the government and JU want to start flights to PRN but because of bureaucracy it is very difficult.
DeleteCome to think of it Alitalia could be a potential operator. It has to be someone from the EY family so passengers could connect onto other JU flights under one ticket.
I think Adria might jump in for that service.
DeleteBut that would be a problem because Air Serbia would be unable to sell tickets PRN-JFK if the flight between PRN-BEG is operated by Adria with Adria flight numbers.
DeleteNot Aviolet as previously suggested?
DeleteThere is no need to link BEG and PRN until JU is allowed to operate the route with its own metal.
DeleteMontenegro perhaps?
DeleteUnless they impound their plane again. lol
DeleteAfter the Trepca theft scandal don't expect any flights soon.
Flying with JU metal is not an issue, apart from security concerns (if any) and all the political implications on the Serbian side, as far as I know.
DeleteFlying directly to PRN from any Serbian airport is an issue, again for the Serbian side, as they see handover of flights to Pristina FIR (controlled in Budapest) on the border between Kosovo and Serbia as a sign of recognition of Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo, on the other hand, wants open border between two FIRs for any and all flights. As of now, all flights arriving and departing PRN cannot fly over Serbian airspace (but not Belgrade FIR, which is interesting) :) They don't want exception for BEG flights, but rather direct routing for all flights.
At the end of the day, it's PRN that needs BEG flights more than BEG needs PRN flights.
DeleteIt's interesting how Scandinavia has never really worked outside the peak summer and holiday Christmas periods. They will only fly 4 per week to ARN and CPH and I don't think they are even considering Oslo.
ReplyDeleteI think the issue with CPH is that they have W6 right next door so JU only serves the Serbian community in Denmark which is around 2.000 people.
DeleteThat said, the transfer passenger market is great so they should work on that.
No flights to Iberian Peninsula, North Africa or CIS (except SVO).EU already covered. Pretty light presence in the Middle East too.
ReplyDeleteThey must be doing well in Prague to keep 10 p/w. Surprised CSA hasn't considered returning.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure ex-yu aviation has tried to interview Kondić many times, my question is why does he refuse?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason he rarely gives interviews.
Deletemr. Kondic doesn't need to give interviews that is done regularly by his excellence Mr. A.V. and Mr. Mali who are both aviation experts!!!
DeleteBecause before he gives an interview he has to get the green light from Etihad.
DeleteIt's as if it is such a secretive organization. I don't expect him to give away privileged information, but it would be good PR for AS.
DeleteIt's not up to him, it's an Etihad thing.
DeleteWhat, he has no right to give an interview? I thought that decision making was in Beograd. After all that is what was reported to the EU.
DeleteHe doesn't like journalists since he doesn't feel comfortable not being able to speak the local language properly. In the video interview he gave to online media he was reading the answers.
DeleteHe can do the interview in Australian. ;-)
DeleteAnother misinformation from Anon at 6:45. He does speak Serbian properly. There are videos of him giving unscripted interviews and presentations in Serbian. BTW using "local language" instead of Serbian sheds a light on your background and motivation.
DeleteAnon 6.40
DeleteHe can give interview but he first needs to be cleared by AUH.
Anon 8:40 Any proof you can offer for your claim?
Deletei don't know what crap all of you are talking about, but all you need to do is to run a google search to see actually how many interviews the guy has done ... difference is, he has done very few if any, with the local trash papers and instead, they have mostly been with serious aviation publications .... not to mention the 4 or 5 panel discussions that he has participated in at serious aviation gatherings ....
DeleteAnon 08.46
DeleteInternal company policies are not published online. ;) This doesn't just apply to DK but to all employees
Policy of every global company is not to allow employees to talk publicly about the company... unless authorized. Simpletons are not authorized but CEOs always are.
DeleteSo why won't he give ex-yu aviation interview?
DeleteAnon 8:29
DeleteHow do you explain his interview for local media given in Australian English instead in local language, while reading the answers?
http://tangosix.rs/2016/07/03/ekskluzivno-intervju-sa-direktorom-er-srbije-prodaja-karata-za-njujork-ide-odlicno-tom-linijom-jacamo-svoju-regionalnu-mrezu/
Wow, he seemed so disinterested for that interview. Acting as if it was so great of him to give us plebs five minutes of his time.
DeleteAnon 8:29
DeleteKondic admits he is "struggling with Serbian" and he "is far from where needs to be" - referring to the knowledge of local language (55th minute of the below linked video). BTW it is quite ridiculous he gave a speech in Serbian for mainly Australian audience. What a confusion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEHALShPjHo
That was almost two years ago. Improved since then.
DeleteHogan gave interview to ex yu aviation.
But not Kondić.
DeleteWhen are more planes (not named A330) joining Air Serbia fleet? Until then it's all reshuffling destinations and frequencies aka "presipanje iz šupljeg u prazno".
ReplyDeleteJU desperately needs regional jets. Destinations such as Milan and Rome could be boosted, new destination in Italy as well, Prague would suit a regional jet, Kiev and LED would be year round, WAW could be maintained, should I even continue...
DeleteBest aircraft for this: Embraer 170 (I have been saying this for 3 year already lol)
YYZ
DeleteBolje se slaze E90 za ASL potrebe .
Steta samo sto nisu bili preuzeli ih od HG.
INN-NS
The most shity A/C got Helvetic from HG!
DeleteNo thanks!
Nadam se da ce se ispuniti dolazak planiranih Aviona i da ce ce se ostvariti buduce planirane Destinacije .
ReplyDeleteTakodje bi voleo da se nove Regionalne Evrospke destinacije .
INN-NS
All summer long I have been following the 'Happy Friday' offers, and not once has Beirut been offered. Is BEY so popular, that not even once in 5-6 months was it discounted?
ReplyDeleteIt's very popular. That is why they are increasing flights in the winter too. All tranfers to pretty much every western European city they fly to. Iran would be the same if they started.
DeleteCan't blame Air Serbia for trying to make money. Tehran and Beijing will have more transfers and less seasonality than obvious choices like Chicago. Problem is, they are still small and not growing fast enough. It would be great if they can find a sustainable way to add destinations like HAM, LED, IKA, PEK, CAI, ORD, YYZ etc in a single year.
DeleteWhat is a sustainable way? You mean find the aircraft, hope for great load factor and high yields. But I hear you buddy.
DeleteNo, that would be the way other airlines in the region try to expand.
DeleteBecause you generally dont discount routes that sell well on its own.
DeleteBut there are only four weekly flights. Why not increase number of flights if they sell so well?
Deletemaybe they dont have available aircrafts to relocate and also need to watch over network ballance.
DeleteNo more free travel to Schengen Zone. All 6 Western Balkan states travelers will have to register wait for approval and pay for ANY travel ! Starting 2017.
ReplyDeleteYou seem happy and misinformed.
DeleteThat's completely inaccurate. First, I suppose six states you are referring to are Serbia, Bosnia, Montengero, Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo. Well, beside the fact that Croatia is in the Western Balkans as well (so it's not "all 6", but rather only 6), this will apply only to citizens of those countries who do not require Schengen visas for entry in the EU. Therefore, as of now, this will apply to five of these six states, while Kosovo citizens will not require ETA, but proper Schengen visas. On the other hand, this will apply to citizens of all states that do not require visas - USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and so on.
DeleteAlso, American ESTA - and this is a role-model for the EU scheme - costs $14 and is valid for multiple trips during two years, all while reply is received in seconds. So, even if this system is introduced, it should be very affordable and should not apply for every individal journey, nor should it present an obstacle for an unplanned trip to the Schengen zone.
As for timing, no decision has been made yet. The infrastructure isn't there, decision making process in the EU is very very slow, so, I would be VERY surprised if this starts anytime during 2017.
The EU already said that candidate states will not be affected by this.
DeleteIstog onog dana kada Britanija otpocne sa Brexitom treba im uvesti vize za Srbiju.
DeleteKome misliš da će to više škoditi?
DeleteAn. 7.30
DeleteWestern Balkans is not geographical, but politicall term. Croatia USED TO be part of the WB, until it became full EU member. So, ALL 6 WB countries will have to obtain permissions, either visa or new authorization, before travelling to EU, which includes Croatia. I'm so sorry it hurts but it''s simply the fact, and it probably will have some influence on airline passengers as well
Hahahah western Balkans is not a political term, it's very much a geographical one. Croatia is a Balkan nation and there are maps online that prove it. I don't see why anyone should have a problem with it.
DeleteAlso, as mentioned earlier, this will not apply to countries which have started their accession negotiations and Serbia is one of them.
"...Also, as mentioned earlier, this will not apply to countries which have started their accession negotiations and Serbia is one of them."
DeleteJust curious, where did you find this? It will apply to non-EU citizens and Serbia is not an EU country. Anyway, the final decision hasn't been made yet.
Nemjee oh yes it will effect Serbia as well until it will became full member of the EU and that's unknown if sometime in the future this will happen !
DeleteWhat the hell is your problem? Ease the exclamation marks, shouting and your pure excitement.
DeleteNo more travel to the EU. Only when approved, you will pay.
DeleteNow repeat one more time
DeleteOT: http://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/zadnje-pripreme-za-otvorenje-zracne-luke-franjo-tudman-sef-specijalnog-tima-najavljuje-veliku-selidbu-na-novi-terminal-angazirat-cemo-400-statista/5120534/
ReplyDelete