Serbia and China negotiate future flights


The Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vučić, has held direct talks with a Chinese carrier interested in launching services between Beijing and Belgrade. The high-level talks took place during last week's World Economic Forum in Davos. At a press conference yesterday, Mr Vučić said, "We are not far away from the launch of direct flights". While the Prime Minister did not reveal which company he held talks with, representatives from HNA Aviation, a conglomerate which runs multiple Chinese carriers, were present at the Forum. Some of the companies it owns include Hainan Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines, among others. Mr Vučić noted that the start of direct flights between the two countries is of high priority after Serbia and China abolished visa restrictions for each others' nationals on January 1. Serbia become only the second European country after the microstate of San Marino to grant Chinese citizens visa-free entry.

Commenting on the future flights, the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia, Li Manchang, said on Saturday, "Two weeks ago I held discussions with three interested airlines and invited them for further talks in Belgrade. It is expected for direct flights between Beijing and Belgrade to be launched this year". Mr Li believes that some 100.000 Chinese tourists will visit Serbia during 2017 as a result of the visa-free regime. "There are two possibilities. One is that tourists will come just to visit Serbia for seven or ten days, even two weeks. Middle-aged people in China have the time, money and affection towards Serbia. They will come. The other possibility are young Chinese who will visit Serbia as one of the stops on their itinerary. They will stay three to four days before moving on to Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina", the Ambassador noted.

Late last year, the Chinese Ambassador unveiled that Air China, Hainan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have all entered into negotiations to commence flights from Beijing to Belgrade in 2017. Furthermore, the Ambassador said that a fourth carrier, from China's south (tipped to be China Southern Airlines) is also considering the service. All four carriers operate international flights out of Beijing. Last December, the Mayor of Belgrade, Siniša Mali, noted that the Serbian capital would see "one or two new direct flights to China in the next few months". At the same time, he ruled out the possibility of Air Serbia operating the service. Chinese carriers are known for applying for permits with local authorities to operate international services just weeks before their planned launch.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    Would be nice to see Hainan come with its B787 :D anything would be fine really

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      All three have A330s in their fleet so my assumption is this is the aircraft that will be used.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:06

    Why haven't other EU countries abolished visas for Chinese citizens?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      Politics

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:20

      Partly immigration fears, but mostly politics.
      At this moment they have a higher living standards than Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania, let alone Moldavia and Ukraine. Yet all these countries have visa-free regime with EU, while China doesn't.
      It is all politics with Russia, which has higher standard than Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Latvia, but is nevertheless on a visa regime with EU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:02

      On average, yes, but in terms of absolute numbers, China has ten times more poor people than the populations of all the listed countries listed put together.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:23

      Russia in general don't have higher standard than Bulgaria or Romania. Moscow and St. Petersburg have higher standard.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:46

      Russia in general has higher standard of living than Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia or Latvia. This is World Bank/IMF official data.
      Also, for fairness sake, compare capitals with capitals, and province with province. If you want to exclude Moscow or St. Petersburg from the equation, please exclude Zagreb and Split or Sofia from comparison too.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:01

      @AnonymousJanuary 23, 2017 at 9:06 AM
      Why haven't other EU countries abolished visas for Chinese citizens?

      Which EU country has abolished visa requirement for Chinese visitors ???

      To remind you, Serbia isn't in the EU, it is at least 12 years from being an EU member if ever.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:11

      @AnonymousJanuary 23, 2017 at 9:20 AM

      You're talking nonsense. Croatia and Latvia have higher income per head and way higher living standard than Russia.

      I have no idea where you get your data from, clearly not from the real world.

      Also the visa regime is on cause China has visa regime on the EU citizens, it is reciprocity. Russian's aren't allowed to travel to the EU without visa cause of so many Russians are already illegally living in the EU.

      There's little chance we'll lift visa restrictions on Russians any time soon, read not in your lifetime. As to no visa regime for some of the Balkan states, well the EU felt in charitable mood, Germany was proposing re-introducing visa back, however for any would be visitor from non-EU member, without sufficient funds to support themselves for duration of their stay with-in EU, they're deported and banned from entering the EU for 5 or 10 years.


      Hopefully that clears few things. Visa was there to ensure visitors have means to support themselves if visiting the EU.




      Delete
    8. Anonymous08:49

      GDP per capita
      7.742 USD Russia
      12.405 USD Croatia

      Human development index
      0.798 Russia (51st place)
      0.818 Croatia (47th place)

      Devalvation of Rubles in 2015: 30%
      Inflation in Russia 7,5%

      Delete
    9. Anonymous08:55

      Average monthly wages:

      567 EUR Russia
      774 EUR Croatia

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:07

    I don't understand how this route will survive...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      I think 3 times per week BEG-PEK could work.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      I think a daily JFK could also work. Soo many Serbs live in the area and US citizens do not need visas to enter Serbia. The US citizens have a lot of money too and could tour Serbia for two weeks.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:37

      While I understand you were being spiteful and ironic, those two markets are completely different.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:10

      I doubt any airline would fly this route and therefore in my opinion these flights won't commence. If you must consider choose QR, EY,TK, LH ....... more flights and more often

      Delete
    5. Anonymous14:23

      Definitely not. Why bother flying via those, if you can fly directly.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:11

    What about Shanghai-Belgrade? Is there any chance of that happening?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:15

      No it looks like it will only be PEK and I think that is enough for now.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:13

    100,000 Chinese tourists in 2017 is a bit of a stretch. At least he didn't say 500,000 like the PM.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:14

    Does Air Serbia have some kind of agreement with Hainan? Whoever flies the route JU should definitely try and get the airline to codeshare on its regional and wider network.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:16

      They have a codeshare agreement with Air China from Vienna to Beijing.
      They have a special prorate agreement with China Southern, Xiamen Airlines and Hainan Airlines.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:19

    What would be the makeup of passengers on these flights. Would it be mostly leisure transfers, business passengers, ethnic even?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      well, all of them actually

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      It would be all three. Chinese tour operators will begin including Belgrade, more and more Chinese companies operating in Belgrade now - on the weekend the Bank of China opened their regional centre in Belgrade, Chinese are now running Zelezara Smederevo, they will get RTB Bor and so on. Plus you have Chinese people living in Belgrade although the majority of them come from Shanghai province.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:24

      There are rumors the Chinese are becoming favorites to get the airport concession too.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:24

      Mostly tourists and transfers to the rest of Balkans, but there are also Chinese shops in almost every single Serbian village, so... But anyway, China is HUGE market, I don't think it could fail.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:27

      So 14600 visitors visited Serbia in 2016, lets see it 18000 Chinese visitors visit Serbia in 2017, before we declare 6000 000 million Chinese visitors visiting Serbia in 2017.

      Serbia in whole had 1.3 million foreign visitors.

      Vučić expects 500 000 Chinese visitors. I think Vučić is high on something, wild mushrooms ?

      PS, Chinese can easily get a visa for EU travel, through travel agencies, which is how they often travel, organized travel tours. Lifting visa restrictions won't make a slight difference.

      Also, majority of forigen visitors to Serbia are from the region, not some exotic places.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Serbia

      Delete
    6. Anonymous18:51

      ^ you really need to take a break from politics for one day. No one mentioned 600,000 as you declare not even Vucic. You have expressed numerous times how no one from China will come to Serbia and we get it. Have a rest. You still have many days and months ahead of you to persuade people how no one will ever come to Serbia. It's only January.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:58

      @AnonymousJanuary 23, 2017 at 6:51 PM

      I guess lies are in your nature, making lies as you go, making things up.

      This is my very first comment on Chinese visitors to Serbia. The facts are only 14000 Chinese visitors visited Serbia.

      It is Vučić who is saying 6 trillion Chinese will visit Serbia, not I.

      I know he said 500 000, but might as well be 6 trillion cause both numbers are wild exaggeration when it comes to tourism and Vučić.

      That guy is electioneering year round.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous19:06

      Just to add, are there any adds on Chinese TV for Serbian Tourism, like daily adds, at least in Beijing region ?

      How do you expect someone in China with $300 pay to spend what is $1000 for a once e decade holiday to a country they know nothing about, not even know where it is.

      Just cause we don't need visa to visit Ecuador, doesn't mean i'll pop on a first flight to Ecuador and expect to see something, knowing absolutely nothing about the country, its people, its traditions or places to see, relax and be excited for. After all holiday to Ecuador won't be cheap, will it, plane ticket alone is $600 return.

      Use logic sometimes, before you start any sort of conversation, have an agrument in place...

      Delete
    9. Anonymous19:07

      No, lies are in your nature. You decrease the numbers of Chinese visitors each time you post a comment. The fact is you don't know how many Chinese visitors there were since the Serbian Tourist Organisation has not published them yet. I don't believe a thing Vucic says but if you even read the article, which you didn't, you would have noticed the Chinese ambassador's estimate. But be must be lying too. He is probably working for Vucic and in fact tourist numbers from China will probably go down. Would make you happy at least.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous19:11

      Also you have no idea what kind of measures the Serbian tourism organisation has undertaken for China market. I work in the tourism sector and I actually do because I'm following this closely. Since you don't care like you didn't even bothet to read this article, google a bit what are some of the commercial activities done in China just in the last year.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous09:00

      100.000 could happen, not likely but it could.

      But 500.000??? That would be biggest success in history of world. There is no such a propaganda which can help in goal to make this number

      Delete
    12. So, all of you tourism and travel experts are behind the statements that just because of these flights and politicians flying to and fro, Few hundreds of thousands Chinese will come and roam Serbia for couple of weeks? So, some natural growth isn't enough for you, but you need to exaggerate and back up someone like Vučić? Round of an applause.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:25

    Great news but I don't think they will officially announce it until the President visits the Chinese president in Beijing which is in March. So flights would probably start in May or June.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:33

    Does anyody know when airport could be put under cosnsession ? Next year,in few months..?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      You should read the news that's posted here. They said they would decide on the model in 2-3 months.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:43

    Both VIE and BUD have direct flights to China, not sure if this route will be 100% sustainable inspite of the visa abolishments. Lets wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:45

    Ove letove ce obavljati i JU zajedno sa jos jednim prevoznikom dva puta nedeljno ce se leteti jednom JU drugi put neki drugi prevoznik.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      I would prefer JU focus on USA/Canada and leave this route to one of their Interline partners.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:53

    I'm struggling to see what tourism draw cards Belgrade or Serbia would hold for Chinese tourists? Not sure how they will fill these proposed flights

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:30

      Arrogant and ignorant at the same time. Shame.

      Always remember, if you can't physically travel everywhere,Google is your friend.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:59

      This is the first tour planned. Ir includes Sarajevo.
      http://www.informer.rs/data/images/2016-10-08/111147_valter_f.jpg?1475946760

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:07

      i just don't see chinese tourist (or anybody else for that matter) spending 2 weeks in serbia with so much great stuff to see in europe. even chinese ambasador is peaking about couple of days before they head elsewhere

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:19

      There's plenty to see and do in Serbia

      Delete
    5. Nemjee11:35

      I wonder if they will fly from BEG to SJJ. Going by buy is a horrible experience especially since there is only about 40 km of highway (Belgrade-Ruma).

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:14

      Chinese tour groups seldom ever do intra Europe travel by air - always by coach - simply for the fact that it is much cheaper.

      Delete
    7. Nemjee07:26

      I understand that but then Sarajevo might not be the best option if they plan on going by road.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:01

    OT: Čini mi se da od letova iz ZAG za Kinu i NY ove godine neće biti ništa jer vjerujem da bi ih već objavili. Šteta, mislim da bi sezonske linije bile isplative.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:02

      Da ne zaboravim, nadam se da će barem BEG uspostaviti letove za Kinu, imaju dobru priliku iskoristiti bezvizni režim i nadam se da će uspjeti!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:25

      Da li novi zagrebacki terminal ima tehnicke mogucnosti da u isto vreme primi dva sirokotrupna aviona jer po onome sto sam video cini mi se da ne moze ako sam u pravu?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:44

      Anonymous 10:25 Može

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:58

      Da li onda taj drugi sirokotrupac blokira vise mostova?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:03

      Anonymus 10:58 - Ne, ako je 1. i 8 aviogejtu.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:26

      1. aviogejt je iskljucivo za domace letove.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous17:52

      AnonymousJanuary 23, 2017 at 10:01 AM
      Air Serbia je svoje letove za JFK počela da prodaje 18. februara a prvi let je bio 23. juna , tako da možda još nije kasno

      Delete
    8. Anonymous17:57

      Anonymous 5:52, i ja bih volio da je tako, možda nas iznenade, ali znam da je netko spomenuo sredinu 1. mjeseca kad su letovi trebali biti objavljeni (barem za NY) i zasad ništa.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:04

    It's probably going to be Hainan but let's wait and see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      Weren't they interested in flying to Zadar a few years ago?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:14

      It was more the airport being interested in these flights. Hainan met with airport officials but denied they had plans to fly this route.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:14

    It will be interesting to see if these flights will operate nonstop or as a stop to an onward destination.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:27

    I don't get how these Chinese airlines make it work. For example China Southern just applied for a license to open Guangzhou - Colombo flights and they plan to start them in just 2 weeks! It will take at least 10 days for CAAC to approve the route. How on earth are the flights profitable, at least at the beginning when they aren't even selling tickets?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:32

      It's a completely different system. Tickets are already sold as part of tour packages even before approval. Also trade unions buy tickets before approvals and so on.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:27

    I don't think any Chinese will come alone to see Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:33

      Of course man,they are always coming in groups

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:34

      And? Your point? There's plenty to see and do in Serbia to cover more than 2 weeks.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:03

      You will get a few hundred passengers that will to Serbia alone definately

      Delete
  18. Flights to Belgrade from China can't fail:

    -large Chinese investments and projects in Serbia. The Chinese have road construction, banking, steel, energy, and soon mining.

    -Serbia is the only European country with no visa requirements for Chinese people. A proper advantage.

    -Potential onward connections to the rest of Southern, Central, and Western Europe. Also on the other end there could be connections to South East Asia, Korea, and Japan.

    -Geopolitics, prestige, and friendship. The Chinese have a clear ambition in Europe and increasing their influence in the Balkans is important to them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:50

      Also they can connect to large projects in Montenegro, like Podgorica-Mateševo highway, built by Chinese.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:54

      +1 Aleksandar

      Delete
    3. When chinese tourists arriving in European Union, and of course with an entry visa in their hand, they may visit other EU countries with no further restriction, that's what they usually do. Their common tourist package offers them mostly 2-3 EU countries. If they arrive by a visa free entry to Belgrade airport they visit Belgrade and Serbia and beyond the border? The number of arriving chinese could increase but not enough to justify a direct flight between China and Serbia. Belgrade airport as hub? Chinese airlines have established many direct flights China-Europe. Business trip? How heavy is the business between China and Serbia? I do not think it's so big.

      Delete
    4. Nemjee12:51

      It might not be as big as between Serbia and Germany but it's growing.
      As someone already mentioned, Bank of China opened its regional HQ in Belgrade so they will provide quite a few premium passengers.

      Add to that diaspora travel, tourists and other businessmen and you have your two, three weekly flight.

      Also, I am sure they will offer connections at their own end.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:38

    100.000 seems realistic. A tiny share of the Chinese market but almost 8% of all foreign arrivals in Serbia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:54

      Da, 100.000 je realno ali za tri godine sa velikom dozom optimizma. Prosle godine Srbiju je posetilo 16.500 kineskih turista. Ove godine je po meni realno 30.000.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous11:13

    I think that the route has potential: chinese workers and business people going to Serbia and the region, chinese tourists visiting Serbia as well as connecting with ASL to the region, serbian tourists going to China, Hong Kong etc. and last but not least I guess there will be some connecting traffic to Australia via China.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:27

    I believe Etihad will protest against this and is actively fighting against presence of any Chinese carrier flying directly to BEG. Think of all Aussie, NZ and East Asia pax who will now have an opportunity to fly wherever with only one stopover and a non-MEB3 airline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:28

      They wouldn't be organizing any of this without Etihad's blessing.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:29

      I think both of you are overestimating what Etihad can do in Serbia.

      Delete
    3. Nemjee11:32

      Exactly. It's not like EY has that much influence. I mean if they had then Wizz Air wouldn't be basing its second aircraft at BEG.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:43

      I think that can be solved by scheduling flying times that are not connectable with Aussie and NZ bound flights or with unfavorable prices. These Chinese flights are primarily aimed at Chinese business people and tourists.

      Delete
  22. Nemjee11:36

    OT

    Emirates will launch daily flights from ATH to EWR... people at LH and TK will not be happy about this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JU520 BEGLAX12:07

      Unbelievable how ignorant and naive the EU is handing out traffic rights to EK
      Its not just LH and TK, I guess the majority of people working in the airline business in Europe is not happy with this, except maybe thise working for EK EY and QR
      Their intentions are clear and we feel it year by year more. Wages with the inflation are decreasing and this mainly caused by EK EY QR and their massive attack on the worldwide aviation sector. What do u think European and US airlines who hve no daddy in the back with a fat wallet, how good can they pay their employees? Its getting worse year by year and I say yes to competition, but pls a fair one and one with equal length lances

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:37

      That is also bad news for ASL. Fares from ATH to JFKk via BEG re usually the cheaper option.

      Delete
    3. Nemjee12:41

      Last Anon

      Maybe only in summer, Air Serbia is an insignificant player in winter, that is the moment when they suspend their night flights to ATH.

      JU520BEGLAX

      Even though I agree at the same time what EK/QR are doing to LH today is what that same LH has been doing to smaller European airlines for years and years now.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:42

      You mean they will launch DXB-ATH-EWR? Cause I don't think they will base widebodies in ATH and do only ATH-EWR?

      Delete
    5. Nemjee12:47

      Yes, the flight will operate DXB-ATH-EWR, same model they use for their MXP-JFK route.

      With this news I highly doubt UA will be returning with their own daily EWR-ATH.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:48

      JU520BEGLAX
      Do you think that TK was any better as a competition. To say it differently, what makes EK/EY/QR worse competition than TK?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous13:07

      NEMJEE Do you know maybe the average number of Greek people per flight that traveled with Air Serbia to New York ? Thanks.

      Delete
    8. Nemjee13:18

      Sorry, I don't know the exact number but there were always a lot. The issue is that once Air Serbia cuts the night flight all decent connections to JFK are lost.

      I still find it unbelievable that they can't keep double daily flights to an airport that handles over 20 million passengers a year.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:32

      Emirates today (23JAN17) announced planned new service launch between Europe and US, with the opening of Dubai – Athens – Newark service. On board 3-class Boeing 777-300ER, this daily year-round service will begin on 12MAR17. Reservation for this new route opened in the last 30 minutes.

      The following schedule is effective from 26MAR17.

      EK209 DXB1050 – 1530ATH1730 – 2200EWR 77W D
      EK210 EWR2345 – 1600+1ATH1800+1 – 2340+1DXB 77W D

      Currently, United and Delta operates Newark – Athens and New York JFK – Athens route (respectively) on summer seasonal basis. Delta converted this service from year-round to summer seasonal in October 2012.

      Source: http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271003/emirates-opens-athens-newark-service-from-mar-2017/

      Delete
    10. Nemjee13:37

      UA downgraded their EWR-ATH from a B764 last year to a B763 this year.
      Good luck competing with that against the EK B777.

      Delete
    11. JU520 BEGLAX14:45

      TK falls into the same caregory as EK EY QR
      To compare the inequality between EK and the Europeand:
      GB
      18 daily EK flts to DXB
      04 dailx UK Carrier flights to DXB
      Germany
      10 daily EK flts
      01 daily LH flt
      France
      5 daily EK flts
      01 daily AF flt
      Spain
      4 daily EK flts
      0 spanish carrier flt
      Switzerland
      4 dailx EK flt
      1 daily LX flt ZRH-DXB-MCT
      EK QR TK EY are killing markets everywhere, regardless of passenger or cargo
      EU gave EK MXP-JFK with A380
      Now u see in Switzerland offers for 330 EUR ex MXP to JFK return
      Hve no idea why US and EU are giving 5th freedom rights to EK on one of the top yield routes between EU and the US

      It might be currently excellent for the consumer and the export industry to hve cheap travel or freight charges. But wait until EU or US carriers hve to withdraw from more and more markets
      LH closed 22 destinations in Asia, MEA and India
      LX in MEA flies to DXB MCT and CAI only
      LX closed IST after flying there for more than 60 years
      LHgroup closed VIEDXB, MUCDXB, FRAAUH and FRAMCT
      So dont tell me that there is no consequences of this agressive forechecking of TK and the big 3 fm the Gulf

      Delete
    12. Anonymous15:03

      Probably because they buy Airbus and create Jobs in the EU. If EU and USA do not allow to fly to their markets, whats gonna happen with the world largest fleets of 777 and 30. Just imagine they start selling them off.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous15:24

      TK is on it's knees, ready to run away. I would pull them into the same lot with MEB3. And any new incident in their country, and there seams to be a chaos, will be one more nail in its coffin. I hear a lot of people saying they won't use IST and buy tickets elsewhere.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous16:17

      The MEB3 bubble will burst very soon. Wait until you see how supply will overcome demand. Just wait until Iran appears in the scene.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous16:47

      Regarding TK it will never be allowed to fail or even downsize significantly. It is Erdogan's personal project much more than ASL is Vučić's.
      And since Turkey is not part of the EU it can directly and specially indirectly support it.

      Delete
    16. JU50116:57

      JU flights during Summer season to JFK will be harmed from this new flight.
      Why would Greeks or Americans fly to Athens through BEG when they can fly directly and with EK level of service?
      It will have to be much cheaper ticket to fly with JU instead.

      Delete
    17. Anonymous17:08

      The same reason they did last summer and the same reason they flew from KBP, IST, ZAG...among other places. It may be schedule, interest to try something new, price or who knows what... Don't forget that Air Serbia was competing last year as well against direct trans-atlantic services from Athens, it's not like a game-changer.

      Delete
    18. JU50117:44

      EK service and prices compared to DL and UA 767s will be a game changer.
      JU will need to offer significantly lower fares to get passengers.
      Plus an extra daily 340+ seats will absorb a very large part of the market not only from JU but LH group and TK too.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous17:51

      They may be actually..Emirates page not loading now but earlier I saw way better deals than UA to Newark and Delta to JFK
      Didnt look at Air Serbia but with the flight to BEG dont think it would be that more expensive..

      Delete
    20. Nemjee18:18

      What's so special about EK? Besides the entertainment system their product is just ok. I think US airlines would be more afraid if QR launched this route with the A330.

      If I had a choice I would go for Delta's A330, it's far more comfortable and the service has improved.

      That said, UA will be the one to suffer the most especially since their B763 fleet is becoming increasingly unreliable.

      Delete
    21. Anonymous19:00

      EK staff, food and amenities is miles ahead anything UA, DL or AA have to offer!
      Because of that they have a great reputation among travelers.
      And given the choice between an EK 777 with EK flight attendants and their customer focused attitude and US aircraft with its bitter and rude 50+ year old FAs I know which one I would choose.
      It is nice for the Greeks to have all that choice.

      Delete
    22. Anonymous19:37

      So much for Aegean ever thinking of flying to the US....

      Delete
    23. Anonymous19:46

      I think if Aegean decides to fly to the US they can just cut EK's 5th freedom rights between ATH and USA.
      But I think they are ok with this move because EK is offering connections from its own website to A3 fights.

      Delete
    24. JU520 BEGLAX20:09

      QR will add a 3rd daily flight to Switzerland. Also as of Feb they get a 3rd weekly Freigher A330F ops BSL to DOH
      Not to speak about the traffic rights they got fm LUX to GRU,EZE,UIO,MIA,ATL,ORD with B777F
      They are just eating us with fork and knive and EU politics is allowing them everything. Sometimes I just feel being in the wrong movie
      And yep EK, QR, EY are good orderers of Boeing and Airbus planes, now yes. If they hve finished their breakfast, lunch and dinner, we will see how much more orders Boeing, Airbus will receive from LH, IAG and other groups

      Delete
    25. Anonymous20:29

      So what are you trying to say? This is business. European airlines could just be better competing. Wasn't that the mantra presented by the West in the 90's? No reason to be sore to loose at your own game and then resort to protectionism.

      Delete
    26. JU520 BEGLAX21:05

      What do u want to compete with? With the big3? They got 32 bln USD in state aif fm 2005 to 2015.
      Times were different back in the 70s and 80s. At least none of the airlines had government support of 3 bln USD per year just to outplay the competition

      Delete
    27. Anonymous21:28

      US and Western airlines got a lot more in the last century when they had a monopoly in global air-travel. Only the US airlines received dozens of billions in subisides and other help since 2000. You may want to inform yourself and correct your biais.

      https://skift.com/2015/04/09/wikileaks-disclosure-shows-u-s-airlines-received-billions-in-subsidies/

      Delete
    28. Anonymous21:28

      US and Western airlines got a lot more in the last century when they had a monopoly in global air-travel. Only the US airlines received dozens of billions in subisides and other help since 2000. You may want to inform yourself better and correct your biais.

      https://skift.com/2015/04/09/wikileaks-disclosure-shows-u-s-airlines-received-billions-in-subsidies/

      Delete
    29. Nemjee07:24

      AnonymousJanuary 23, 2017 at 7:37 PM

      Aegean said that they plan on launching long-haul before the new IST airport opens up. Given that TK is currently in crisis mode I am sure A3 could take a breath and slow down its expansion a little bit.

      They have a very close relationship with the government so the moment they are ready to go long-haul, Emirates will be out.

      JU520BEGLAX

      Last year United got subventions to fly EWR-ATH. Isn't this also unfair towards DL or AA? Same principle.

      Delete
    30. JU520 BEGLAX21:59

      Absolutely, same story

      Delete
  23. Anonymous11:39

    Great news about these flights. I can't wait until they are finally loaded into the system. It will be interesting to see which airline it will be exactly although it is looking more and more like Hainan. Also which aircraft they might send. A330 is the most probable, although B787 isn't much larger but I doubt it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:34

      Hainan 787 has fewer seats than their a330, so hopefully it's the 787

      Delete
  24. Anonymous12:45

    While this is great news for BEG airport just a word of warning - Chinese carriers are terrible overall. Their punctuality, service and comfort leave much to be desired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:50

      Especially long haul economy product :)

      Delete
    2. Kad ste vi zadnji put putovali sa njima? Nemate pojma sta pričate.Skoro pa da su i bolje od mnogih evropskih kompanija..Ljudi ovde vole da lupaju kad im šta padne na pamet

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:34

      Air China je leteci horor, ostale su ok.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous14:07

    I'm wondering when economies of scale start being more significant at BEG. By that I mean when AS adds ORD & YYZ, plus these China flights and of course JFK, at this point you have very good long haul destinations for all from the Balkans to use at presumably convenient times and value pricing.
    All this with a growing regional network.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:34

      This will become more evident only when Air Serbia expands their regional offer by at least 20%. Meaning; MUC, LED, CAI, PRN, IKA, and maybe Baku.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20:09

      Bice to @330-200 najverovatnije,ali bi mogli da posalju i B787 jer ona ima priblizno mesta

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:40

      Ne kontam?

      Delete
  26. Anonymous14:13

    They can launch flights in spring and increase them to daily if there are is a large influx of tourists. They can visit Belgrat and northern region up to Nový Sad/Újvidék. It´s up to the Serbian tour operators to prepare everything in Chinese (Mandarin).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21:57

      It's written "Belgrade" and "Novi Sad" in English.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:15

      Chill it dawg.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous16:07

    Common sense prevailed at JU so they have changed their OTP schedule. This summer it will go nine times per week, 6 night flights and 3 daytime.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:51

      If they could only change the IST one accordingly.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:15

      JU used to fly in the exactly same pattern last Summer (6 night + 3 daytime flights) to OTP.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous17:44

    Bilo bi odlicno kad bi CA letela iz PEK sa A350 kad dodje u flotu .
    A iz PVG da leti CZ sa 787.
    Ma da bi takodje odlicno da leti i HU sa 787.
    A takodje ima ogroman potencijal u BEG.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:14

      Bice to @330-200 najverovatnije,ali bi mogli da posalju i B787 jer on ima priblizno mesta

      Delete
  29. Anonymous23:58

    Xiamen airlines is very interesting carrier,but their only destination in europe is amsterdam.

    ReplyDelete
  30. China Soutern is the best option due to the fact that it is a transfer airline with extremely cheap fares and alright service. At the same time the Hainan seems to be most likely candidate (even the admin posted a picture of Hainan A330 lol)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      I agree with you.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:23

      Would pick up transfer traffic from AU/NZ. Guangzhou-Shenzhen-HK is an economic powerhouse also (if they fly from CAN).

      Delete
  31. Anonymous08:23

    da li nam se bliži kraj avanture?
    James Hogan odlazi iz Etihada

    http://www.aviatica.rs/james-hogan-odlazi-iz-etihada/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:10

    muštuluk!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

EX-YU Aviation News does not tolerate insults, excessive swearing, racist, homophobic or any other chauvinist remarks or provocative posts with the intention of creating further arguments. A full list of comment guidelines can be found here. Thank you for your cooperation.