EX-YU airlines plan summer expansion


The 2017 summer season will commence in under two months with all of the national carriers in the former Yugoslavia planning to expand their destination networks. However, all four are yet to schedule or put on sale their new services.

Croatia Airlines has so far announced the biggest expansion plans for the summer, which will be accompanied by the arrival of additional aircraft. The carrier's CEO, Krešimir Kučko, recently said, "Feasibility studies have been completed for the launch of new services, most probably to Scandinavia. In addition to Stockholm, this would likely include Oslo as well. We have also completed studies for Moscow and Dublin, and we would boost frequencies on several existing routes during the summer". Yesterday, Mr Kučko met with Croatia's Minister for Tourism and informed him of the carrier's intentions to add flights to Scandinavia, as well as introduce seasonal services between Split and Milan, despite competition from easyJet on the route. Last year, Croatia Airlines commenced new seasonal flights from Zagreb to Prague, Milan, Lisbon and St Petersburg. All four will resume and should be upgraded to year round operations.

Adria Airways has held talks with Lviv and Vinnytsia airports in Ukraine over possible flights this summer. The carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, Thomas Hoess, previously said, “Ukraine has potential. We are now in negotiations with Ukrainian airports and are exchanging ideas. I cannot go into detail at this moment but we are discussing a direct service between Ljubljana and Ukraine”. The airline last operated to the country six years ago when it ran two weekly seasonal flights from Ljubljana to the capital Kiev. Furthermore, Lithuania's Vilnius Airport is in talks with Adria, as well as several other carriers, over the introduction of subsidised flights to the city. Meanwhile, the Slovenian government has taken the initiative of concluding Air Service Agreements with several countries in the Middle East and Central Asia as Adria "is already examining the possibility of adding these markets to its network". They include Iraq, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Air Serbia is considering commencing flights between Belgrade and the Iranian capital Tehran this summer. The Chairman of the Air Serbia Supervisory Board, Siniša Mali, noted, "We will undertake a feasibility study and hold talks with Iran Air over potential expenses on the route". In addition, Mr Mali has talked up the prospects of introducing flights to the Kazakh capital Astana in the lead-up to the 2017 Expo, a major bi-annual international exposition which begins in June. "We hope that conditions are met for Air Serbia to launch nonstop flights to Astana", Mr Mali said recently. Meanwhile, the General Manager of Brač Airport in Croatia has revealed that the Serbian carrier is considering starting services to the island, as well as Zadar this summer. Last year, Air Serbia began seasonal flights from Belgrade to Ohrid, Hamburg, Kiev and St. Petersburg. Although Hamburg was extended to year-round operations, the other three are expected to resume this summer.

Montenegro Airlines says "the future of the company is based on new markets and destinations". This summer, the carrier will operate regular one-weekly charter flights between Podgorica and Tehran. Furthermore, the airline is looking at expanding its charter operations, particularly to Germany, Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, as well as the CIS. As a result of its recent wide-ranging codeshare agreement with Air Serbia, Montenegro Airlines is also likely to add additional flights to Belgrade. However, with a new management team appointed yesterday, it remains to be seen how the Montenegrin carrier's network will be affected by the new leadership which is looking to turn around the struggling airline's fortunes.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Haha Adria totally lost it... Iraq? Who on earth would like to fly there?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      Those flights would probably be subsidized, same as Ukraine/Vilnius. Once they go away, so is Adria

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:33

      Wouldn't it make more sense for them to fly to Kiev than Lvov and Vinnytsia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:35

      Well Kiev is probably more expensive

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:51

      Ok I know most people will disagree but I think Iraq would not be so ludicrous especially somewhere like Erbil. They obviously want to position Adria as a transfer airline.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    I find it disappointing that 2 months out from the summer season neither of these airlines have actually finalized their plans or put on sale tickets for any new routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:11

      Even though the summer season starts in late March, the new routes won't be launched before May/June.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:05

    The list of new destinations for Croatia Airlines actually makes sense. They could cancel LED and go to Moscow instead. Scandinavia is chronically underserved by OU during the summer so Stockholm and Oslo is a good idea. I guess Dublin sales for the Osijek charter flights went well for them. With Aer Lingus increasing their flights across Croatia, this is a good move to step in first before they start Zagreb ops as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      I still think they need to be more active in the region. They could fly to Tirana, Sofia, Bucharest, resume Pristina and Podgorica too.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:06

    IKA is not happening just like there won't be any increases from JU. So no expansion here. Business as usual this summer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:10

    Adria launched for S2017 Manchester 2pw (3,6)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      No, Adria has been flying to Manchester seasonally for years.
      http://www.exyuaviation.com/2016/01/summer-2016-adria-airways.html

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:18

      Yes they have been flying to Manchester for years now. Huge demand from British tourists to LJ and Bled during the summer.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:29

      But no last two summers.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:31

      They operated last summer. Also twice per week.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:12

    Ex-yu, Air Serbia has already published schedule for S17 with flights to OHD (overnight) and LED included. But all in all, the carrier has shrunk their timetable by 4% in peak summer season.
    They have dropped some flights to SOF, TIV, DBV, PUY, BEY and there are no flights to WAW, KBP and VAR.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      Warsaw was cancelled last year.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      JU published its final summer schedule on 14th March last year. So no, it's not finalized.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:43

      BEY will be daily, like always.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:54

      An overnight flight to Ohrid? What's the scdhedule?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:27

      Seems that ASL is technically falling apart, second day in a week that JU800 returned to Beg after take off for AUH. Daily constant delays on many routes, almost no flight returning from destination to Beg on time as per schedule. Not far at all from JAT profile (except a few newer planes and younger STW)!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:34

      You repeat the same thing every other day.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:37

      sounds strange. what is JU OTP in jan17? they killed it in 2016. they had a favourable weather at BEG, but nevertheless

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:29

      It is falling apart! Apart, I tell you!

      People think that if they repeat something enough, their wet dreams will become true. Well, enjoy if it helps you through the night. But please keep it to yourself :D

      Delete
    9. Anonymous13:56

      anon 10:34 and 11:29 unfortunately I can't make your day by writing URRRA we are flying to IKA or else ... as strange as it may seem to you some people are concerned when things keep repeating day after day and there is no action being taken to fix the issues. Ok one flight can go wrong sometimes and it happens to all but when you have a slow period and your flights are almost all out of schedule for days then something is not done right. Either you fix the problem or you don't know your business, as simple as that and nothing to do with wet dreams or hate, actually just the opposite! both of you need to raise the bar if you want to call ASL a boutique company.

      Delete
    10. I love this guy, one flight delayed but hey who cares about facts lets say that ASL is falling apart.Love it.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous15:09

      what is the OHD schedule (frequencies)? im glad its back on

      Delete
    12. Anonymous15:23

      Four weekly departures from BEG to OHD after midnight, from mid June till mid September, just try airserbia.com

      Delete
    13. Anonymous16:56

      Any new destination for the summer?

      Delete
  7. Nisam bas siguran koliko im je pametno konkurirati OK na relaciji za Prag ukoliko ga upgrade-aju na year round. Milano i Lisabon svakako year round, no Petersburg i Prag, ne znam bas.
    Ne znam ni koliko im je pametna Moskva s obzirom da tu vec konkurira Aeroflotu, a nije bas da se nesto previse putuje za Moskvu.
    Ja bih radije da umjesto Moskve otvore liniju za Sofiju, jer svake godine se zabiljezava porast dolazaka Bugara u Zagreb, a uz to mogla bi OU prodavati letove iz Sofije za hrvatsku obalu preko Zagreba, jer ionako niti jedan hrvatski grad nije povezan sa Sofijom.

    Mozda uvesti i London Gatwick, ali nisam bas 100% siguran u tu ideju, ali svakako ne bi bilo lose pojacati liniju za Pristinu tijekom ljetne sezone jer su im letovi uvijek krcati.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Skandinavija (Oslo i Stockholm) bi trebali biti prioritet, nevjerojatno je da ZAG nije povezan ni s jednim od tih gradova!

      Delete
    2. To je nedvojbeno. Stockholm ok, ali mislim da se s Oslom nece bas previse proslaviti.
      Dublin i Stockholm svakako.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:26

      Dublin isto čeka par godina

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:41

      OSI-DUB jedva 30 dusa po pravcu

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:55

      Možda linija ima veći potencijal iz Zagreba?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:59

      Pa i čarteri za Osijek su bili popunjeni

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:16

      Nisu, OSI je bio skoro uvijek prazan ali grad placa tako da...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:32

      Sve, sve, ali BEG nikako ne. Zasto ne linija do BEG?
      ASL je pokazala da su price o tome da niko nece da leti izmedju BEG i ZAG najobicnije sovinisticke projekcije.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous15:07

      why not STR, HAM and DUS?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:15

    Those f*ing germans have no idea what they're doing. They still haven't finalized any deals and yet they have the balls to say that Adria is facing bright future. My guess is, they are trying to screw potential customers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:17

    To my knowledge, Air Serbia will suspend Varna and Kiev.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:18

    I think Iran and Israel are locked in for Adria for the summer and they might add Ukraine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:27

      Adria is generally preparing for its strategy. It boosted flights to main western European cities this winter and shifted around flights times so to create waves and connections onto south east europe flights. We will see.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:05

      As far as I know, Iran won't materialize.

      Delete
  11. E da zna li netko koliko slotova ima OU na Gatwicku?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      Zero. LGW slots are not hard to get compared to LHR.

      Delete
    2. Danijel10:37

      I think they fly from LGW to Split in summer.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:53

      they have for SPU-LGW flights...?

      Delete
  12. Jatovanje09:21

    The Chairman of the Air Serbia Supervisory Board, Siniša Mali, noted, "...hold talks with Iran Air over potential expenses on the route".

    Well Mali also announced coming of second A330 till winter, and now it is not in plan for another 5 years.

    Jatovanje, again, nothing else.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:23

    OT: Today is the EY/LH press conference in Abu Dhabi, starting in 1 hour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      It's nothing major. LH CEO said yesterday it's about catering and maintenance.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:27

      Nista od sloma AS neka se spremi OU pare od slotova ce brzo da iscure.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:39

      Probably a codeshare deal as well.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      Tko je spominjao slom AS? Neće ni vama subvencije dugo trajati, time to wake up

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:35

      Etihad is joining with its subsidiaries to SA?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:39

      https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-01/lufthansa-etihad-deepen-ties-with-catering-maintenance-pacts

      Delete
    7. Anonymous14:19

      http://m.thenational.ae/business/aviation/20170201/etihad-airways-and-lufthansa-press-conference--live-updates

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:39

      And so the long-awaited press conference is over. EY and LH have signed a 4-year catering deal and will work together on maintenance and purchase of aircraft. That is it.

      How sad for the hater brigade that no one announced massive divestments, pullouts, panic sell-outs and the overall crumble of EAG. How sad.

      Hopefully there will be a JU flight today that will be delayed by an hour or so, so that your lives can at least retrieve some purpose.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:25

    It would be a smart move for Air Serbia to introduce Tehran. They probably should have done it a bit earlier before all the European airlines started flying there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:50

      Absolutely. While 3 years ago at the very start of Air Serbia, the difference between them and Aegean/LOT wasn't that great when it comes to the international market and transfer potential, we can now see how much those two airlines have done since which really puts well into perspective the relative success of Air serbia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:17

      Oh, really? Well, a simple Wikipedia search states that three years ago, A3 was a member of *A, had 30 aircraft, LF of 79%, and net profit of 66 million euros.

      JU had, as I recall, four jets which could fly, debt in hundreds of millions, and an unknown LF.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:35

    Whatever happened to Croatia Airlines opening bases around the Balkans?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:38

      Lol.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:47

      Air Serbia will open them, starting from Nis and then Banja Luka. lol

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:49

      Air Serbia never mentioned anything of the sort. Croatia Airlines did, repeatedly, and even outlined its list of bases.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:56

      So what if Kucko mentioned it?

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:40

    From what I'm hearing OU will definitely start flights to Stockholm and Oslo this summer. Moscow, Dublin are highly unlikely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:57

      Aer Lingus would be good

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:40

    maybe JU should apply for those subsidized flights to VNO. could be a good addition

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:02

    Adria will reintroduce 2x daily to SKP on some days starting april. Flights are already uploaded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:11

      That is very cool, I do hope now OS will finally come to their senses and reduce their ridiculous prices for an average product.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:49

      I'm glad things are finally progressing at Adria. I look forwards to see what they have planned for summer 2017.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous15:03

      12 weekly in April LJU-SKP

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:07

      Exellent

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:55

    Split-Milan sounds like a good idea by Croatia Airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous11:01

    How on earth will Croatia Airlines fly all these new routes without new aircraft? The neos aren't due until the past 2020.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:08

      Trade air. They have 2 F100s and 1 A320.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:27

      So no new aircraft are coming as announced?

      Delete
    3. Alen Šćuric Purger11:28

      Adria has 4 spare CRJ 900 and CRJ 700 as this year they have 2 less polish bases (just Lodz is still on), they don't work for Estonia any more, they will have no obligation to Air Serbia (as last year obligation from Jat time) and they shrink number of flights from other bases (Ljubljana, Lodz, Priština, Tirana).

      So they have to rent those spare CRJ and Croatia was always good Adria partner.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:53

      @Alen... will see ;)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:12

      Alene, mozda ce koji crj stici u ASL, siguran sam da ste culi za promene u poslovanju koje se vec tamo sprovode.

      Delete
    6. Alen Šćuric Purger21:38

      Ma ne vjerujem. Air Serbija ima novog partnera Montenegro koji je

      1. Očajan
      2. Ima višak aviona
      3. Može napraviti sinergiju na letovima preko BEG za treće destinacije (1stop iz TGD i TIV, nonstop iz BEG)

      Mislim da će priča sa RJ ubuduće ići preko Montenegra. No, svi vidimo kako se u zračnom prometu stvari mijenjaju iz dana u dan. I kao nešto što je bilo prije godinu dana realnosti, danas više nije. Kako neprijatelji postaju prijatelji (Etihad/Lufthansa) i obratno (Qantas-Emirates/Britsh). Pa bilo kakva isključiva prognoza nije nimalo prihvatljiva u današnjim realnostima.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous11:16

    Bravo Hrvatska

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nemjee11:30

    OT

    LO will add two more B788 this summer with three B789 joining the fleet next year. The B789 will be used on busy routes such as JFK and ORD while the smaller variant will be used to boost the airline's Asian network.

    I guess we can't expect LO to become more aggressive in the ex-YU region. They've already increased ZAG and BEG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee11:35

      Seems like their long-haul fleet will be as large as Austrian's which operate:

      5x B772
      6x B763

      Though the travelling experience on the OS B763 is quite horrible.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:42

      Well they are introducing Podgorica and Pula

      http://www.exyuaviation.com/2016/12/lot-to-launch-podgorica-and-pula-flights.html

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:34

      Actually i like the B767 from OS: they have a 2-3-2 configuration in coach and since i always take a window seat its way better to have just 1 person sitting next to me, than 2- especially at night, when i have to go to the bathroom and both my neighbours have fallen asleep....

      Delete
    4. Nemjee12:38

      Anon 11.42

      True, forgot about those. However I have a feeling those are introduced for tourists rather than transfer passengers.

      Anon 12.34

      I agree. I just found it a bit too cramped. Also the first time I flew on their B763 I was stuck on a night flight with a broken seat. I had to sit for 9 hours under an angle of 90 degrees.

      As for their B772, the last three or four rows have 2 seats on the sides, much more comfortable.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:48

      Anyobody knows, is LO flying their 787 on intra-European or medium-haul routes?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous17:57

      Yes, they are flying 1 daily Warsaw-Heathrow with 787. Other daily flights to Heathrow is with Embraer or 737.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:51

      Nemjee did zu complain to the flight attendant? they could've assigned u to another seat or if coach was full upgrade u to C ;)
      in B777 i never book these seats since they cost xtra as well.. and i think is BS that companies try to earn xtra money in coach for the same product=a seat in economy but they try to sell the "xtra leg room" or those rows where theres only 1 other person sitting next to u

      Delete
    8. Nemjee22:13

      I went to the crew in the back galley and told them that my seat was broken and she just looked at me and said 'ok.' lol

      I like Austrian Airlines but they have some of the worst crew in the world: cold, arrogant and unwelcoming.

      Air Serbia might have many, many flaws but its crew is beyond phenomenal and I would say it's the airline's most valuable asset.

      I went back to suffering for another 6 hours. The flight seemed to be 100% so I gave up.

      As for those seats, you can get them free of charge when checking in online before your flight. They don't charge you then.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous12:11

    With the Minister meeting Kucko to discuss future plans and the government approving the recent Heathrow slot sale, it does not seem Kresimir Kucko is going anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Germania schedule is out for INI
    Zurich – Nis 23JUN17 – 27OCT17 2 weekly
    GM2258 ZRH0710 – 0905INI 319 1
    GM2258 ZRH1405 – 1600INI 319 5

    GM2259 INI0950 – 1205ZRH 319 1
    GM2259 INI1645 – 1900ZRH 319 5

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:21

      It has been out for a month or more and tickets have been on sale

      http://www.exyuaviation.com/p/seasonal-low-cost-starts-dec-17.html

      Delete
  25. Additional flight to Copenhagen and now more Scandinavian routes is probably the smartest thing Kucko has said in forever.
    Also, Dublin should be a must. Moscow...don't know. Think that Aeroflot is enough on that route.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous13:25

    OU should go with ZAG-BEG morning flight for business passangers. ASL flight arriving at BEG airport at 11am, getting to the city around 12am doesn't fit for business passangers. ASL flight day before means additional night in BEG. That's the reason why business people drives by car.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous14:41

    Airlines are talking about Kazakhstan (Air Serbia, Adria) e.g. for the Expo in Astana this summer. Is it just talking or something "real" coming out of it (summer schedule?)?

    ReplyDelete
  28. I see JU and OU with a chance of succesfully implement and maintain their plans
    JP YM plans are to ignore as nothing will materialize in the longterm
    Both airlines are ways away fm sustainability

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous17:09

    Steta sto nece biti vise destinacija u opticaju koje bi donele mnogo Transfernih Putnika a i Novca.
    Ali kao sto se moze videti ni u jednoj nije nesto bas planirano sem u CTN i ASL gde je nesto malo planirano.
    INN-NS

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:52

      S obzirom da smo od Kučka u Hrvatskoj naučili slušati svakakve gluposti, ne bi me čudilo da ne ispuni nijednu od planiranih ruta. Vidit ćemo!

      Delete

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