Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Air Serbia and KLM have expanded their existing codeshare agreement. The two carriers continue to codeshare on the Belgrade - Amsterdam route, operated by Air Serbia, with ten flights per week, while Air Serbia has recently added its designator code and flight numbers on services between Amsterdam and Manchester, operated double daily by the Dutch carrier. In addition, Air Serbia has expanded its codeshare agreement with its equity partner Etihad Airways, to include three routes in Saudi Arabia and one in Egypt. The Serbian national airline added its "JU" code to Etihad Airways' flights from Abu Dhabi to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and to the Egyptian capital Cairo as of May 10. Air Serbia’s CEO, Dane Kondić, said, "Codeshare agreements are an important priority in our strategy of achieving efficient and effective network growth, offering our guests greater flexibility and choice while traveling under an Air Serbia flight code to key destinations around the world". He added, "Our strategy is also delivering sound financial results, as a growing proportion of our revenues are achieved through this and other forms of commercial cooperation. With these new developments, we are now enhancing our offering between Serbia and important business and leisure destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa".
One step forward joining Skyteam. Etihad is not against alliances, as Air Berlin and Alitalia were not forced to leave Oneworld and Skyteam respectively. We are getting closer to having Serbia in Skyteam.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't Skyteam already have RO as a player in the region? Why would they need JU?
DeleteYeah, a serious player you're talking about, they barely fly to Moscow...
DeleteExact opposite, Alitalia is moving away from AF/KL and could one day move away from Skyteam, so there is no way Air Serbia is going to join Skyteam:
Deletehttp://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/svet.php?yyyy=2015&mm=05&dd=20&nav_id=994056
Exactly, AZ is moving away from AF/KL, and most likely Skyteam.
DeleteWe've been talking about JU joining Sky Team for maybe fifteen years now. No concrete moves have ever been made, in that direction though. Indeed, it's a smart idea, regardless AZ and the only direction that makes sense, from my point of view.
DeleteHow does the tag to Cairo makes sense it's beyond me. At 500$ one-way and 750$ round trip i barely see anyone making the 12 hours trip to the desert, what a stupidity.
ReplyDeleteIt's fare more convenient to go through Ist or Ath.
DeleteWhy on earth would someone backtrack to go to Egypt or Saudi Arabia via the UAE?
Well, JU is supposed to be the preferred carrier of Serbia Government, ministries, state companies employees. So, if JU has an offer, there goes the money, no matter the price, and the route.
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