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| Air Serbia rolling out on board Internet, phone calls and new Belgrade lounge |
Air Serbia has announced the launch of wireless Internet access on board its Airbus fleet and the opening of a dedicated business class lounge at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Both product developments will be rolled out during the second quarter of the year. Air Serbia’s CEO, Dane Kondić, says, “I am proud to announce that we will be introducing Internet connectivity across our Airbus fleet. Air Serbia ‘Wi-Fly’ will enable Internet access on board our flights, with services accessible via personal WLAN/Wi-Fi equipped devices, such as laptops, tablets and smart phones”. In addition to Internet connectivity, Air Serbia’s ‘Wi-Fly’ will enable free content streaming which will feature new release movies, popular TV programs, and a variety of music.
Passengers will also have the opportunity to access mobile telephone services, allowing for voice calls, SMS and MMS messaging while airborne. A growing number of European carriers offer Wi-Fi Internet access on board a select number of their aircraft. Some of them include British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Berlin and Turkish Airlines. The product is widely available in the United States as well as the Middle East, with Air Serbia’s part-owner Etihad also offering the service on selected routes. The Serbian carrier becomes the first in the former Yugoslavia to offer in-flight Internet access, content streaming, telephone calls and messaging.
Air Serbia will also open a dedicated business lounge at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The facility will cover an area of 400 square metres and will be located between gates A4 and A5. “The lounge will deliver a brand new and enhanced experience for guests travelling business class or holding Etihad Guest Silver, Gold or Platinum status”, Mr. Kondić says. The lounge will have the capacity to accommodate up to eighty passengers and will include a reception, bar, dining area with self-service buffet, lounge seating, dedicated VIP area, prayer room, shower facilities and a business centre. “The design will be contemporary yet remain uniquely Serbian, incorporating all the branding elements of Air Serbia”, the CEO notes. He adds, “Another unique feature of our lounge will be dedicated Guest Relations Ambassadors, who will provide additional help for those guests requiring assistance to get to their flights”. Belgrade Airport currently features a single business class lounge shared jointly by all airlines flying in to the Serbian capital. “Indeed, these are exciting times for Air Serbia and these innovations will only serve to reinforce our position as the region’s leading airline”, Mr. Kondić concludes.
Comments
but no dates mentioned! When? after one, two, five years?
I understand that this is not JU marketing but why repeat such a marketing gaffe?
The product itself I am sure will be good. I use it regularly on my SV flights out of RUH and JED. It's certainly useful.
I think Panasonic does actually... Etihad uses the same bradning onboard...
Evan if they introduce on-line check in this year it is disgrace and very bad image for Air Serbia which will not be forgotten for many years. Like Air Serbia is some African company not European one with ambition to be regional leader.
I like your high demands and expectations. I hope you put them on yourselves too.
It makes sense for the internet, but how do the phone services work? Will it work only above certain height or in Serbia only? If you are flying over some other country does it connect to foreign operator?
Annnnnd finally, are there any limitations to using the system? I am more than sure than bunch of people would be calling their boyfriends/girlfriends mothers and fathers to tell them how cool is to fly at 33.000 ft or some other nonsense.
Personally, I would always choose another airline, if I have a choice, just not to listen other people on the phone for hours.
Thanks a lot
Are you under impression that this would be free? Because it wont.
LOL Only a handful of airlines offer free wifi, and that is only on their largest aircraft flying very long routes, where large ticket prices easily absorb cost of the service.
I just compare that today it is standard for company to have on line check in. It is so NORMAL as it is NORMAL that children in Europe and 90% of the World can read. It is not about basic rights. But what is normal for air company.
It is so normal that no one even notice that but presume that air company have this service.
Quetion is will someone use Lufthansa, Turkish, Aeroflot, Wizzair... instead of Air Serbia becaouse of on line check in and some other problems Air Serbia still has (like no respont to lost lugage, huge check-in lines, old ATR and 737 still in use regulary etc.).
INN-NS
Like JAT used to have 30kg checked in luggage. You have to offer customers something more than just mere transport.
I simply wanted to point out that the brand is a gaffe, in my opinion.
"Passengers will also have the opportunity to access mobile telephone services, allowing for voice calls, SMS and MMS messaging while airborne."
From what I understood its free, and I wonder how it will be when everybody takes their iphones out to show off and call all the extended family. Also a lot of people from our region tend to be on the more loud side when on the phone. I am not complaining about ASL which has improved greatly which many people dont see, BUT if calling is free on board then it will be a disturbance for pax who want to sleep and yes I do not want to wear headphones all the time (what someone might suggest) or those ear plugs.
On the other side of the spectrum, ASL should react and quickly adapt to competition. Introduction of "economy minus" fares without included checked baggage and possibly with pay for food service should be considered. Star Alliance in Europe is getting aligned with this initiative, and this would also help battle LCCs. Same cabin (no need for universally loathed thin seats!), but less inclusive and with more pay per use options.
http://www.poslovni.hr/hrvatska/krecu-redovne-linije-za-juznu-koreju-292076?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Status&utm_content=292076&utm_campaign=FB+page+statusi
To sto vi radite je 10 puta gore nego bilo sta drugo zato sto nema nikakve veze sa Aviacijom i zato bi zamolio Gospodina Admina da obrise sve te gluposti.
INN-NS
http://exyuaviation.blogspot.com/p/b-airlines-has-suspended-all-of-its.html
TLV route is a joke, and the funniest part was when ASL reported they are increasing the number of flights to 5w while when compared to last summer they are decreasing from 7w.
INN-NS please admit they got trashed on that roue, I beg you :P
@AirCEO your anecdotal evidence that West Europeans are surprisingly positive about their JU experience is trumped by the more objective and wider reviews of generally poor customer experience, particularly when things go wrong. There are improvements and there is much room to improve, so stop the smoke and mirrors approach.
As far as Etihad are concerned, I have extensive experience of travel out of RUH. EY regional experience does not compare to RJ, let alone EK or QR. EY product is firmly in the SV or TK sort of territory, hence their 4-star rating (which I think is fair).
@Canadian Anonymous
Great, give other passengers the option of online check in and seat selection. You can still continue talking to the agents. Just don't deny me the option of online check in because you like to get your seat at the counter.
As per Amadeus I found the following schedule:
DEP Zagreb 1210 ARR Toronto 1555 Wednesdays
DEP Toronto 2355 ARR Zagreb 1525 (Depart on Mon and Arrive following day.
http://www.etihadguest.com/en/earn-miles/preferred-airline-partners/air-serbia/
I don't recall any other European airline thas has one in it's lounges.
Is this a muslim demand on behalf of Etihad?
Thank you for proving my point, we both agree now that Air Serbia is improving. Positive examples are in no way scientific proof, rather an illustration of a positive trend that I hope will grow like Topsy.
Etihad seems to be aware of the need to raise the level and industry is apparently taking notice, from reactions to The Residence product and Savoy-trained butler on A380 to new livery, uniforms and celebrity endorsements (Nicole Kidman, no less). You can argue that Residence is only there for the halo effect, but that's exactly what will raise the level of Etihad brand as a whole above SV or TK, if it's not already above them.
https://knightofmalta.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/air-serbia-business-class-boeing-b-737-300-belgrade-to-bucharest/
And I think that a prayer room is non denominational, and could be used by people of all religions, not just Muslims.
I believe it is fine to have multi-faith meditation/prayer room, or how I would call it "meditation/prayer/reflection", not to discriminate against any religion/philosophy/atheism, etc.
As long as it is not exclusive or includes just several religions, or names any number of religions/philosophies, etc. As an atheist, I would use it to relax in peace&tranquility, especially since there are no smoking boots. :)
So trust me, Gold works just fine.
First, you seem to be in the anti-choice camp of terminal check-in only since you like to be chatty with the agents. Good for you, but I prefer choice. I want to see an Air Serbia that is efficient and competitive offering online check-in, mobile check-in as well as terminal check-in. I simply pointed out that wanting to talk to an agent is not a good reason not to introduce online check-in. Otherwise, why stop there? Why not remove the website and go back to along the sales offices only (to hell with phone bookings too, not personal enough)?
Second, Etihad is good, very good. But it's certainly not as good as some would have us believe. It's smoke and mirrors. Skytrax seems a little bit more objective than some random Mr Stojanovic or Anonymous Riyadh and Jeddah resident. Etihad is in the same category as SV and TK (eat your heart out!). They want to get better and inshaAllah they will get there, but they are not there yet. It's the same with JU, major improvements but they're nowhere near as good as some would have us believe. Again, inshaAllah they will get there, but there is a lot of room for improvement. SV does not even serve alcohol in its Alfursan lounges, yet it's 4-star Skytrax rated like Etihad.
I want to see and Air Serbia that is truly very good, but some of you seem to disagree regardless of whether the criticism is constructive or not. But you can only fool some of the people all of the time, or all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time. And I'd rather we don't fool anyone but create an airline with very good product and customer experience. If you think we're there then you're either have fallen victim to the smoke and mirrors or you're creating the smoke and placing the mirrors.
Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end?
I'll check back later and see if the problem still exists.