Niš Constantine the Great Airport is expected to welcome a third low cost airline by the end of the year, which is most likely to be either Norwegian Air Shuttle or Eurowings. According to the head of the Tourism Organisation of Niš, Uroš Parlić, the two are interested in launching flights to the south-east Serbian city. "These two airlines operate in the region and it makes sense that they would come to Niš. There are a lot of Serbs living in Scandinavia, so there is demand". The news comes after both Wizz Air and Ryanair announced they would introduce new services to Constantine the Great Airport. "Niš will become a base for low cost airlines because Belgrade is getting busy, especially with the new flights to the United States. This is the case in the region as well. In Romania, the main airport is in Bucharest, while low cost airlines have focused around Timisoara", Mr Parlić said, adding that Niš could serve some 300.000 passengers per year.
Norwegian Air Shuttle maintains services from both Oslo and Stockholm to Belgrade, while Germany's Eurowings, which is taking over services from Germanwings, operates seasonal summer flights from Cologne to the Serbian capital. By November, Niš Airport will offer direct flights to nine cities, operated by both Wizz Air and Ryanair. They include four points in Germany (Berlin, Dortmund, Memmingen and Weeze), and a destination each in Italy (Bergamo), the Netherlands (Eindhoven), Slovakia (Bratislava), Sweden (Malmo) and Switzerland (Basel). As Scandinavia's second largest airline, Norwegian boasts operating bases across Europe, including Oslo, London Gatwick, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Stockholm. On the other hand, Eurowings has bases across Germany. Earlier this year, Niš Airport said it had identified Frankfurt, London, Milan, Munich, Moscow, Paris, Vienna, Verona and Venice as viable destinations. A number of them will be indirectly served through secondary nearby airports by Wizz Air and Ryanair.
Commenting on the developments in Niš, the Serbian Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, said yesterday, "We have really been focusing on developing Niš Airport over the past year and a half. A lot has been invested in order for the airport to be operational throughout the year and open 24 hours per day, regardless of the weather conditions. I am certain Niš will develop even further. Both Belgrade and Niš airports are at the centre of our development strategy over the next five to seven years". The Serbian government designated Constantine the Great Airport as the country's low cost hub in late 2014, estimating it would handle 140.000 passengers by the end of 2016, a figure it is on target to achieve based on current trends.
NOTICE
Due to popular demand and the historic nature of Air Serbia's maiden flight to New York, EX-YU Aviation News will begin coverage of the inaugural service tomorrow (Thursday) at 06.00 CEST / 00.00 EST.
wow what an amazing year this is turning out to be for Nis. Well done.
ReplyDeleteNis postaje LCC lider u Srbiji. Kraljevacki aerodrome Morava u skoro se ukljucuje u zajednicu Aerodromi Srbije. Tu je su i Uzicke Ponikve. LCC, carteri, kargo, ad hok letovi su osnov za razvoj sekundarnih aerodrome Srbije. Ali ne samo ove drzave. Pozdrav iz Kraljeva.
DeleteDragi Rodney, sto kaze narod iz vasih usta u bozije usi! Go Kraljevo!
DeleteMislim da Kraljevo neće skoro dobiti LCC.
DeleteKraljevo Morava ima šanse na nekoj liniji ka Istanbulu, verovatno bi Pegasus pokušao možda. Ali za B738 potrebno je proširiti pistu. Trenutno mogu da sleću turbo propelerci bez problema...
DeleteZnači dok se ne produži pista, ništa od Ryan, Wizz, Norwegian.
DeleteStockholm, LGW and Barcelona could all work for Norwegian.
ReplyDelete'In Romania, the main airport is in Bucharest, while low cost airlines have focused around Timisoara", Mr Parlić said.'
ReplyDeleteIs he implying that TSR has become an LCC alternative to OTP? Can someone please buy Mr Parlic an atlas.
Also, maybe someone should inform him that Ryanair, Wizz Air and Blueair all operate out of OTP.
Still, great news for INI. Somehow I think it will be Eurowings.
LCCs basically fly from every village in Romania.
DeleteThey have eight airports with 100.000 or above.
FR is going to start OTP-TSR. One reason it eill be a feeder for theor TSR flights
DeleteMr Parlić is concerned only with protecting ASL's position in BEG.
DeleteNot for cheap travel and increased numbers of tourists.
Norwegian to Oslo would be amazing. Then People could connect to all of Scandinavia as well as Norwegian's flights to North America.
ReplyDeleteAgree. Norwegian is a great choice because it offers connecting (long haul) flights.
DeleteSame for EW and their connecting and growing interconti network out of CGN, such as BOS, MIA, CUN, HAV, MRU, PUJ etc
DeleteThose new, low cost options for North America would be bad news for JU.
DeleteThese options already exist with Norwegian's flights from BEG. Try some other bad news.
DeleteThe attack is intensifying on ASL.
DeleteWhy are all contra comments regarding AS viewed as an attack?
DeleteBecause based on the IP they all come from the same person
DeleteInteresting you would know since we can't access IP addresses.
DeleteI think all the constant cheerleading and insults against everyone who is not praising every decision that JU makes is coming from the same IP address...
DeleteThat's a rather narrow view.
Delete+1
DeleteBravo INI, btw!
Is it just me or does it seem that the Serbian government is forcing Nis onto LCC in order for them to avoid BEG?
ReplyDeleteIf it is - smart move. That way, they develop 2 different airports with 2 different types of segments in mind and thereby, avoiding canabalising one against the other.
DeleteToo smart infact - it must be a cooincidence !
Perfect strategy in my opinion. If they are going to subsidize the LCCs (3 euros per departing pax), at least accomplish something and help a lesser developed region.
DeleteRather good strategy in my opinion.
I don't think the Serbian government is doing anything in particular. Nis is opening up and it has become one of the battlefields between FR and W6.
DeleteI am sure that at some point Ryanair will come to Belgrade. BEG will want them there especially once Nis turns out to be a total success for them.
The issue here is that Wizz Air is too inactive with their BEG expansion.
Nemjee something had to be done with Nis Airport so it could become FR and W6 battlefield. The government pland for it to be LCC hub and it turnd out to be the perfect timing (maybe more luck than knowledge) but the results are here.
DeleteHere is the news where 2 years ago they announced they will turn it in LCC hub.
http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/951087
Oh no, I just wanted to say that I don't think the government is involved in some sort of conspiracy theory to move all LCC from BEG to INI.
DeleteAs far as their decision to transform INI into a lowcost hub, that was probably the wises decision our government took in the last 50 years.
Sorry, but government do nothing in Nis, they even do not know number of announced routes and destinations. This man who publishe such information is ridiculous. Which companie will allow the release of such information? Who knew that Ryan would come to Serbia? Probably only those who participated in the negotiations, and this is clearly not a man who announced Eurowings. I hope that Eurowings come to Serbia, but I doubt that these frivolous men have anything with it. The government realise are more ridiculuos, from time to time they mention Morava airport, but what happened there in last two or three years? Nothing. And at the end, government can not order anybody to fly from Nis or Kraljevo or Belgrade. Serbia recognized Open Sky agreement, and there is no obligation for any special permition from government. Thats the reason why Wizz is still in BEG and they will be there. Also I am happy because INI is not part of Serbia airport state company.
DeleteTo be honest I'm in awe. I was kind of expecting Norwegian and/or Eurowings to come to SKP first. But again, great job INI. Now if they announce flights to Moscow in the near future.. It seems they would have to invest in new terminal.
ReplyDeleteIf only Kraljevo's terminal was built at Nis instead...
DeleteHow did they not know that Morava airport would need so much more work than simply building a terminal there?
So, what's the projected capacity of Nis with current terminal? 500k?
DeleteBoth are a perfect fit for INI. Hope it happens.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia's FB page just released what they say is the first aerial photo of YU-ARA:
ReplyDeletehttps://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13475063_1758734777673951_3882525443150175420_o.jpg
Taken from a Mig?
DeleteTaken from Cessna 525A CitationJet CJ2
DeleteYU-BUU, AirPink
Looks awesome :)
DeleteIf one of these two comes plus Ryan and Wizz, that's a great combination of airlines for any small size airport.
ReplyDeleteU ocekivanju je da je danas ''D'' dan za buducu strategiju razvoja Kraljevacke Morave. Sastanak petorice odgovornih ljudi za pokretanje ovog aerodroma u Centralnoj Srbiji. Za sada zakljucani novi pristojno lepi terminal. Medju gospodom koji pre podne bi trebalo da budu u Terminalu, Bice vd. direktora Aerodroma Srbije Babic, vd. director Aerodroma Nikola Tesla, Vlaisavljevic, sa jos tri clana politickih funkcionera. Dok ovo pisem, nadam se da je ona zakljucana kapija ODKLJUCANA jutros. Danasnji dan ce me demantovati ili potvrditi ne zelju, vec dali sam istinu napisao. Cudo da niko za sada nije pisao direktno o ovom aerodromu u zadnje vreme. Eto ja se usudih. Pa kako Bog da, a ljudi vec jednom pocnu sa ovim ''long saga'' Aerodromom. Administrator ovog foruma moze saznati vise?... Pozdrav. Radovan, Kraljevo.
ReplyDeleteKad dođu političkih funkcioneri ne može na dobrom nikako da završi.
DeleteSo hapoy about this. Well done Nis. From a ghost airport to serving W6 and FR and more to come.
ReplyDeleteAirlines are sometimes funny... for years they ignore flying to an airport, but if one starts, others follow immediately. U see this scheme again and again
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a coincidence. The 3 euros per departing pax and the new proactive management is what brought INI back to life.
DeleteI have a feeling there is more to this than just a clever management. INI may become a nice example of how an airport can benefit from this upcoming war between W6 and FR - as well as from their massive orders of aircraft. These birds simply need new routes so that they can be utilized.
DeleteDoes anyone remember INI's charge per passenger before it was slashed to 3 euro?
14 euros per pax, plus landing and handling fee and 1 mil euros subvention per year to the Wind jet and Montenegro airlines from City of Nis (2010-2013). Result was 28.000pax.
DeleteThanks. I guess it's better to cut the prices in order to attract LCCs and give that 1M euro to the airport to cover for the loss. It may still not be enough but at least they get some routes and passengers. The previous scheme was a pure lose-lose.
DeleteIn the coming years they can increase the €3 pax fee, but only when the routes become established. I'm talking about minor incremental increases to €5, €7, €10.
DeleteThat would help INI to become more self-sufficient in the long run.
DeleteYU-ARA finally became Nikola Tesla. I hope that with this JU will no longer name its planes after living legends.
ReplyDeletehttps://scontent.fbeg2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/13450034_966027000187107_129611579313745396_n.jpg?oh=377b2ec18cb8dd62a5de8bbd199ad355&oe=57C344F7
...if you can call that 'legends' that is.
DeleteI would be ecstatic when they name an aircraft after Dejan Bodiroga and/or Željko Obradović!
DeleteAn A330 named "Sex Droga Bodiroga" would be even better!
Giannis from Athens.
+100 hahahah
DeleteOT - Kiev-Belgrade few days ago, load-factor almost 70%, flights pretty full in both directions according to FA's.
ReplyDeleteNice! I had most reservations about this route, of all the new JU ones started this summer. This is good news.
DeleteI spoke to Adria's FA who couldn't believe the route just started a few days ago, saying loads 'should' be much lighter than that given the time it takes for the route to mature.
DeleteHere are some pics, sorry for the quality:
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/3263d/T2GAXkK42tQ.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/3260e/EvLe1m6R-yU.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/3253b/bqyMTayprk8.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/32583/4lwFGFESuAA.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/32571/onV71ya-48Q.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/32595/4ihbvyyNuH0.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/3259e/dZwb3mmzvLs.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/325a7/MyCtMQKx0Uc.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/32620/GZZSN3qhpRg.jpg
https://pp.vk.me/c633423/v633423496/32629/4Hg8Z7OVO-I.jpg
Passengers are equally divided between transfer and O&D according to Interavia's officials at KBP.
Thanks for the photos. Much appreciated.
DeleteYou're welcome ;)
DeleteI will do another report in 20 days when I fly the route. I am glad Kiev is working out for them.
DeleteThank you Aerologic.
Deleteps. go Kyiv!
https://s31.postimg.org/hhnehr0ff/jfk.png
ReplyDeleteThumbs up man, looks so nice to see it there, i believe we haven't seen such a variety of destinations on BEG.aero in decades.
DeleteThere are approximately 100 flights a day.
DeleteBilo bi odlicno kad bi
ReplyDeleteU2 uveo liniju ZRH-INI
DY uveo OSL-INI , ARN-INI za LGW nema potrebe letovi za USA imaju mnogo bolji iz LYBE .
DP uveo VKO-INI
I mozda HV.
INN-NS
Paris pls.
ReplyDeletePostovani Non 3:06 PM.
ReplyDeleteKako Vi kazete, ''kada dodju politicki funkcioneri, nemoze nikako da se na dobro zavrsi?. Umesto polemike, pa neka bude po vasoj zelji dragi nepoznati covece. Osnovno je da je potvrdjeno nekoliko reci koje sam prije napisao. I za mene nov podatak da Aerodrom Nikola Tesla sada ce ulaziti u Opremu Terminala Kraljevacke Morave oko Trista sedamdeset miliona dinara. Ipak ulozene tri milijarde dinara do sada, nemoze ni jedan covek u Srbiji da prebaci na racun placanja poreza. Za mene Aerodrom Morava od danas obara visegodisnji zardjali lanac I katanac na ulazu u aerodrome. Vi me demantujte... Zelim vam prijatno leto i svako dobro. S'postovanjem Radovan.
Mr. Rodney, odkud Vi znate koje su moje želje? Vi uvek predpostavljate šta Vam odgovra. Moja 'želja' je da Aerodrom Morava za sada ime nekoliko dnevnih LCC letova.
DeleteUstvari možda Vi bolje znate šta ja mislim.
Impressive to look at Niš. I wonder whether there's enough potential for KVO and Užice/Ponikve as well. The three are not that far apart ... (this is an honest question, I'm not trolling)
ReplyDeleteI agree, for now anyway, that KVO and Užice/Ponikve have little chance or attrackting a LCC. But who knows, who would have thought that Niš Airport would do so well.
DeleteGreat news for INI! Unbelievable !
ReplyDeleteINI's 90min drive catchment area has almost no overlap with any other airport. This is 1.2 million people making it a very attractive destination.
If KVO were to start seeing commercial passenger traffic, that would reduce INI's catchment area (net of overlaps with KVO) to 1 million , while KVO would have net catchment of 700k. (net of BEG and INI)
Furthermore, KVO would be the closest airport (but outside 90min drive) to comparatively more people in Serbia as opposed to INI, effectively making INI's catchment around 20% larger.
87% of UZC's 90min drive catchment is within KVO's catchment area. There is 315k people within 90min drive from UZC (no overlaps with BEG/INI).
KVO , on above basis, is a better choice for a 3rd airport, if it comes to a choice between the two.
my2cents