Iran is working on establishing a new service between Tehran and Sarajevo via Belgrade, the Iranian Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said following talks in the Bosnian capital. The matter will be further discussed later this month during a visit by the Iranian Foreign Minister to Belgrade. Negotiations concerning the service launch began last year with both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia initiating the abolishment of visa restrictions for Iranian nationals. The two former Yugoslav states have already taken steps for the Tehran flights to materialise this year. European carriers have been ramping up their operations to Iran as the country emerges from international isolation and sanctions, which were lifted a year ago.
Iranian officials noted that the establishment of direct flights between Tehran and Sarajevo would help promote tourism and boost economic and cultural ties. Iranian carrier Mahan Air planned to launch services from Tehran to Sarajevo via Istanbul in 2010. However, the flights never materialised. Sarajevo Airport's General Manager, Armin Kajmaković, recently said, "There are plans for new flights to the Middle East but we are still in the early stages of negotiations. Our analysis, which is undertaken on a regular basis, shows there is certainly room to expand in that area". Qatar Airways plans to launch services to Sarajevo later this year, joining Air Arabia and Flydubai which maintain services from the region to the Bosnian capital.
Last year, the Serbian national carrier said it was considering introducing services to Tehran in cooperation with Iran Air. 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. I firmly believe that it is very important for direct flights to be introduced in order to fuel cooperation between Serbia and Iran. With the introduction of our flights to New York, we have observed a considerable number of people from the United States travelling to this region and Belgrade, and from there on to other countries". Montenegro Airlines is set to become the first carrier from the former Yugoslavia to introduce services to Iran, with the company to run a one weekly service between Podgorica and Tehran this summer.
This sort of routing would actually make sense and the route would be more financially viable.
ReplyDeleteFifth freedom rights?
DeleteAS could code share on the BEG-SSJ leg.
DeleteThis will only work if no passengers will be uploaded/offloaded between BEG and SJJ. No fifth freedom rights will be given.
DeleteAre there many ties between Serbia or B&H and Iran?
ReplyDeleteEconomic and cultural, both growing.
DeletePlus tourist potential.
DeleteAlso, Iran has a good volleyball team, they often play Serbia in the World League.
yeah, I can see volleyball teams jetting to BEG daily + enjoying the super amazing mega second-to-none night life of Beograd
DeleteChill it dawg.
DeleteAnon 10.24
DeleteWell, if the Israelis don't mind then why should the Iranians? After all, don't we have five weekly flights that exclusively bring in tourists from TLV?
I guess it's that second to none nightlife.
I do not see TTG - IKA working.
ReplyDeleteTGD*
DeleteThe more the ex-Yu airlines wait to start flights to Iran the more difficult it will become to position themselves on the market. I think this is a missed opportunity for Adria, Croatia Airlines and Air Serbia.
ReplyDeleteAgree but apparently it is much more difficult for smaller airlines to fly to Iran because the airline has to insure the aircraft in Iran which is really expensive. Apparently that's why Adria has put on hold plans to fly there.
DeleteIs this verified information?
DeleteThat's the information from Adria. They still plan to start flights.
DeleteThis was the planned Tehran schedule for the summer
3 times per week 1,4,5
JP718/JP719
dep LJU 8.35 p.m, arr back in LJU 6.10 a.m. (+1).
Any idea how much this insurance in Iran costs? What is the usual procedure for international flights?
DeleteOf course it's "expensive", if you have to sell and lease back your own brand to survive.
DeleteOtherwise it's nothin special, almost all airlines flying to the Gulf area fly through Iran. There are worse places to insure the aircraft for (Syria, Yemen, Iraq, etc. would come to mind at the moment).
I don't think it's a 'danger' or 'war' issue, but more of an excuse to gauge airlines for the privilege of taping the 'new' market of 80m.
DeleteI have a feeling it will be an airline like Qeshm, I don't see either Mahan or Iran Air launching these flights.
ReplyDeleteEspecially not IR which will deploy its new aircraft on more lucrative and high-profile routes.
There is a certain 'rapprochement' between Serbia and Iran. Last year during the tourism fair Iran had its own booth (don't know about this year) while during the Belgrade Book Fair, Iran was the guest of honor.
Good points. For some reason my comments about growing economic and cultural ties was removed.
DeleteIt was automatically marked as spam for some reason and removed, the comment has been retrieved.
DeleteThanks ex-yu, figured it was something like that.
DeleteNone of these airlines managements have a vision of growth, all they know is copy and paste then delete.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteKeep in mind that these airlines are small, with limited budgets, lack of available aircraft, and have to answer to their political masters.
DeleteTrue dat.
DeleteIKA-SSJ-BEG-IKA or, IKA-BEG-SSJ-IKA?
ReplyDeleteMore or less the same.
DeleteAn interesting analysis of the Iranian aviation market
ReplyDeletehttp://www.airlineleader.com/categories/regions/iran-a-market-with-enormous-aviation-potential-251107
These flights would be nice. Hope it happens.
ReplyDeleteWould there be demand?
ReplyDeleteWhy Belgrade, Croatia has better tourism. IKA-SJJ-ZAG makes much more sense
ReplyDeleteWell you see the Iranians think otherwise.
DeleteIranians have way stronger cultural ties to Bosnia, I imagine. Can't quite see their tourists partying up on Zrce and Ultra. Economy will draw them tho, but that has to be settled at the EU level
DeleteLimitless planned to fly Dubrovnik-Tehran last year. It never happened in the end.
DeleteIranians have very little cultural ties with Bosnia, don't forget that Iranians are Shia Muslims while Bosniaks are Sunni.
DeleteI think this has to do with Serbia and Bosnia making another joint effort to bring more tourists, like they are doing it with the Chinese.
Agree with above comment. Today again I saw Serbian tourism minister Rasim Ljajic say how Serbia and Bosnia are working on joint tourist offer for a few markets and again he mentioned China as the most important one.
DeleteIndeed. Serbia has already finalized a joint approach with Montenegro and Bosnia and Hungary are next. Talks have already been launched and I am sure they are going to be more than positive.
DeleteThis should come as great news for BEG.
@Michael
DeleteYou would be surprised. Their very strict rules of public behavior apply only in their own country.
Most urbanised Iranians are tired of sharia.
DeleteYou mean urban Iranians, but I get your point.
Delete@Anon 6:17 what do mean sorry?
DeleteI'm pretty sure you mean urban, as in intellectuals/professionals, as in not typical country folk. And that term is urban. Urbanized is more of a geographical term. You could have a mass urbanization program to bring thousands of people from the countryside to come live in the cities, they are urbanized, but not yet urban thinkers.
DeleteFlights to BEG will likely be a codeshare with JU, similar to flights from China. It’s a positive move given lack of aircraft at Air Serbia. In Airlineratings interview Air Serbia CEO however talked about plans for A320NEO from 2018 on: “these aeroplanes give us the possibility to access new markets, for example Iran”. If you already have carrier from Iran operating route to BEG (and SJJ) in 2017 and 2018, would Air Serbia have to take over that route in 2019 or compete with them, as there is not enough for both carriers to operate?
ReplyDeleteGood points. It seems like AS will not do any major expansion until the new birds begin to arrive. So not really until 2019.
DeleteNew planes begin to arrive next year. So we can probably start seeing some notable expansion from next summer.
DeleteGuys, what Dane says makes no difference as he won't stay after 2017.
DeleteI said 2019, not 2018, as some birds will leave the flock next year. And I'm talking about real expansion, not just a route or two.
DeleteAre codeshares to Iran and China helping Air Serbia? Next step could be nonstop codeshare from Chicago with AA or UA and codeshare from Toronto with one of airlines from Canada and top intercontinental destinations would be covered without a need for new planes.
DeleteAs much as codeshares are good, they are not as good as own plane. When Adria dropped BEG and started JU codeshare they didn't say "this codeshare will free Adria plane for other destinations while Air Serbia codeshare will bring many Serbian tourists to Slovenia and help Serbia increase investments in Slovenia etc". Adria benefit is much smaller than Air Serbia, and it will be difficult for Adria to get back to BEG with own planes. Same will happen if JU one day wants to start China or Iran flights with own planes.
Why would Dane leave after 2017?
DeleteBecause his contract won't be extended. They are looking for his replacement. He was Hogan's man.
DeleteSJJ had always been lacking, give them a chance with Iran Air. At least this can attract other carriers like EK, su! Good luck
ReplyDeleteJust flew JU174 BEG-TGD, 86 pax on-board. YU-AND in excellent condition, more comfortable than the Airbus. What all but few don't know is that TGD is the only airport in Ex-Yu with a railway station. It's called 'Aerodrom' and it's located a 10 min. walk from the terminal.
ReplyDelete"What all but few don't know ..." Kind of awkward saying it that way. Should have said, what few may know is that ...
DeleteDid you use the railway station to get into Podgorica?
http://wikitravel.org/en/Podgorica#By_plane
Delete"There is also a train stop "Aerodrom" a short walk from the airport. Much cheaper than the taxi, but its existence will be denied by staff at the airport information desk. As of March 2017 the departures from the airport are at: 06:07, 07:32, 09:54, 12:37, 14:57, 15:41, 17:44, 19:08 and 20:48."
I guess he took that one.
OT: Comment on another site says Etihad A380 is coming to Belgrade for promotional visit in a month or two. Since when did BEG become ICAO ref code F airport?
ReplyDeleteYou are a spy for SSC. ;-)
Delete