Air Serbia is in talks with the government over the introduction of flights between Belgrade and Niš, which would make it its first domestic service. The Serbian Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, noted, "I expect Air Serbia to launch services to Niš in the coming period. We are currently negotiating these flights. Just yesterday I held talks with the CEO of Air Serbia, following a number of meetings regarding this matter, and the route will most likely be introduced this year. It goes to show we really want to develop Niš Airport".
In 2015, Air Serbia ruled out operations from Niš, noting that it was not in line with its hub-and-spoke business model. However, the company's strategy has since changed. Last year, Niš Airport's General Manager, Vladica Djurdjanović, said, "Since Air Serbia is building a hub in Belgrade, I do not think it is commercially viable for them to fly to Niš. We have never insisted on it, because we would have to subsidise the losses. Air Serbia would never achieve profitability on this route. As a result, Niš does not fit into their plans, but could be suitable to airlines which cooperate with Air Serbia".
Niš has seen days of protests after local authorities decided last week for Contantine the Great Airport to be managed on a state level, rather than a city level, for the first time since 2010. A final decision on the matter will go down to a vote in the local assembly next Tuesday. Those opposed to the motion believe the change in management is linked to the recent takeover of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport by France's VINCI and that Niš's passenger growth will be capped as a result. However, the government has denied such claims, insisting that it plans to continue to grow the airport's operations, maintain its three euro fee for handling, landing and passenger services, as well as invest in the expansion of the terminal building and new control tower. "This is being done simply because the city does not have the means to finance the planned expansion of Niš Airport. There are no limitations to the airport's growth, which will be visible once the Belgrade concession agreement between the Serbian government and VINCI is published following the financial close of the deal", Ms Mihajlović said. She added, "If we want Niš Airport to develop and compete effectively against Sofia, Skopje and Pristina, it needs further investment in a very short time-frame".
Niš Airport, which has seen triple digit passenger growth in 2017 for a second consecutive year after securing flights from Wizz Air, Ryanair and Swiss International Air Lines, recently began a six-month trial of its new instrument landing system (ILS), which provides guidance to aircraft approaching and landing in bad weather. Its usage will result in Niš being classified as a Category I airport by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. This will be followed up with the construction of a new 27-metre control tower, with work on the ten million euro project to commence once matters relating to property rights are resolved. The final two projects the airport has set out to complete is the installation of approach lights, as well as a 3.5 million euro expansion of the terminal building, which will begin later this year and is scheduled for completion in 2019. In February, the Serbian government allocated 7.5 million euros for the development of Constantine the Great Airport this year. Niš Airport handled 84.894 passengers during the first quarter of 2018, up 28.2% on the same period last year. It anticipates welcoming 450.000 travellers in 2018 and has projected strong growth over the coming period, with up to 650.000 passengers expected in 2021.
Comments
Of course they want it to be controlled at state level, Nis is becoming too big a success for Belgrade.
My opinion is that they will give up on the idea. INI will most likely stay in the hands of the city.
So what if the government bought ILS? How much money did they give to foreign investors?! Are you saying they deserve more money than INI?!
EIN ended March
If you are referring to subsidizing Montenegro Airlines as some major success, think again. They lost millions through this with no real benefit.
INI's success story is thanks to the people in Nis.
What is the news is that the state wants to take over the airport from the city and limit it's growth in passenger numbers, for the sake of higher earnings for BEG. If you read between the lines, they will take over the airport, increase the fees, LCCs will reduce operations as a result, then they will launch AS to BEG, increasing pax at BEG while claiming that they finally found a profitable model for INI (we all know how capable they are of depicting things as profitable).
The winners - Vinci and the government. The losers - passengers and hospitality businesses in South Serbia.
But hey, there will be enough big political topics to feed the masses with so they don't complain about this.
SNS just put its stamp of approval, that's all. I am sure all other government would do the same just like DS opened KVO.
So, it would cost more money and no time saved.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I7pXj7Z4nyw/WaBeiY5vMlI/AAAAAAAAfgk/pL8AjSHzA2ILdDy9bxirpddhX2u_siobACLcBGAs/s1600/initred.png
But I fully understand gastos who would rather fly with Wizz to some airport 80km from the city ...
Also previous governments pushed Jat to fly to VIE and ZRH from INI after they fixed the runway after the NATO bombing.
It's not like SNS is the first government to do anything about aviation.
L O L !!!
Air Serbia at INI is not good for the rest of the airlines operating from Nis and protectionism will be obvious as it was in BEG so far. After that I am not even sure the LCA would ever get permission for starting the new routes from the city. Belgrade-Nis is a totally political route. It will be like: We have tried to further develop INI introducing the new flights but unfortunately it didn’t work. The price of the flight would be not competitive for sure, taking in count that you can fly to Vienna, Munich or Stockholm from 10eur with FR or W6. I hope to be wrong!
http://www.exyuaviation.com/2011/10/kraljevo-welcomes-first-flight.html
Finally, the government could have invested in the airport if it wanted to. Nothing is preventing them from doing so. There must be another reason why they are insisting all of a sudden.
As for Kraljevo it was a ludicrous political stunt to build a terminal building while you have a deserted Nis Airport sitting 100km away.
The terminal building as well as the ancillary support facilities were buit and opened to service in 86 by the city of Nis with the huge support of the local giant at the time such EI, Duvanska etc.
Government gave up on INI the day they said we do not need the airport in Nis and we have no money to rebuild it, so this is why the norwegians came and repair it!
For passengers it would actually be more comfortable to check in at a small airport, fly in a cramped and loud ATR for 20-25 minutes and then go straight to another airplane, instead of cramping in a car for 2 hrs and then wait in a long queue in rush hour at Belgrade.
In order for this to work, I think they should consider operating this route twice a day, maybe even with a night layover in INI, like it was the case with Skopje.
I'll take the plane.
But also remember that this is probably going to be feeder for their NYC and AUH flights. Competing with LX on those routes.
Many people are underestimating INI and its potential as a truly regional airport. If JU has woken up, it's because of something.
I am, however, expecting W6 to be faster and might possibly base an aircraft anytime soon.
In the case of JU, wonder how many daily rotations it will make.
Germans and Italians for example love their cars but still fly like crazy. :)
Yes 3 daily M-F, 1 on SAT and 2 SUN - 18 weekly flights.
it is interesting that Vladica didn't speak a word on the official meetings about ownership transfer.
political f*ckery
JU has not enough aircrafts even for a daily, unless they cut somewhere else
it would be interesting to see these results. that would kill one of the arguments for the takeover
It is obvious that all what happened in previous few days caused JU / GoS to think about opening BEG-INI-BEG for the first time after many years.
Since 2013 new JU continiuosly repeated that they see no interest in flying to INI, that it does not match their hub model, that the costs of crew is too high comparing to the revenue etc.
Now, when BEG goes to Vinci and when GoS obvioulsy signed that not only INI but all the other airports except BEG in Serbia cannot grow in total more than 1 million per year we have the situation that GoS found the way how to control INI. With previous constellations when city was running INI it was not possible to control them anyhow.
Now when they can control INI it is to be seen how they will do it in order not to lose annual amount of money from Vinci they get for BEG...Will they increase fees or they will find some other way remains to be seen. Anyhow, it is obvious this is dirty political game with the people who brought INI to the position it is now.
From the other side, despite the fact this would be clearly political move introducing BEG-INI we could say it can bring nothing but good to INI airport. People living in Nis could not call Air Serbia anymore "Belgrade airlines" who forgot about them and competition with LX can bring nothing but good (possibly lower prices). After all we saw that INI had a lot of benefits due to the "war" between FR and W6 and the same logic could be applied for JU and LX flights. Since when the introducing of new flight has become problem for INI?
Last not the least, if JU flies daily to INI they can offer to the people from Nis region daily connections via BEG to all of those destinations ULCC's do not fly to or on the days when LX does not fly to INI.
I praize the success INI has, and I do wish it much success.
On the other hand, its nothing else than trolling when you phantasize about 2 million pax at INI in 2 years where it was repeatedly posted what the potential of INI is in near future, and furthermore if you continuously compare this secondary airport, which ist not even category I, to primary airports like SKP or PRN, which also have more than 6 times passengers than INI.
And if one travels by bus, it also needs some time to get to the bus station (the one in Belgrade being in preparation, as we speak, to move across the river). The train is slow.
And, of course, this option is primarily for transfer passengers. Tell me, if someone travels from Leskovac to Paris, would it be beneficial for him to enter the plane in Ni[, rather than Belgrade? Of course it would.
There are enough business people travelling daily Mon-Fri between the North and South of Serbia, more than enough to fill 2x 65 seats and they or rather their employers are not as price sensitive as leisure/private travellers. With time passing I am sure that many would take the plane which is much more comfortable than 6 hours (2x3hrs) driving on a single day. JU should be looking at signing company agreements for this purpose, something that other airlines in other countries frequently do.
I really hope for at least 12 services a week (Mon-Fri 2x per day and Sat morning, Sun evening). Everything else would be very likely to fail. I sincerely hope ASL isn't planning something like 3x per week or noon departures.
I just feel you are unhappy about INI's growth, that's it. And guess what? Today it's on the headlines and not in the "news flash" section. Thanks.
LJU and VCE
BNX and ZAG
TIV and TGD
TGD and TIA
SKP and OHD (in the past)
and as mentioned, I am happy about INI's growth
A closed deal between government and Air Serbia to operate a route, which can be done in 2,5 hour of relaxed driving on a highway is FAR from PSO.
And public transport system in Serbia is not developed enough one could love without a car anyway.
There`s rent-a-car as an option for the occasional travel, and also taxi, which is seriously cheap outside of Belgrade.
then again, there are people who simply don`t drive. Etc.
There`s no reason any of these people should not fly...
and certainly it's not jealousy, I mean jeasousy on what? I am here to talk about aviation-projects and try to be most objectiv that include also out-of-box thinking.
AS has a sufficient number of aircrafts. This summer even reserve plane like in good old times
Do you honestly believe that?
There are already allegations that GoS wants to cap INI PAX to 1 Million per year, and given the fact, that BEG concession will be for 25 years, that’s not good news at all!
I'm neutral on BEG concession, but as long we don't see the agreement incl. annexes we can not be sure, that the government is NOT capping INI in favour of Vinci's takeover of BEG. That's all I said...
Also I agree with other commentators here, that those proposed BEG-INI flights are only there to decept the public over the GoS's plans for INI...
I can afford to fly legacies and I do not have a car. I just do not like to drive. Not my thing. Plus my taxi expenses are under 200 eur a month so it makes sense for me.