Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport anticipates handling between 5.8 and six million passengers this year, its General Manager, Saša Vlasavljević, has said. Furthermore, the airport expects to record an annual net profit of over 29 million euros. During the January - July period, Belgrade Airport welcomed 3.134.106 passengers through its doors, an increase of 6.5%. It added some 200.000 travellers on 2017. During the first half of the year, foreign carriers increased their passenger numbers at Belgrade Airport by 19%, handling 1.387.583 travellers. Their passenger share stood at 56.3%. Following Air Serbia, the greatest number of flights from the airport were operated by Wizz Air, then Montenegro Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot.
The General Manager previously noted, "Nikola Tesla Airport is constantly on the look-out for new customers and is in contact with a number of interested parties concerning the launch of new flights. We hope to soon make announcements regarding the introduction of nonstop services to several unserved destinations in Europe, as well as to Morocco, India, Canada and a new destination in China. The airport's capacity currently stands at 7.5 million passenger per year, which is sufficient for continued and sustainable growth within the next few years". He added, "In 2018, 36 airlines will be carrying out scheduled and charter flights to 67 destinations in Europe, the United States, the Middle and Far East and northern Africa".
Commenting on the airport's results, Mr Vlaisavljević said, "Over the past four years, the airport’s value has increased by several hundred million euros. Total revenue has grown by 42%, the number of passengers by 66%, the number of air operations by 38%, cargo and mail traffic is two times greater, net profit is 240 times greater and the share value has increased four times". Belgrade Airport is also focusing on greater regional cooperation. "Regional cooperation and the development of airports in the region are of mutual interest, as it is only through regional connections that we will be able to address all potential challenges. This is why the airport is taking an active role in regional events, where we promote cooperation and the sharing of knowledge in the field of air services, as well as consulting services", Mr Vlaisavljević said. "Our cooperation with partner airports is growing. We are in contact with our colleagues in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Zadar and Montenegro", he added.
6 million is completely unrealistic but 5.8 seems likely. Good growth overall.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Look at the winter season, it's shaping to be a very busy one with more flights by Austrian Airlines, Aeroflot, Lot, Transavia and even Air Serbia is adding some frequencies left and right.
DeleteDidn't they also revise their forecast from 5.6 to 5.8?
Austrian has also upgraded equipment in winter from Dash to A319.
DeleteNot only that but some noon flights are scheduled to be on the A320!
DeleteYes, because the Dash is being put in maintenance and they need to serve the coop with Swiss.
DeleteIt's good to see more and more airlines dropping regional turboprop planes for larger equipment. Last year it was Aegean, this Austrian.
DeleteAnon 09.08
DeleteIf there wasn't demand then they wouldn't be adding an additional frequency to BEG during the winter season.
Belgrade might handle 5.75 million this year, at most! Yes there are some upgrades and some extra frequencies, but they won't amount to substantial growth, not for 5.8 or 6.0 million.
DeleteNext year Belgrade could handle 6.1 million and the year after 6.5 million.
Even 5.75 would be quite good considering they handled 5.3 last year. Although 5.8 is not unrealistic.
DeleteThis year's charter season has attributed to the growth quite a lot. It has been a very good year in that respect.
DeleteTotally unrealistic. If this trend will go on (6,9%) airport will have 5,7 million passengers. Especially that in June it was 6,4% and in July 6,3%, which, with August are months with huge share in yearly number of passengers. Even if in other months (especially in winter) share will be much bigger it will not have such a big influence on total results.
DeleteSo 5,7 million is realistic. But we all know how CEO made "mistake" in his prediction few years ago.
@ 9.08 there will be very few airlines left operating tubroprops to BEG this winter. Besides TAROM and obviously Air Serbia I don't know anyone else.
DeleteThere is the occassional Austrian when it's not a Q400 and OU on a seasonal basis.
DeleteBelavia has also upgraded its plane as now it's mostly an E75 on flights via BUD.
DeleteDon't forget Qatar and its daily A321 this winter.
DeleteOk, I won't forget them either.
DeleteWhen will VINCI take over.
ReplyDeleteThey said between late September and November.
DeleteNo, they said 1st September, what is 8 days?!?!?
DeleteAbsolutely not true. They never said 1st September. Just google it.
Delete" The Serbian government has so far insisted it would publish details of the 1.5 billion euro deal following the financial close of the agreement, expected sometime between September and November of this year."
DeleteCan't wait for them to take over.
DeleteExciting times ahead.
DeleteI hope we see another Chinese airline in BEG
ReplyDeleteMe too. I think a link with India is extremely realistic now. There are close to 1.000 Indian tourists in Belgrade every month. This is with no promotion or anything. IndiGo could operate three weekly with the A321neo.
DeletePossible announcement mid September during Vucic's visit to China.
DeleteHainan has been notoriously inactive.
DeleteHainan is too inactive but I guess it's good news for other airlines especially TK, QR and SU whose numbers are booming in BEG!
DeleteOn my last TK flight (the evening one) to IST last week almost half of the plane were Chinese/Asian. They were travelling in a group. Interestingly many of them were in business class and the rest in economy.
DeleteHNA Group boss passed away tragically in Paris. They are now facing many challenges.
DeleteWould be nice to see Air China in Belgrade.
DeleteOr any other Chinese carrier for that matter. i don't think Belgrade can be too picky, like the saying goes: beggars can't be chosers.
DeleteBEG is no VIE, BUD or MUC... it needs to take what it is offered.
The next Chinese airline will be Chengdu Airlines to CTU.
Delete''The airport's capacity currently stands at 7.5 million passenger per year, which is sufficient for continued and sustainable growth...''
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this pretty idiotic statement. Yes there is room but only if airlines add flights at unpopular times like 09.00 or 19.30 or 02.00.
The most popular times are already way too busy. Morning wave of departrues is already a zoo and there aren't enough gates. The airport needs a new terminal and we need it .... YESTERDAY!
I agree with that. Air Serbia check in in the mornings is a mess. You can barely enter the airport. Same is starting to happen at passport control. I recently had the "joy" to experience that when an Iranian A340 landed before us and there were almost 300 people at passport control.
DeleteI think current terminal has lot more capacity, 7.5 million is low estimate, I think current terminal can handle 9 million, however the expansion should happen in next decade, this will add capacity to current airport, probably when all is done combined terminal will have capacity of 20 million passengers. Current terminal is 33 000sqm, and the French plan to expand it by 31000sqm. with 11 000sqm a 20 000sqm sections, allowing for more traffic and 7 additional gates/jetways, for total of 23.
Deletepassport control is onerous. BEG definitely needs an expansion of that area (but nothing in this world is bad as JFK)
Deletealso, the staff is very rude and serbians are not using automatic passport control for god knows what reason
I read in their report (not sure if it was half yearly or Q1 that they are adding more passport booths and more electronic gates. So hopefully more people will start using those.
DeletePassport control can be improved simply by putting in use all booths. Too often they are all partially used, with police coming late after passengers from several planes are in the area.
DeleteRegarding electronic gates - sometimes they are not working and don't forget that not all passports can be used there, I think that only passports issued starting from some point in 2011 work. For example, I cant use my passport for that gate, luckily it is soon to be replaced :)
Same problem with me, I can't use the e-gate because my passport was issued in 2009. I will be replacing it next year so I can finally use it. There is usually no one there.
DeleteThere is also something else, many don't know there is a passport control in T1 so they all go to T2.
DeleteBut that's for departures, for arrivals you have to go through T2. That's where it gets most congested.
DeletePassport issued in December 2009 and onwards can use the electronic gate.
DeleteYes but I think the problem is many got their passport before since they started issuing them in late 2008 and they last for 10 years (for adults).
DeleteAutomatic passport control machines simply DO NOT work. A month ago I tried it out for the first time, since I got the passport reissued, and it is completely unable to read the passport. And there were also several other people trying to use it but with no luck. It is such a shame that machine is obviously out of function, and I can't imagine why they are not fixing it, since there were complaints for sure...
DeleteNot only that but children can't use them as well.
DeleteI used the e-gate in May and it worked very well. Just 9 minutes from unfastening my seatbelt to the main airport entrance. The real issue is that it's kinda hidden behind the walls and there is no advertisement when you are coming down the stairs. Left my plane somewhere in the middle of the crowd, but I was the first to break the ice and use the e-gate since noone knew or saw it there.
DeleteHow many passengers will Serbia have this year?
ReplyDeleteBEG and INI will handle 6.2 million. Depends whether you count PRN as Serbia or not.
DeleteJust over 6 million in my opinion. @9.11 Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate itself does not count PRN as Serbia.
DeleteAnon 09.12
DeleteThey have to as they are subject to the Serbian Constitution. However they are very often 'not counted' because Belgrade can't collect the information itself.
Will INI reach 400.000 this year? That's a nice number for a small airport like INI.
DeleteYes, it will. Project is 600,000 by 2021 and 2 million by 2025.
DeleteGovernment would never allow INI to develop too much.
DeleteThe contract with VINCI makes sure of that.
They will make an exception and will allow it. INI will reach 2 million.
DeleteNo exceptions are allowed. We will have to pay major compensation to VINCI.
DeleteWhat a pity for INI, what a pity.....
DeleteBy the time INI reaches a million BEG will have more than 12 million so it's ok.
DeleteLOL, by the time BEG will have 12 million pax VIE will have 60 million and MUC 90.
DeleteAnd the 40 year consesion will be long finished.
Realistically speaking BEG might reach 12 million by 2025. Here are the estimates:
DeleteBEG
------
2018 5,8m
2019 6,6m
2020 7,4m
2021 8,2m
2022 9,7m
2023 10,6m
2024 11,5m
2025 12,6m
INI
----
2018 410,000
2019 520,000
2020 625,000
2021 790,000
2022 835,000
2023 910,000
2024 1,030,000
2025 1,540,000
2024 will be important as it will mark the arrival of the 1 millionth passenger to INI.
what is the source of the estimates?
Deletealso, niš estimates are contigent on not changing 3€/pax pricing
The source is called maths + simple equations.
DeleteNiš will not increase the 3€ tax, at least until 2025...
so you are your own source? everyday i see something new here
Delete"@Anonymous24 August 2018 at 15:13
DeleteAnonymous24 August 2018 at 15:13
Realistically speaking BEG might reach 12 million by 2025. Here are the estimates:
BEG
------
2018 5,8m
2019 6,6m
2020 7,4m
2021 8,2m
2022 9,7m
2023 10,6m
2024 11,5m
2025 12,6m
INI
----
2018 410,000
2019 520,000
2020 625,000
2021 790,000
2022 835,000
2023 910,000
2024 1,030,000
2025 1,540,000
2024 will be important as it will mark the arrival of the 1 millionth passenger to INI."@
Where you taking magic mushrooms when you made these predictions ? where in gods green earth did you come up with growth of 1.5 million per year?
Belgrade will be lucky to hit 9 million in 2025 and Nis million.
What makes you think that W6 will not further expand in both BEG & INI, where do you think they will base those new orders???
DeleteI am confident that by then BEG will receive at least 3 more aircraft and INI will get 2 as W6 did with DEB and KIV (size of INI).
:@Anonymous24 August 2018 at 17:28
DeleteWizzair will most likely now center on major hubs, Vienna for example. However, if they add extra aircraft, it'll be in Belgrade and not Nis. Anyhow, adding 2-3 aircraft to Belgrade will only double current traffic, not quadruple it is as you predict. For figures you're mentioning Wizz would need to deploy 10-12 aircraft in Belgrade and at least half that in Nis.
Perhaps it is possible by 2025, however you still are missing good 3 million to reach your numbers, even with an average growth Belgrade has been having for the past 3 years.
So add, the average growth and extra million from Wizz, at best you come to around 9,5 - 10 million, you're still missing nearly 3 million from your prediction. 2.6 million where would they be coming from? Jamaica Air? or Air Caraïbes perhaps? Iran air? how about Belavia?
No, perhaps EasyJet will setup a base in Belgrade, base 13 aircraft there to make up for missing 2.6 million?
You are missing something else, if Wizz Air bases another plane in BEG then they might use it for OSI and INI.
DeleteWhy are you all obsessed with W6?
Delete1) U2 or FR decide to launch a base in BEG
2) JU adding more A330 - flights to JFK, YYZ, DEL
3) French destinations
4) Possible return of BT, TP, KL, AF, BA, U6
5) Possible new carriers: IB, J2, AI, CZ
6) More destinations to Russia: LED, SVX, KUF & KGD
All of the above are more than achievable destinations.
The best part about BEG is that each season there are less and less regional aircraft. LH barely sends any, this summer MUC was mostly on the A320!
ReplyDeleteI think in 2019 we will see mostly Air Serbia claw back some passengers with several new flights and likely launch of Toronto. I expect we will soon be hearing some news from the airline. I don't think that recent news of them hiring pilots for their entire fleet is a coincidence.
ReplyDeleteI hope AC beats them to it since JU has been so passive and uninterested in growth.
DeleteHope no AC or stupid Rouge
Delete. They are both aweful and horrible service. AIrSerbia should take that one.
Congratulations neighbours from BEG! I think you worked really hard to achieve those excellent results.
ReplyDeleteTerminal concession, flights to China, Iran, charter flights to Egypt, easyJet return, Moscow flights increase, the continuous presence of bigger birds. Keep up with the good results!
Pozdrav from SOF.
Thank you :)
DeleteAny idea how August is performing so far?
ReplyDeleteIn August BEG will handle little bit more than 690K pax, around +8% compared to August 2017.
DeleteIt's good to see some initiative and flights to a couple of strategically important markets being negotiated.
ReplyDeleteTesko da ce biti 6 mlki ove god. 5.8 je skroz realno.Ndam se da je Kanada rezervisana za AS.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling U2 might open a base in BEG next year. This is just a thought. They have very close cooperation with Vinci and they have expanded their operations from BEG this summer nicely.
ReplyDeleteMs Herrero noted that it was too early to say whether easyJet could open a base in the Serbian capital, noting that the airline will closely monitor the performance of its existing three routes before making such a decision. "Ask me this question in a year's time", Ms Herreo said.
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2018/08/easyjet-to-consider-belgrade-expansion.html
I don't think Vinci will do anything rash to hurt Air Serbia for the first few years. Same as the French in Zagreb who didn't try to attract any new airlines for the first 2 years.
DeleteI'm interested to see who will win in the Belgrade-Basel battle between Easyjet and Wizz Air.
DeleteBoth.
DeleteThe market is large enough to sustain both airlines.
DeleteI think Wizz will be destroyed. They will have a flight less in winter that returns to BEG at 00.25.
DeleteVINCI will be more focused on French destinations and promote French culture.
DeleteThey will be focused on attracting anyone that can bring them money. They are running a business.
DeleteYes, but they will first start with French carriers: HOP!, Joon, Transavia France, Air Caraïbes, French Blue, Aigle Azur.
DeletePossible talks with Air Algérie similar to BUD
Also LEVEL, XL Airways, etc.
SMFH.
DeletePeople still think that the capitalist world functions with the same mindset the socialist did.
It is 2018 people, not 1978!
And no, Air Caraibes wontw be kaunchinl any flights from BEG to the Carribbean.
Ahahahahaha Air Caraibes to BEG :) :) :) You made my day, I haven't laughed this much for a long while :) :) :) Dude are you aware that the only country in Europe they fly is France, and yes of course, they will head to BEG before London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Rome. Right.
DeleteWell, France is a very socialist state so they usually always promote their local product worldwide. A French would buy French wine, cheese, Renault, Carrefour, etc.
DeleteThe same goes for Vinci, now that BEG became French they will focus on attracting airlines related to France. Look at Fraport and how they work tightly with the German airlines such as SunXpress, Condor, Lufti, TUI DE, Germania.
But an interesting carrier I would love to see in BEG is Volotea, they can launch flights from BEG to MRS, LYS, LIL, TLS. It would be easy to fill in a Boeing 717 (also exotic) and 319.
The charter season this year is very impressive.
ReplyDeleteTodays charters:
Istanbul (Turkish)
Zakinthos (Air Serbia)
Hurghada (Al Masria) - A330
Monastir (Tunis Air)
Antalya (Air Serbia)
Samoms (Air Serbia)
Skiathos (Air Serbia)
Lamezia Terme (Air Serbia)
Chania (Air Serbia)
And tomorrow
DeleteRhodes (Air Serbia)
Alghero Sassari (Air Serbia)
Antalya (Air Serbia)
Antalya (Air Serbia) - second flight
Preveza/Lefkas (Air Serbia)
Thank god for those B737s.
DeleteJU must focus entirely on charter, I told you before. This is where the money lies.
DeleteLong-haul charter will work nicely just like LO do have.
And not to forget that JU is also flying charters from Banja Luka to Antalya and from Ohrid to Basel this summer.
DeleteYes the mones is in the charter business untill they have to pay for the planes they operate them with. Once the renew them them business will be dead (almost). So with the 737 paid a profitable business.
DeleteIt's unfortunate the JU did not consider long haul charters this summer since thier A330 will be sitting on the tarmac for most of the week. Tour operators were offering JU cooperation for Bangkok and Hanvana last winter.
DeleteReally?? And what happened? Is there no interest for long-haul charters or filling a plane to JFK is more profitable? Can't they use it in winter if the frequency is lowered to 2 weekly flights?
DeleteAir Serbia should have started Shanghai.
ReplyDeleteThey will start Toronto. No doubt about it.
DeleteVrlo moguce.Ako stigne drugi A330 mogli bi da lete Toronto 4x i Sangaj 2x
DeleteHow are they going to operate both JFK and YYZ in the summer? They won't be able to do it with one plane.
DeleteThey will probably announce new routes when VINCI takes over.
ReplyDeleteGood news
ReplyDeleteInterestingly Air Serbia has scheduled JFK at only 2 per week this winter outside holiday season. What will the plane do for the rest of the week?
ReplyDeleteNothing. It's too late for them to announce any long haul route for next winter.
DeleteI think the route will become seasonal...6 weekly down to 2 is just too much.
DeleteOf course it won't become seasonal. To add to that the route doesn't operate 2x per week for all of winter. It operates a mix of 2,3 and 4 times per week like last year.
DeleteThe plane will just be sunbathing in N.Tesla costing us money.
DeleteCosting who money, Anon 13:18?
DeleteCosting money Serbian tax payers, information given by President of the country in person, telling publicly JFK flights to the only operated by the plane in question, will remain unprofitable for at least two years. Thanks for your question and opportunity to answer it.
DeleteSamo ti ne placas nikakav porez.
DeleteIt's quite strange what you're saying, Anon 13:40. It's very easy to jump to conclusions like that. During the winter, most of Europe's countries are affected bringing down the number of flights, but now involving the Serbian tax payer to JU sounds, frankly, insane.
DeleteIt's like saying, Wizz Air is flying to Moldova thanks to the Moldovian tax payers who are, mind you, poorer than the Serbian ones.
What will the plane do for the rest of the week?
Deletemožda će gajiti pečurke u njemu tih dana? tome obično pribegava rukovodstvo iz ovih krajeva kada ne zna kako da iskoristi kapacitete.
ali ovi komentari da se ne plaća porez... mogu da se kladim da da živi tačno od masnog poreza koji plaćam
The Serbian tax payer was never involved in the JU/EY project, NEVER! This is a special agreement between Serbia and UAE. The heavy money was paid by EY and the YU-ARA will be parked in BEG, but payed entirely by EY.
Deletešta pričaš bre? sve troškove snosi JU. država sliva svake godine desetine miliona € na ime subvencija da bi se podržali ti "projekti"
Deleteetihad plaća lease za avion koji koristi ersrbija. sad sam sve čuo.
"JFK flights will remain unprofitable for at least two years"
DeleteJFK route is now close to the end of third summer of operations.
@petersteel država sliva svake godine desetine miliona € na ime subvencija da bi se podržali ti "projekti"
DeleteViđen si za konsultanta u Italiji da im objasniš kako da uštede milijarde koje decenijama troše na projekat Alitalije.
@Anonymous 23:44 - Alitalia is absolutely right role model for every airline :))
DeleteVecina manjih i srednjih drzava pomaze domacu kompaniju na razne nacine zato sto su benefiti takvog ulaganja pozitivni. Poljska u restruktuiranje LOTa, Italija u Alitaliju, Crna Gora u Montenegro itd. Cudim se onima koji se cude Air Serbiji a ne primecuju da je to uobijaceno i rasireno iz ociglednih razloga.
DeleteLooking forward to 2019 and what it holds for BEG. Should be a big one.
ReplyDeleteDoes somebody knows why Mahan Air cancelled their flights?
ReplyDeleteI assume its political
The new sanctions will greatly reduce demand for travel to and from Iran.
DeleteBA already announced that it is suspending IKA.
AF and KL too. LH is likely to follow. The new US Iran sanctions will affect BEG too as the West will put pressure on Serbia.
DeleteIran Air and Qeshm will be fine. Mahan Air was affected because they are blacklisted by many countries and institutions for carrying weapons for 'terrorists.'
DeleteMy guess is that Mahan passengers will be moved to one of the other two airlines.
Btw Serbia will be unaffected by US sanctions on Iran as our economy isn't linked with the US one as is the German, British, Dutch, French...
The local currency has rapidly devalued as a result of the sanctions, which will be further strengthened in November. A domstic iranian flight 2 weeks ago cost a fifth of what it costs today. Demand is rapidly coming down. Same goes for Turkey.
DeleteYes but the thing is that both Turkey and Iran are doing something about it. India agreed to pay for the Iranian oil in Rupees. Turkey is moving away from the Dollar. Once both of these countries stabilize themselves they will be in an even better position than before.
DeleteAny news about BEG-INI flights? Is JU still interested?
ReplyDeleteWhy not? Makes perfect sense. We passed five million, six is just around the corner.
ReplyDelete6 million next year...Inšala :)
DeleteShame about LYKV. How much money is needed to bring it to commercial operation, without runway work?
ReplyDeleteThe initial plan was to open it in Q1 2018 but I guess the GoS was extremely busy with the BEG concession, so maybe Q1 2020?
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/10/serbia-sets-q1-2018-for-morava-airport.html
If they clean the terminal and prepare the runway, we may see the very first flights by March 2020.
What happened to the observation desk at BEG ? it was promised several times but so far nothing...any news?
ReplyDeleteKao i do sada. Bez obecane platforme za posmatranje aviona i aerodroma. Sada ostaje nada da ce mesto za posmatranje posetiocima i putnicima napraviti koncesionar VINCI Airports. Na kojem delu postojecih ili Treceg terminala, ostaje da se vidi. Siguran sam da necu zateci obecanu terasu. Jesenas kada sedamdeset deveti put budem sleteo iz Sidneja. Od iduceg meseca pocinje novo doba. Doba preobrazaja celokupne vazdusne luke Nikola Tesla Beograd. Veliko iscekivanje i velika nada. Za mene i vecinu koji posecujemo ovaj Srpski Ex YU forum.
DeleteHvala Anon 20:46, za retko u zadnje vreme, postavljeno pitanje:, "What happened to the observation desk at BEG''?.
Mnogo pozdrava iz Sidneja i uspeha i promena na bolje aerodromima Srbije i civilnoj avijaciji.
Rodney Marinkovic, Kings Park 2148 NSW Australia.