easyJet to consider Belgrade expansion

Low cost carrier easyJet has said it will consider introducing additional new services from Belgrade as it prepares to launch its third year-round route to the Serbian capital later this week. The airline noted its decision will be made after it reviews the performance of its new flights from Basel and Berlin. "Since 2014 we have only been flying between Geneva and Belgrade while in 2018 we are introducing two new routes. Therefore, our number of flights to Belgrade has tripled. For starters, we hope that the average cabin load factor on these new routes will be the same as from Geneva, which is 90%. After we achieve this goal, we will consider introducing new routes", easyJet's Head of Marketing for Central Europe, Silvia Herrero, said.

Ms 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. The low cost airline previously operated flights from both Rome and Milan to Belgrade, however, both were suspended due to poor demand. Low cost carriers have had little success on flights between Serbia and Italy, with Wizz Air previously cancelling its Belgrade - Rome service, while Air One, which has since merged with Alitalia, discontinued its short-lived Milan - Belgrade flights.

France's VINCI, which is set to take over Belgrade Airport in the coming months, has a close working relationship with easyJet. The concession company notes that developing traffic is primarily a question of partnerships with the airlines. "Aviation marketing, a crucial tool for traffic development, is one of the keys to VINCI Airports' success. The international network of head office experts and local development teams work in close collaboration with more than 250 airline partners to identify potential new routes and encourage sustainable growth of traffic", the company said. It noted, "Forging good relations with the airline companies, based on trust and credibility, is one of the keys to success. VINCI Airports understands their needs and perspectives and provides data, forecasts and analysis to let them make enlightened decisions. VINCI Airports teams work tirelessly to encourage airlines to open up new routes and works with local economic stakeholders and travel companies to guarantee their success".