Iran Air to cancel Belgrade service


Iran Air will discontinue flights between Tehran and Belgrade at the end of the 2018 summer season on October 27 after Serbia reintroduced visas for Iranian nationals yesterday. The Iranian carrier initially scheduled two weekly flights between the two capital cities for the upcoming winter and put tickets on sale. However, Serbia, which was the only European country to allow visa-free entry for Iranian passport holders and was one of only a handful in the world, responded to European Union pressure after the system was abused by migrants trying to reach the bloc. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country is in talks with Serbian officials on Iranians' travel to Serbia but conceded that the system was abused. Based on reciprocity, Iran has also reintroduced visa requirements for Serbian citizens.

Iran Air maintained two weekly flights between the two cities throughout the summer with its Airbus A320 aircraft, and upped capacity during peak travel periods to its 260-seat twin-aisle Airbus A300-600 aircraft. The airline recently noted it would consider either adding extra frequencies to Belgrade in the future or introducing an additional service from a secondary Iranian city such as Isfahan or Shiraz, from which it saw potential for flights. The Iranian flag carrier resumed operations to Belgrade in early March following a 27-year hiatus. It was followed by Mahan Air and Qeshm Air, which also introduced services between the two cities, however, they have since been terminated.

More than 15.000 Iranians have visited Serbia since visas were abolished last August. However, some have moved on towards Western Europe rather than return home. Local media have said that the nonstop flights connecting Belgrade and Tehran have been coming in full but returning with fewer passengers. Officials noted that several hundred Iranians have also sought asylum in Serbia. Earlier this year, Belgrade Airport and Serbian immigration officers introduced an additional passport check for all passengers arriving on flights from Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa. Travellers flying to Belgrade  on Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Atlasglobal, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Tunis Air and Iran Air are required to immediately present their passports for inspection upon landing at the gate, after which their travel documents are checked again at passport control.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Expected.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:04

    What was the maximum number of weekly flights between Tehran and Belgrade this summer when all airlines are combined?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      7

      Iran Air - 2
      Qeshm Air - 2
      Mahan Air - 3

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:30

      Mahar Air used to fly 4 times weekly in August, days 1347, equipment 343, last flight carried out on Aug,23rd.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:18

      A340
      WOW!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:20

      Yep was a regular visitor
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umMaqiCvRug

      Delete
  3. Aэrologic09:05

    You might want to add Tunis Air to the list. My customers were held two hours at passport control last week despite a visa free and coming from affluential background.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      I just realized that Tunisians don't need visas for Serbia. Since when has this been the case?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:13

      It has been years. Since 2014.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:15

      Interesting. I think that's when they started year-round flights to BEG.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:19

      Gosh! Why would they hold Tunisian citizens? It is a stable country with living standards similar to our region.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:06

      @Anon 10:19- well in Germany for instance Tunisians comprise a sizeable portion of those seeking asylum there. Maybe via BEG is easier?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:08

      They suspended visas for Tunis 4 years ago and no one has complained. Get over yourself.

      BTW love the fact that most people who comment here are actually ex-Yu immigrants living abroad. Ironic.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:38

      Tunisians actually don't need visas since April 1966. It's an old agreement with Yugoslavia that is still in force.

      Delete
    8. Tunizanima od 1966 nije potrebna viza za Jugoslaviju/Srbiju.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Unfortunate.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BA88809:07

    Its a sorry state of the World where human beings are not allowed to choose where they want to live and work.

    (Just saying. And applicable globally)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:29

      It would be a sorry state of the world where communities couldn't decide for themselves who could and who couldn't use their resources and reap the benefits of their members' work.

      (Just saying.)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      @BA888
      Can I come live in your house and bring my family along.
      Won't pay for anything of course, you will provide stuff.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:07

      Ove zemlje i te kako iskoristavaju resurse zemalja cijim stanovnicima brane dolazak.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:17

      I`m always amazed by the logic of our people. I`ve noticed total hostility towards Iranians, Syrians and all the refugees coming to Serbia, seeking asylum, trying to escape harsh realities of their lifes, seeking better future in the promised lands of the west. Our people treating them like they have plague, like they are not worthy of existence, like they are some pests that are soiling our beautiful Serbia. And all of that is happening while we are doing exactly the same and whining how we are not treated better in the EU and further on the west and wondering why is that. If someone should understand those people, to give them a chance, not to make their misery even worse, it should be us, because we are in the same boat (majority will disaprove this claiming it`s not the same but don`t be fooled, it is) and if for nothing else, just for some sense of solidarity.

      Delete
    5. Spale10:39

      Well said Anonymous 10:17
      Well said !

      Delete
    6. @anon 10:17! Very much true! +1

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:00

      @10:17 - That is especially case further North and West, Hungary has behaved quite badly towards migrants while Serbia was one of the more friendly countries.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:00

      At least when it comes to people.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:07

    Only one in Serbia who benefited from this circus were planespotters who had a chance to catch Iran Air's A300,A310,A320,A330 and Mahan's A340. Madness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:09

      Hotels/hostels too.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:21

      BEG as well as they paid full charges to fly in and fly out.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:09

    Now, if anything this was a political decision.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      Teheran was a pure political route, lets be realistic. Serbia tried to gain some money from tourism and business but the European Union won't allow this.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:20

      In what sense was this a political route? This was a purely commercial route as its main purpose was to deepen ties between Serbia and Iran. All airlines were after tourists and potential business passengers.

      If this was a political route then it would be flying with a loadfactor of some 20% and would receive massive subsidies to operate which was not the case here.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      I agree with Nemjee... this is far away from BEG-JFK route.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:37

      JFK is not a political route it's a vanity project.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:39

      @Anon 9.32, check the loads on BEG-JFK route. It was published in an article here in June I think. For a "political route" it seems many people are using it.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:17

      Any route that is not profitable could be political or subsided, there is no third option. You can belive in anything but fact is that BEG-JFK is not cancelled and still not profitable, reason?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous00:15

      Zasto onda ne ukinete OU kad stalno pravite gubitke na svim linijama?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:11

    How come they are able to maintain flights to some other European cities with visas but not to Belgrade?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:12

      Because the few other European cities they fly to have a huge Iranian diaspora. And even those cities are served at low frequency - once or twice per week.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:22

      There are people flying for business to Teheran. Plus huge diaspora with citizenship or permanent residenship in EU countries.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    Iran Air announced Budapest around the same time they launched Belgrade. Have these flights ever started?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee09:14

      Yes, summer seasonal flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      Thanks. Do you by any chance know how many flights per week and equipment? Finding this info on Iran AIr's website is difficult since they don't have an English version.

      Delete
    3. Nemjee09:18

      It was a one weekly flight operated with the A300-600.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:19

      Thanks. Maybe we see something similar to BEG next summer.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:21

      Nope. Those flights never started. They were planned once weekly with A30B until the end of October.

      Delete
    6. Nemjee09:29

      My bad, I don't follow BUD that closely so I didn't know they decided against those flights.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:12

    Serbia cannot chose to travel to free Europe as it was an agreement and then decide to abolish visas to 3rd countries if it wants to join the bloc by 2025.
    I think China will be next, as EU will put more pressure too.
    All EU nationals require a visa to China with the exception of some bigger Chinese cities where you are allowed to stay for 72 hours.
    Iran may be a nice country and worth visiting but at the end of the day, the current regime is quite extreme and it's not very wise to play with fire.
    Expected really.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nemjee09:17

      The Iranian regime is far less rigorous than the one in Saudi Arabia... you know, West's faithful ally.

      As for Serbia joining the EU, no one believes that story anymore so it's better for Serbia to keep on building its own independent visa policy. I mean that same EU didn't even bother to encourage the UK to remove visas for Serbian citizens.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:18

      Nemjee it is obvious that it was either return visas requirements for Iranians or Serbians having to require visas to the EU. And I'm sorry but between the two I choose the first. I don't have a foreign passport and I don't want to need a visa to enter 30 countries on my doorstep because of 15,000 Iranians.

      Delete
    3. Nemjee09:27

      You do realize that every time you land at either FRA or MUC (I don't know about other German airports) you are forced to present your passport at the gate? Meaning we get the same treatment as the 'risky' citizens from the 'Third World.'

      Why? Because of thousands of illegal immigrants from Rashka and Kosovo districts that overstay their welcome in Germany. Why do you think there was a Travel Service charter from Berlin the other day or why there are regular Bulgaria Air charters from DUS, STR... to BEG? They are not bringing in tourists but are rather sending back illegal immigrants back to Serbia.

      I noticed that even JU's LCA flight gets their passport checked at the gate in BEG. Probably because of the same reason.

      The Iranian question is only popular because Iran is unpopular. What we are discussing here has been going on for a while now. If you think your White Schengen is threatened then trust me, it won't be because of a few Iranians.

      Delete
    4. Aэrologic09:27

      The wisest solution would have been to sign a re-admission agreement.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:30

      Didn't Ljajic announce it months ago.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:31

      And you trust the government? They made so many announcements that never happened.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:49

      I’’m not saying EU wasn’’t threatening they are going to reintroduce visas for Serbian citizens, but with the support in Serbia for joining EU being below 50%, this would have pushed it off the cliff which would have been seen at the next elections. I am pretty pro-EU, but even I would be voting for non-EU political parties. You don’’t like us that much that you don’t want to allow us easy travel? Sure. It’’s not like Russians aren’’t doing their best to convert a ““humanitarian center”” 100 or so km from a US base into a full military base. Visa reintroduction would give them nice support in public for doing that. So no, the EU is smart enough not to go for the nuclear option. But they were definitely putting pressure on the government.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:15

      The EU will never sanction Serbia so easily. It is also of its benefit to integrate the entire Western Balkans in order to become even richer and stronger.
      Serbia is already enjoying a good reputation in the EU, so there is not need to ruin it simply because of 1 country.
      Better to have 6 weekly TBS, EVN, KBP or GYD instead of IKA. Just thinking.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:44

      @Nemjee17 October 2018 at 09:17

      UK and Ireland are out of the Schengen and have independent visa policy, UK will retain visa policy even if remains in the EU. The country has gone totally fascist on immigration and lifting the visa regime for any country in this climate is nearly impossible. Only the rich are allowed in, the poor people are looked on like a scourge.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:52

      Nemjee,

      Yes it is correct. It was the case with MUC and FRA but not always and the feeling was not nice.

      Now, it looks like they have more elegant solution. Last time i was flying BEG-FRA few days ago German police officer in the German police uniform (just with no gun) was checking the passengers who were boarding the plane at the gate in BEG.
      I must say it was strane seeing POLIZEI uniform in BEG.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:10

      I just flew out of Vienna, and they were checking all passports before boarding the plane, is this what you guys a referring to ? It was a 2nd check, you pass through the immigration and I was waiting for the transfer flight which was several hours late, and they still checked my passport at what was boarding pass area/gate area.

      Perhaps it is the new policy, tighten security ?
      I have Croatian and Dutch passports.

      Delete
    12. Rudiger15:19

      Hallo Nemje, can you back your claim of "thousands of illegal immigrants from Rashka and Kosovo districts that overstay their welcome in Germany," please?

      All Kosovan residents require a Schengen visa regardless of their passport, Serbian or Kosovan.

      Also, I am not familiar with Rashka. Where do you get such ideas about Rashka and Kosovo?

      Delete
    13. Anonymous16:59

      All Kosovan residents can take out a Serbian passport and can travel visa free. There is no Schengen visa requirement. So Rudiger, I don't know what you are on about. The number of people from Kosovo acquiring Serbian citizenship and passports has grown rapidly.

      http://rs.n1info.com/a391454/Vesti/Mladi-s-Kosova-uzimaju-srpski-pasos-za-putovanje-ili-azil.html

      Delete
    14. Anonymous17:03

      Right Nemje, Serbs are not overstaying at all, must be all other "equally" treated citizens of Serbia. Your claim on illegal immigrants from Sandzak and Kosovo (not to mentioned those from KS have different RS passports) is purely result of your nationalist view. Such a disappointment from you my friend.

      100,000 ppl leave Serbia every year, they must all be Serbian minorities overstaying abroad? lol

      Delete
    15. Anonymous17:46

      I know of two Serbian girls, who are overstaying in Germany, they laugh it up, they both work for a fast food place down the road from my house. They initially arrived on tourist travel visa, and tried to get a job and sponsorship to stay, but since have overstayed a fair bit, knew them for past 6 months, they probably arrived in mid-2017.

      So its not only minorities from Serbia that overstay, can be anyone.

      Delete
    16. Nemjee18:03

      Like it or not, it's a fact that Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija as well as from Bujanovac and Presevo are leaving in large numbers once they get the Serbian passport. We had this discussion some years ago when there was that exodus of people from K&M. The EU and especially Germany were highly irritated by Belgrade's reluctance to do something about it.

      Of course Serbs leave but I know for a fact that on those charter flights to Belgrade, most of the passengers are not your 'ethnic' Serbs but rather gypsies and Albanians. Same with those flights to Skopje.

      As for those who leave, don't forget all those Hungarians from the north who left. The area between Kanjiza, Kikinda and Zrenjanin has become almost complete deserted.

      Obviously everyone leaves but I guess some get caught more easily than some others. ;)

      FYI Serbs are once again emigrating in very large numbers to the US (especially New York and Chicago). Most of them go to study and then end up staying.

      Delete
    17. Anonymous18:16

      Many of the Albanians are returned directly to PRN. Lots of Bulgaria Air and Travel Service charters there as well.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous18:45

      I remember when the EU wanted to introduce visas for Serbia because of immigrants.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous20:00

      Visas for Serbian citizens would have stopped Iranians how? It's nonsense coming from EU bureaucracy where they don't know what they are doing. Serbia was not allowed to develop its tourism sector by the EU and that's it. That's the only reason, not the supposed illegals. The number of Iranian illegals is first of all so small, it's like the number that arrives daily through Greece and Bulgaria to the EU, second of all EU and Serbia have a readmission agreement which applies to third country nationals as well, so they can return all of them Iranians to Serbia immediately.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:15

    This reminds me of the same thing that happened around 2001 when JAT was forced to suspend flights to Beijing. Basically EU pressured Yugoslavia about visas for Chinese which were mostly using the JAT's flights to go onwards to EU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same as iranians do.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:33

      You mean like so many Yugoslavs did some 20 years ago?

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:23

    With the new very strict sanctions about to go in place in Iran and the worsening economic situation there, it seems Iran Air's network will continue to shrink. And there was so much optimism about this airline just a year ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      Unfortunate. After fleet modernisation I really think they could have become a force in the Middle East region because unlike most airlines there, they have a huge home market and a massive diaspora to count on.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:25

    Exactly the same thing happened in Indonesia

    "Indonesia will stop issuing visas on arrival to Iranians because a growing number of them have been smuggling drugs or are passing through Indonesia before seeking asylum in Australia."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      lol every region has its own big brother :D

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:17

      Persijska carstva su medju najstarijima na svetu tesko ce ih se Ameri otresti i jos im je glavni grad na zapadu LA.
      Jasno je da nas DB nista ne radi samo stampaju zutu stampu. Da si im zalepio pratioce odustali bi brzo i imali bi smo vezu sa Iranom dva puta nedeljno. Sedam puta je zaista previse. Dobar deo Iranaca koje sam ja video su normalni gradjani, ali ima i deo koji je otisao preko Dunava za Hrvatsku i dalje. Dzaba se Maja oblacila kao nindza kornjaca.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:19

      Ali nindza kornjaca :-)
      Jos se smejem!

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:27

    Great news for Turkish Airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:32

      Not really. They are already operating at full capacity. This is probably great news for Qatar which I think flies empty or half empty from Serbia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      Why? Travel will be minimal between these two countries like before. It will be mostly people from Serbia traveling to Iran to visit as was the case before visa abolishment and they all kept using TK and other alternatives since there were never tickets available on Iran Air and when they were they were ridiculously expensive from Belgrade.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:36

      @ 9.32 Qatar flies half empty to 70% of their destinations trust me but I have flown with them a fare bit on route KWI-DOH-BEG this year and BEG was full each time but only in economy. I will do a trip report soon :)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:51

      Please do! Sounds like a fun one.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:58

      Expected and a fair decision. Belgrade was milking Iran for a year, it was good while it lasted.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:29

      Still DOH-BEG will be again operated with A320, instead of A321...seems not full all the time.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:30

      No, that's only for a month from 28 OCT to 30 NOV. Then it goes back to A321 daily.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:43

      It's odd that both SKP (reduced from 4 to 3 weekly) and BEG (reduced capacity from 321 to 320) didn't perform so well with QR compared to the rest.
      ZAG seems to be really successful. SOF also maintains 11 weekly this winter.
      SKG 4 weekly
      OTP 2 daily

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:45

      А321 to BEG returns at the end of November.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:45

      None of those destinations have Etihad though.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:46

      Skopje is reduced for entire winter season. A320 will be flying to Belgrade for one month this winter compared to the other 4 when it is an A321. There is a big difference in your comparison.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous10:51

      Yes, but it surprises me that BEG is downsized. Seems not much demand.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous10:53

      And Etihad adds an extra daily flight. Probably because of "not much demand" to you.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous11:07

      Same with Aeroflot, they probably don't know where to send its planes so they are adding another flight just for fun.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous11:19

      SU are adding flights to all the Balkan region this winter:
      Daily Ljubljana, Daily Zagrab, 2nd daily Sofia, 3 weekly Bourgas

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2018/08/aeroflot-expands-operations-across.html

      But we are talking about Middle East

      The Iranian carriers will soon stop flying to Belgrade because of the visas.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous11:23

      And out of all those Aeroflot will have 3 daily flights only to BEG. And out of all those Belgrade will have 33 weekly flights to Moscow this winter. Yes, we are aware that one airline will stop flying because of visas. So?

      Delete
    17. Anonymous11:51

      Less airlines = less growth.

      Delete
    18. Anonymous11:53

      Of course. Ignore the fact by how many airlines are increasing their flights to Belgrade. But hey, there is always room to hope for the worst.

      Delete
    19. Anonymous12:14

      Yes, but still far, far away from 6 million. Remember that last month the growth was below 2%.

      Delete
    20. Anonymous13:20

      It was never planned BEG to reach 6 million.
      The estimations was UP TO 6 million, but realistically it means 5,7-5,8 million

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:50

    How will this affect BEG airport numbers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      Not much.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      Well from August to August there were 15,000 passengers. Let's say there were 5,000 less that returned it means that BEG had around 25,000 passengers from August to August from Iran.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous10:15

    Was expecting this since visa decision was announced last week.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous10:15

    For spotters, last flight operating 27th October.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous10:32

    Significant middle east reductions to BEG. All Iranian carriers will stop operating, QR is going to fly with A320 again, FZ reduces to 5pw, only EY will increase to 2daily in short operating period.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:34

      Maybe you should read more carefully. The Qatar A320 is operating a grand total of 1 month. If EY's 2nd daily is "short operating period" to you, then I don't know what you would call Qatar's A320 operations. Also FYI, not a single Iranian carrier flew to Belgrade last winter season. Just some facts before you pop the champagne.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:36

      I did not said anything about winter operations, in global it is reductions. Actually, I dont care about somne BEG flights, just reading articles on this blog and comment it, I belive it is still for free.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:37

      I'm just correcting the wrong information you gave nothing more.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:38

      The Belgrade-Middle East market has reached its limits now and it was expected. If they are downsizing DOH from 321 to 320 this means that the chances of receiving a double daily flight are quite minimal :(
      I think the market is really saturated now.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:45

      Haha love how everyone is ignoring the fact that A321 will be operating for QR 4 out of 5 months this winter. But doesn't matter haha. Then again you have that "short operational period" where EY flies double daily to Belgrade compared to the "long operational period" of QR flying A320 compared to A321 lol.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:46

      A321 returns at the end of November, A320 operates for about a month.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:50

      yes, but a lot of iranians where flying on TK and QR or PGT where there will be less demand now.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:08

      Those empty seats will be compensated by Chinese and others.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:31

      It is very interrogative if QR will use A321 this winter, if is not used at the moment. Generally I belive they put A321 seats on sale year round, but if plane is not full there is no reason to send A321 instead of A320. Few months ago, all flights in system (including this months) were A321, but they replaced with A320, obviously because flights was not full. And the question is, why do you think that winter flights will have better bookings than flights in October?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous12:35

      "Interrogative" WTF?! "if is not used at the moment" - A321 is used daily to Belgrade at the moment.

      Because from November travel from Australian diaspora begins and lasts until February. They start returning home in February and March because summer holidays in Australia (including kids school holidays) are in that period and that's when most Australian Serbs visit their homeland. That's why.

      I suggest you check some things before commenting.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous12:59

      The same who see QR downsize from A321 to A320 for only one month are those who do not want to see that EK downsized ZAG for 4 months. They call it "improvement" as FZ will be flying there daily :-)

      Delete
  19. Anonymous11:01

    The only reason Iranians were coming to Serbia was because of the visa-free regime. Once it is gone the most natural thing happened - they are stopping flights. You can't compare Belgrade to Paris, Frankfurt or London. So, the most natural thing is happening. Qatar Airways won't benefit from it like some people are saying because there won't be almost no Iranians coming to Serbia. And I remember how people here were cheering and explaining how great touristic city is Belgrade because of the Iranians. And I don't want to say I told you so...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:04

      Everyone was aware they were visiting Belgrade because of visa free regime. I don't know who was cheering or explaining to you "how great touristic city" it is. It IS a great city though. Maybe you should visit some time. It would be a great way to get rid of your prejudices.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:57

      I've been to Belgrade many times. It is a nice city and I like it and enjoy it. I'm just saying that it isn't a great touristic city and it can't be compared to Dubrovnik, Budapest or Thessaloniki as tourist destination. No hard feelings!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:03

      I still don't understand your point other then to bash Belgrade. Iran Air does not fly to any destination in Europe for "touristic" purposes. They fly only to Iranian diaspora centres in Europe with low 2 weekly frequencies. Of course visa abolishment spurred tourist travel - that's usually the point. And when there is only tourist travel to rely on (no diaspora, no business links) and visas are introduced there won't be flights. So still don't understand your point.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:49

      Thessaloniki, seriously? Don't get me wrong, I love visiting SKG, but come on. Unless it's a starting point for some beach hopping further south...

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:56

      SKG is the second biggest airport in the Balkans, mòmče if we exclude OTP and IST.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_the_Balkans

      It is the gateway to nothern Greece and Greek Macedonia as well as Chalkidiki and all the nothern coast. It is also an economic, touristic and cultural centre.

      QR now fly to SKG too and since Fraport is here, things look to have taken a nice stir.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous16:22

      Well INI is the busiest in the Balkans if we exclude all those who are ahead of it. Your comment makes little sense.

      SKG might be busy but that's more because it's the entry point to the whole region. The city itself is nothing special, it's nice but it's less attractive than BEG.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous11:07

    So it was all about visa and refugees. If not they should stay with one flight with narrow body instead of wide body

    Serbia must know that if they want to become part of European union they can not have "their own policy". Sorry, but if you want to become part of that big organization, with half of billion residents, you can not act on your own but you must follow one unify policy. So, you can choose eider your policy or not to become member of EU.

    Croatia was also not happy to introduce visa to Russia, but did it in second to become member. That cuts 45% of Russian tourists. But no one here cry about it concerning fact that we become full member.

    Same thing should be forced with China and announcement to cut visa to India. If you enter EU, you will be forced to introduce visa to Russia and Turky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:13

      Who is "crying" here? Difference of opinions in the European Union are accepted and endorsed. You should know that right? It's not called crying if one or two people here don't agree with your opinion. It's called freedom of expression. You should scrub up your knowledge on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:20

      Chinese numbers are booming in Serbia because of VISA-free regime as well, so what?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:24

      Visas are generally abolished to spur tourism. So I don't understand why you are shocked at this revelation anon 11.07.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:07

      How is it possible that Ireland has their own visa policy? And at the same time they are the member of, how you call it, "big organization" , but despite it they introduce visas to whoever they think they should and abolishing visas no matter what kind of visa policy EU has towards certain countries (ex. South Africa)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:08

      Sure they are, but for sure politician who decide that in Serbia knew that refuges will abuse that. Responsible politician should predict that and should not decide on that way.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous14:19

      You are mixing up some stuff here.

      As much as the "EU" does not equal the "Euro-zone", it also does not equal the "Schengen" area. Those are three different organizations.

      Ireland is part of EU but not of Schengen.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:44

      @Anon 14:19
      Sorry, but I think you are mixing up something.

      It is correct that EU does not mean Schengen. So, Ireland is in EU but not in the Schengen and they can decide what kind of visa policy they are going to have regardless of EU rules.

      Why can't it be applied to Croatia? Croatia is in EU, Croatia is not in Schengen but Croatia had to introduce visa regime with Russia and Turkey although it was directly against Croatian interest regarding to the tourism.

      So please let me know how is it possible that Ireland that is out of Schengen area can keep visa free regime with South Africa where at the same time rest of EU keeps visa regime with that country and Croatia, that is also not in Schengen, cannot keep visa free regime with Russia and Turkey?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous18:40

      Because in contrast to Ireland, Croatia is trying to become a Schengen zone member so they have to oblige already to a number of Schengen rules and restrictions.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous20:56

      Sure.

      Similiar like Romania or Bulgaria for 10 years already.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous13:06

    It will be a tricky winter for Belgrade.
    2 Irani carriers leaving for good, Wizz Air reducing LCA and LTN down to 2 weekly, Qatari temporary capacity downgrade, Air Serbia leaving HAM for good.
    The only serious compensation is Aeroflot for the time being.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:10

      I LOVE how you include Qatar Airways flying with A320 and not A321 for one month (ONE MONTH) but exclude that Etihad will be flying double daily for a month. I love how you exclude that Air Serbia will be flying to Larnaca instead of Wizz Air. I love how you exclude Air Serbia flying to Zurich with an extra 3 weekly flights which will more then replace a month of flights to Hamburg last winter. I love how you forget that easy jet is flying an additional two routes, how AlMasria is introducing winter flights (two per week), how Belavia, TAROM, Austrian Airlines, Aeroflot, LOT, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Transavia are all operating additional frequencies this winter. But keep hoping for that tricky winter.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:13

      W6 does not reduce LTN to 2 weekly. Wrong information
      Qatar was not flying last winter with A321 so it could downgrade it. Actually it will upgrade for all remaining winter months to A321
      You intentionally keep forgeting that U2 introduced year round flights from BSL and TXL this winter. They do not fly to BEG seasonally as it is the case in the neighbourhood.
      Air Serbia increasing ZRH
      We have also Red Wings who will be flying to BEG with A321
      But from all those you see only Aeroflot. Congratulations

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:24

      Dont feed the troll

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:14

      It's easier picking the crumbs of the cake rather than taking the whole piece it. All those "additions" are simply a compensation of JU's growth last year. So the overall effect is still 1.8% growth.
      Lets hope we see Iran Air soon in Belgrade.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous15:15

      LOL you should have come up with something better. Pathetic troll.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous15:24

      This is not the first time we see massive carrier cuts. There was an era where 10 airlines arrived to BEG and 2 winters later they left.
      Air Baltic, TAP, Aerosvit, Air France, British Airways, CSA, and well now 3 Iranian carriers.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous15:43

      It's only a massive carrier cut in your head. Also what you wrote is completely false. BA, Air France flew for 9 years before they cut Belgrade, not two winters. If you want to claim you know something about BEG, I suggest you do some research.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous16:20

      BEG must be a unique airport which has so many cuts yet such growth. Something doesn't add up here.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous16:53

      You mean 1,8% growth in a busy September month?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous16:55

      I don't see the need for your concern. If you are correct as you claim, then you will be able to celebrate. So why the worry?

      Delete
    11. Anonymous17:03

      There is no worry. Facts and numbers speak for themselves. But cheer up, because Vinci is here to save the day and the 1,8 will definitely jump to 18% ;)

      Delete
    12. Anonymous17:17

      Since you are into facts and figures, how many passengers did Belgarde Airport add compared to last year? I will give you a hint. It's over 250,000 passengers.

      But anyway there is no point arguing. For the sake of your well being, they plan to padlock the airport tomorrow after they realised they would have no traffic this winter. Pop the champagne.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous17:36

      It's going to be a tough winter for the entire Balkan region. Wizz stagnations, service reductions, INI and SKP reductions.
      The oil prices increasing, more bankrupts expected.

      As for poor Teheran, AZ is also reducing its frequency and sending a small 320.

      The sanctions hit Iran very badly and Belgrade was a victim of an unfair, political Western decision.

      I am not sure if we will see Iran Air anytime soon not to mention those A340s.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous20:20

      Tako je, BEG je dodao 250 hiljada ove godine sto je vise nego sto je dodao sledeci po velicini u regionu. Razmak se povecava u 2018 kao sto se povecao u 2017. Istina boli.

      Delete
    15. Dakle, Srbija je dodala nekih 350 000 putnika vise u odnosu na proslu....sto bi bilo, otprilike, 2.5 puta manje nego prvi 'konkurent'......da, apsolutna istina bas jako boli.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous20:54

      Prvi "konkurent" zaostaje bar 2 kruga tako da je trka krajnje dosadna i predvidiva

      Delete
    17. Taktika 'kroz box' mozda moze pomoci.....

      Delete
    18. Anonymous21:33

      Београд конкурише са Загребом док остатак Хравтске треба да се утркује са Варном, Бургасом, Солуном, Аликантеом, Венецијом... и осталим обалско-туристичким аеродромима.

      А што се Хрватске тиче, последице повратка Турске и Египта се већ одражавају, почев од Задра.

      Delete
    19. Jemas prav....1 000 000 putnika vise nego prosle godine.....da, itekako los rezultat

      Delete
    20. Anonymous22:11

      Упоредимо те ваше аеродроме са Бурарима.

      Бургас је у првих девет месеци послужио 3.2 милиона путника што је 9.1% више. Варна је имала 2.06 милиона или 18% више. Дакле друже ви сте на нивоу бугарског туризма. Имате још доста да дрљате да би стигли Грчку. Тако да су ти резултати о којима причаш тек ок.

      Delete
    21. Anonymous22:38

      And don't forget that Bulgaria isn't as famous as Croatia. I can imagine their numbers in a few years!!

      Delete
  22. Anonymous17:57

    Before they leave Belgrade airport they reach an agreement for wet lease of one Boeing aircraft of serbian Aviolet airline and four MD-83 aircraft are available for ACMI wet lease from Bulgaria destined for Iran air domestic use.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous19:55

    Despite the fact that visas are being reintroduced, JU should now really consider starting flights to Tehran in order to attract transfer passengers. It is still possible to charge premium prices there as offer is limited.

    ReplyDelete