Air Serbia to grow fleet by 20%


Air Serbia's CEO, Duncan Naysmith, has said the carrier will operate four additional aircraft in its fleet during the peak summer period when compared to last year, representing an increase of 20%. So far, the airline has wet-leased an Etihad Airways Airbus A320 jet and has talekn delivery of an A319 aircraft from the Irish leasing company Avalon. A wet-leased Nordica CRJ900 jet is to join the fleet next week, while details of the fourth aircraft mentioned by the CEO are currently unknown. The fleet growth comes as the airline prepares for its biggest expansion to date, which will include the introduction of 21 new routes this summer season.

Speaking at an event in Belgrade last evening to mark the airline's network expansion, Mr Naysmith said, "What an exciting time for Air Serbia. In just a few days we will embark on exciting roadmap. In the first half of June we will launch nine new routes from our capital Belgrade and serve 48 destinations worldwide. In the second half of July and the first week of August we will serve an additional twelve routes from Niš. When that is completed, Air Serbia will serve sixty destinations in 32 countries and that's exciting". He added, "Our plans don't stop there. This summer we will launch over 1.000 charter flights, dedicated to the Serbian public for their vacations. To bring that into context, during the summer period we will have an additional four aircraft in the air, which is a 20% increase on last year. Most airlines in this day and age launch four to five new destinations. But our hard work is just beginning. We have to make sure we live up to our expectations".


In the lead-up to the launch of its new services, Air Serbia has expanded its codeshare partnerships with several airlines including airBaltic and Air Europa, as previously reported. Starting this week, the airline has also expanded its codeshare agreement with Atlasglobal. The Turkish carrier will now add its designator code and flights numbers onto Air Serbia's operations from Belgrade to Berlin, Kiev (starting June 4), Sofia and Zurich. The codeshare already covers routes from the Serbian capital to Tirana, Skopje, Podgorica, Prague, Sarajevo, Tivat and Vienna.




Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Over 1000 charter flights! :o

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      That's where the money is made :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      Well of course 1000+ when CAA did work for them to block many Egyptian carriers from increasing frequencies.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:34

      And all of these charters with just 3 Boeings?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:28

      Last year they were also using an Airbus for charters.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:46

      In June most charters will have been operated by A319 since second and third B733 won't enter into service before July,1st.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    They finally came to their senses and realized they needed extra aircraft since their timetable was way too ambitious! Especially since they have fewer 733s than last year. Good thing is that this bird will probably stay the whole time.

    Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if the fourth aircraft joining the fleet is an Atr.

    JU is now the third strongest player in the Balkans after Turkish Airlines and Aegean. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:29

      It's good news because we will probably avoid any operational issues, unlike for example what happened with Adria last summer when they introduced 8 new routes.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    Fourth plane for charters I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    With so many new arrivals has BEG started experiencing some gate restrictions?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      I was looking at this morning departures and it's getting quite tight.

      A1- 06.40 AMS JU
      A2- 06.40 CDG JU
      A3- 07.10 MXP JU
      A4- 06.15 FRA LH
      A5- 07.40 ZAG JU
      A6- 06.30 MUC LH
      A7-
      A8- 06.10 NYO W6
      A9- 06.30 BVA W6
      A10-

      C1- 06.35 CPH JU
      C2- 07.10 TXL JU
      C3- 07.20 ZRH JU
      C4- 06.55 VIE JU
      C5- 07.00 FCO JU
      C6- 06.30 LED JU
      C7-

      A4a- 06.55 TGD JU
      A4b-

      So this morning there were only 4 free gates. It's getting tighter and this summer with morning charters there might be a lot of congestion.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:24

      They can put charters on B apron. Passengers can be bussed to there. Still better than using gate A10 haha

      Delete
    3. Nemjee09:26

      Boarding anything larger than an Atr from A10 should be considered a human rights violation!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:28

      And yet they still put A320s on A10 in summer. Something should be done about that gate ASAP.

      Delete
    5. Nemjee09:37

      I think boarding a bus is ok as there is more time so they don't have to put everyone in that tiny space past the security control. However this becomes difficult when it's an actual aircraft parked there.
      By the way, another fantastic gate is A6 (or A7) which was 'renovated' and all the windows were removed. Once inside it feels as if you entered a WW2 bunker.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:46

      It's not even busy summer season so BEG is already close to capacity in the morning. JU adds another A319 this summer plus CRJ and there are no more free gates.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:02

      I remember in 2006 the CRJ was constantly on B platform. I don't think they ever used the gate. Don't know why.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:16

      You mean 2016? Right? Probably because all airbridges were used up?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:18

      Oops yes meant 2016

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:42

      It wasn't because of space because I remember there was available gate space when it was on the ground. Not sure what the reason was. I remember people here also commented on that back then. Interestingly they also never put it on C platform either.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous16:23

      I am looking at the afternoon wave and gates are worse between 17.00 and 18.30.

      A1- 17.30 FRA JU
      A2- 17.05 TLV 6H/ 18.40 FCO AZ
      A3- 18.00 DUS JU
      A4- 18.35 TGD YM
      A5- 17.00 MUC LH
      A6- 17.05 WAW LO/ 18.30 MMX W6
      A7- 16.45 LTN W6
      A8-
      A9- 17.55 PRG JU
      A10-

      C1- 18.00 ZRH JU
      C2- 17.05 SVO JU/ 18.50 ATH A3
      C3- 17.05 CDG JU
      C4- 18.30 VIE JU
      C5- 17.00 ARN JU
      C6- 17.00 TIV JU / 18.25 VIE OS
      C7-

      A4a- 18.20 LJU JU
      A4b- 18.30 ZAG JU

      It seems afternoon is already becoming difficult with some gates being used twice in 90 minutes. With passenger numbers growing its time for that expansion to take place.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous16:52

      They did not use A10 and C7 the whole day, is something wrong with them?

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    Is there no codeshare with KK to JFK?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      They got approval from FAA but codes were never added. Route is codeshares by Etihad and Montenegro Airlines.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:06

    Who would have thought just a year ago that an expansion of such proportions would take place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      True. A year ago they were shrinking like there was no tomorrow.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:06

    So that means they will have 24 or 25 planes this summer in total?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      It depends how many 737s were operational last summer. Not sure if it was 3 or 4.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:26

      I believe they retired a B737 before last summer.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:07

    A Kanada i Kina? Ajmo to malo brze.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      Ljudima nikada ugoditi ...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:29

      Biće :)

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:08

    Why isn't Aviolet getting any wide-body? 767 would be a perfect aircraft.
    There can be a demand for long-haul leisure. Bangkok, Phuket, Bali, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      They already said about year or two ago that i would be unprofitable and that the only long haul exotic destination that could work is Thailand.
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2017/04/air-serbia-mulls-future-of-aviolet.html

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:09

    Great to see this development. Really happy about JU. Don't want to be hater here but when do they publish financial results?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      Late June/early July

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:43

      It will be a profit. Just a matter of seeing how big
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/04/air-serbia-expected-to-post-2018-profit.html

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:09

      It will be a profit. Just a matter of seeing how big of a state subsidy will be necessary to generate profit.

      FTFY

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:38

      lol :D

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:11

    All this expansion must come at a cost. Where are they getting all the money?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:22

      Operational profit+government subsidies+Airbus deposit.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      Serbian taxpayer is very generous

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:44

      The money invested by taxpayers is worth it as such an expansion increases tourism, income, employment.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:47

      Is this expansion paid by the Serbian Tax Payer? How much is a person charged?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:53

      On a serious note I do wonder if the government is covering the lease of an additional plane which will be based in Nis?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:55

      No. At least not officially.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:02

      Should be noted that they are getting incentives from many airports they will start flights to this year.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:17

      So what? Other ex-YU carriers can get them as well yet they do nothing about it.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:19

      I didn't say it is a problem. Any airline can get them. Many airports offer incentives for new routes. I'm sure Rijeka will be covering any losses for winter ops in the first year for example.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:21

    Would be good if they lease a 737.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:26

    Fantastic summer for JU.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:28

    Fourth aircraft is a mystery. Is it just a mistake? Or could it be another aircraft is going to join soon? Could it be for Kraljevo Morava airport? Or could it be a second A330 for long haul expansion?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:34

      It could be that they wet lease some equipment in July and August for charters.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:36

    Shame that Etihad A320 isn't being used on other routes other than LHR. Here is a pic someone posted from yesterday's LHR flight. Best cabin for Air Serbia operated flights
    https://scontent-sof1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/61364149_860719064266026_4726351131150647296_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ht=scontent-sof1-1.xx&oh=f0b08959d81e502de1d2c9af1e8090ee&oe=5D9A1C70

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:38

      It's nice that they have made the PTVs operational for passengers. If I was flying from London I would definitely choose those new afternoon flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:47

      I think they will since they have not enough planes. It will probably fly on some morning flight.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:49

      @9.38 especially if you are flying business class.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:43

      Is there a price difference between the two flights?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:47

      No I just looked at their website and the prices are identical.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:13

      Nice. I would definitely go for the afternoon then. Timing is more convinient if you are working too.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous14:08

      Return is even better since you have the whole day in London.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:37

    "Most airlines in this day and age launch four to five new destinations"

    There is a reason for that...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:30

      I also think they are growing way too fast all of a sudden. We will see how many routes are sustained next summer.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL00:32

      I dont think its too fast. Air Serbia's first expansion was with alot of destinations going daily, some double daily.

      Launched:
      Abu Dhabi, Banja Luka, Beirut, Bucharest, Budapest, Hamburg, Istanbul, Kyiv, Ljubljana, New York, Ohrid, Prague, Sofia, St Petersburg, Tirana, Varna, Venice, Warsaw, Zagreb

      Cancelled:
      Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Istanbul, Ohrid, Varna, Warsaw

      JU is opening the new destinations 2-3 times weekly which is what most airlines do (for example A3, TK) before slowly increasing.

      Of the new destinations, I think HEL will be the weakest.

      Delete
    3. Nemjee08:07

      Nope. HEL is performing quite nicely actually. Mostly connections to Greece and Croatia.

      Delete
    4. JATBEGMEL09:00

      What a surprise. Thanks for the correction :)

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:46

    When will YU-APK enter service?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:49

      I assume next week.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:50

    Anyone know which A319 will be based in Nis?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      YU-APD.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:24

      So Goran Bregovic is coming to Nis. Thanks.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:54

    Which of the 9 new routes from Belgrade is performing best?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      BCN.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:56

      From what I've heard its Barcelona, Madrid and Krasnodar. But I have no evidence of this. Just rekla kazala.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:58

      It seems to be Barcelona because they have increased capacity to A320 on this route.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:46

      And ironically it is the only new destination where they have direct competition.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:01

    Information that would be interesting to know is which new route is performing best from Nis :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      That would be interesting. I fear that there will be very few passengers on these flights, mostly thanks to the choice of destinations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      Well for those sort of fares what kind of destinations did you expect. They certainly can't fly to CDG by selling 50 euros tickets.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:09

      The success of those Nis flights really depends on whether they manage to attract passengers from neighboring countries as well.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:17

      Salzburg will probably be popular with the diaspora. Rome too.

      Delete
    5. Niko11:47

      Gothenburg will be popular aswell!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:00

      True. Forgot about GOT.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous18:17

      Most of the routes could and would work better if a proper promotion would be done. E.g. in Salzburg there is no visible sign or any kind of marketing for promoting Air Serbia Nis flights.

      Delete
  21. Is Air Serbia's A330 only operational 3 times a week? Why doesn't Air Serbia use the plane for a different destination when it is not flying to New York? (Doesn't even have to be outside Europe, fly it to London and stop wet leasing the Etihad A320)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:16

      It is operational 6 times per week during summer

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:25

      The costs associated with flying such a large aircraft on short routes is too big.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:48

      Flying A330 to London would NOT be profitable.

      Delete
    4. JATBEGMEL00:47

      1. Currently, JU is flying 4 pw to JFK. Next week it should be 5 pw and mid June 6pw.

      2. Rotation is about 22 hours from leaving BEG until it returns. There is no room for another rotation except sundays.

      3. JU didnt have to launch extra flights to LHR if it didnt benefit them. It is EY that needs JU to use the slots, not the other way around. Sending an A330 to a destination that will never fill is expensive.

      Delete
    5. Nemjee08:11

      JU needed extra flights to London so it's a win-win situation. From what I remember, average yearly LF to LHR last year was around 86%. Can't remember now, I posted their numbers some months ago. There was definitely a need to add more seats. After all, Wizz is doing it from Luton so the market must be quite large. After all, if they can sustain 10 weekly to AMS then I am sure they can sustain 14 to London.

      Delete
  22. Anonymous10:31

    How many additional passengers can we expect them to handle this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:45

      Not sure because first quarter was very poor.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:13

      I think they could add half a million passengers from all new routes.

      Delete
    3. They have around 60 new departures added half way in the year. If they operate full they could generate up to 300000 passengers

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:44

    It's great that they have included a lot of the new destinations into their codeshare agreements. The domestic codeshares from Madrid and Barcelona on Air Europa will come in handy for many.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous11:26

    Budapest route should be cut.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:31

      Why? Do you have any advanced booking data?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:12

      Many people said that too when Wizz introduced subsidized flights to Pristina, Skopje, Podgorica...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:41

      I wouldn't care if Hungary was subsidizing it, but why Serbia?

      Delete
  25. Anonymous12:16

    I really hope that these 9 new routes can be sustained. I'm wondering how Cairo is performing and whether it will have the same faith as Beirut, as in handle a lot of transfer passengers.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous12:48

    Purger said it would be one 737 leased for Aviolet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:58

      That would be most logical.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL23:37

      Most logical would be A319/320.

      I dont think the B737 Classics and NG are compatible meaning additional costs. Since the B733 will have to be retired eventually, talk is next year, it is better to keep as much as possible to one type.

      Adding more A320 family would make rotating the aircraft between charters and scheduled routes easier, maintaining a consistent product.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous13:15

    Does anyone know which Nordica aircraft will be coming? The registration?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:48

      CRJ 900 I assume from previous announcements

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:08

      Sorry I wasn't clear I meant which registration. I know it will be the 900. :)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:37

      I think it arrives on the 1st of June.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:13

      Anon 13.15
      ES-ACL

      Delete
  28. Anonymous14:38

    21 new destinations and 1000+ charters is quite an achievement. Congratulations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:57

      Air Serbia growth is also pushing Belgrade airport numbers up. Looking at fr24 data when BEG is clicked on, in the next 7 days BEG will have 605 departures to 73 airports. That is way more than this period of last year, and stands above other ex yu airports (for comparison, ZAG numbers at fr24 show 421 departures to 42 airports). There will be more destinations when peak charter season starts but numbers look promising on a way to reach 6 million passengers this year.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous21:57

    Samo da se ne obrukaju sa ostvarenjem tako ambicioznog reda letenja u smislu redovnosti jer im to nije jaca strana



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:55

      Mora da si se zadnji put vozio njima recimo 2012? Neuporedivo su bolji, poslednji rezultati od Januara su im bolji od recimo LH, SAS, LOT, Swiss, Finnaira,Turkisha itd

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:38

      Ne, nisi u pravu, letim njima 1-2 puta mesecno i ne znam kada sam sleteo u beg na vreme, u ostalom pogledaj sajt aerodroma danas i prebroj koliko letova sleti na vreme pa ce ti biti jasnije koliko su daleko od tacnosti. A sezona nije ni pocela...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous01:27

      Nemam sta ja da budem u pravu ili ne, postoje strane organizacije kao sto je OAG koje profesionalno rade svoj posao u odredjivanju OTP. Tvojih 1-2 letova mesecno je nedovoljno za reprezentativan uzorak. Vreme do 15 min kasnjenja se svima uzima kao normalno, tako da je Air Serbia ispred svih ovih poznatih avio kompanija, hteo ti to da prihvatis ili ne.

      Delete
    4. Evo pogledao sam jutros red poletanja i samo jedan let kasni . Vidim da si vrlo upućen i da " često letiš ' sa AS.

      Delete
    5. Nemjee08:14

      'koliko letova sleti na vreme'

      А гледамо само колико их слети на време или и колико их полети на време из Београда? ;)
      Питам пошто често авион оде на време из Београда али касни натраг због све већих гужви по страним аеродромима. ЈУ ту не може ништа и нису они криви. Већ када гледаш кашњења, погледај Луфтхансу.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:10

      HL i Nemjee posto ste tako defanzivno orijentisani po pitanju JU ajde uzmite recimo 3 top vazne destinacije za JU (FRA, AMS, SVO) pa pratite nedelju dana saobracaj ka tim gradovima iz i za Beg. FRA ne znam kada je krenuo na vreme i kad se vratio na vreme; prosecno 20-30 min kasni svaki dan. AMS u odlasku kasni svaki drugi dan (danas 35 min) a iz AMS vraca se stalno uglavnom sa zakasnjenjem. HL i DUS je danas kasnio u polazku. SVO stalno kasni u povratku ne zato sto je na aerodromu tolika guzva vec zato sto su sastavili red letenja da ce da okrenu avion za 50 minuta a to je mission impossible. Prosecno se krece sa JU iz SVO sa 30-50 min zakasnjenja SVAKI dan pa onda nadoknadi u letu jedno 10-15 min i tako u Beg stize prosecno sa 20-30 min kasnjenja .... GREAT OTP!

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:11

      Ne treba zaboraviti cinjenicu da u poslenje vreme sve vise dolazi do kasnjenja zbog zagusenja evropskog vazdusnog prostora. Jednostavno avion je spreman da krene ali mu ne daju dozvolu od Eurocontrol-a i mora da ceka nekad i do 1 sat kako bi mu dali dozvolu da poleti.
      To se cesce dogadja kad let izgubi svoj slot ali ne tako retko i kad je sve spremno na vreme ali jednostavno nema dozvole poletanja od Eurocontrol-a

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:15

      Nemjee pretpostavka je da ukoliko se avion vrati u Beograd na vreme da je iz njega i poleteo na vreme. Gledanjem vremena sletanja skracuje se proces "bistrenja literature na sajtu AB" . Vecina drugih kompanija isto koristi te aerodrome sa velikim guzvama a kad se gleda FR24 skoro svaki drugi JU let je oznacen kao "delayed" sto nije tako bas cest slucaj sa drugim kompanijama.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:54

      Letim bar jednom nedeljno iz Beograda (povratak iste nedelje), i moram da kažem da sam zadovoljan sa tačnošću. Jednom mi je večernji let iz Ljubljane kasnio više od pola sata ali to je zanemarljivo ako uzmem neki prosek za poslednjih šest meseci.

      S druge strane, poznanica je veoma nezadovoljna Er Srbijom, večernji let iz Rima su otkazali uz tragičnu komunikaciju sa putnicima na rimskom aerodromu. Jedan povratni let i horor od iskustva.

      Ako pogledamo generalno, AirSerbia nije loša u domenu tačnosti. Naprotiv!

      Pozdrav,
      Eight

      Delete
    10. Anonymous17:06

      @Anon at 9:10

      Mislim da je Ajnštajn rekao da su neograničeni samo svemir i ljudska glupost. Ovde ne govorimo o svemiru, pa je zato zapanjujuća tvoja izjava:
      "ajde uzmite recimo 3 top vazne destinacije za JU (FRA, AMS, SVO) pa pratite nedelju dana saobracaj"
      Već ti je objašnjeno da par aerodroma ili par letova mesečno ne čine dovoljno veliki i reprezentativan uzorak, zar je teško shvatiti da se svi letovi moraju uzeti u obzir? Kad ti je navedeno da firma kao OAG to profesionalno radi (rezultati se lako mogu naći na internetu), ispadaš ovo o čemu je Ajnštajn govorio kada ignorišeš njihove analize i pokušavaš da iskopaš neki specijalni slučaj gde će Er Srbija ispasti gora od LH i ostalih navedenih? Ovakvi napadi samo idu na ruku Er Srbiji jer pokazuju koliko su takvi kritičari amateri, da ne kažem nešto gore.

      Delete

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