The Montenegrin Ministry for Health has ordered the suspension of flights between Podgorica and Northern Italy over fears of the spread of the Coronavirus, affecting Wizz Air’s service to Milan and Ryanair’s operations to Bologna. Both routes, which run twice per week, have been temporarily suspended as of this morning until early April. Flights to Rome, operated by both Alitalia and Montenegro Airlines continue to be maintained as per normal. Montenegro is the first country in the former Yugoslavia to implement travel restrictions over the virus. Wizz Air’s service from both Skopje and Ohrid to Milan continue to run normally, as do Air Serbia’s flights from Belgrade to Italy’s second largest city and from Niš to Bologna. Ryanair’s service from Niš to Bergamo also remains unaffected.

Elsewhere, Air Serbia has said it has not registered an increase in booking cancellations to and from affected areas. However, the airline yesterday introduced a waiver for rebooking fees across its network for anyone wishing to modify their travel plans. “There has been no notable rise in booking cancellations from passengers traveling to areas affected by the coronavirus. Air Serbia will make every effort to assist those passengers traveling to affected areas who wish to change their travel dates”, the company said. It added, “Serbia’s flag carrier is taking every precaution in full compliance with all procedures provided for these circumstances, to ensure its passengers will have no reason for concern. As always, the safety of our passengers and our crew is our utmost priority”.

Croatia Airlines continues to maintain services from Zagreb to Rome via Split. “Croatia Airlines' Emergency Response and Crisis Management Office is actively monitoring the situation and continues to plan and take all necessary steps in order to ensure that the protection of the wellbeing of passengers, crew and all other employees of the company is maintained at the highest possible level”. The airline added, “Six internal memorandums and instructions have been issued to employees and, in early February, additional protective equipment was distributed to all staff who come into direct contact with passengers in their everyday work: surgical masks, disposable rubber gloves, Pliva Sept Blue disinfecting solution and hygienic wipes, together with an additional amount of disinfectants (Body Fluid Spill Kit) that are part of standard aircraft equipment”. Croatia Airlines’ CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said on Monday that the airline has seen softer booking numbers for March as a result of coronavirus fears.