Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport has been closed for all commercial flights , the government said in a statement, in a bid to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus Covid-19. The measure will affect both Air Serbia and Wizz Air, which are based at the airport. Yesterday, the government adopted a decision to close Niš Constantine the Great Airport. The same measure was decided for Kraljevo’s Morava Airport last week. In a statement, the Serbian Ministry for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, said, "Based on a government decision, from today, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport will be temporarily closed for commercial traffic. Humanitarian and cargo flights will operate as normal. Serbia's airspace will continue to be open for overflights". A Notice to Airmen [NOTAM] - an aviation document informing all carriers of important and urgent messages - has been issued for Belgrade Airport.
All landings to and take-offs from airports in the Republic of Serbia are prohibited for international passenger air transport, in order to prevent the entrance and spreading of infectious diseases into the territory of the Republic of Serbia. This measure is not applicable to flights for:
1. the transport of goods and mail,
2. search and rescue,
3. humanitarian aid flights,
4. urgent medical transport,
5. technical landing and positioning of aircraft entered in the aircraft register of the Republic of Serbia,
6. emergency landings,
7. landings and take-offs of state aircraft, and special purpose flights.
Depending on the epidemiological situation, other exceptions may be provided by the decision of the minister in charge of transport. The operator that has commenced a flight prior to the entry into force of this prohibition, and has landed to its destination airport prior or upon entry into force of this prohibition, shall be allowed to perform the outbound flight to its base/departure airport.
NOTAM
All landings to and take-offs from airports in the Republic of Serbia are prohibited for international passenger air transport, in order to prevent the entrance and spreading of infectious diseases into the territory of the Republic of Serbia. This measure is not applicable to flights for:
1. the transport of goods and mail,
2. search and rescue,
3. humanitarian aid flights,
4. urgent medical transport,
5. technical landing and positioning of aircraft entered in the aircraft register of the Republic of Serbia,
6. emergency landings,
7. landings and take-offs of state aircraft, and special purpose flights.
Depending on the epidemiological situation, other exceptions may be provided by the decision of the minister in charge of transport. The operator that has commenced a flight prior to the entry into force of this prohibition, and has landed to its destination airport prior or upon entry into force of this prohibition, shall be allowed to perform the outbound flight to its base/departure airport.
Did Qatar and flyDubai cancel their flights before this decision?
ReplyDeleteQatar cancelled today's flights but scheduled flights for tomorrow, Sunday and Monday (Monday was supposed to be their last flight).
DeleteFlydubai didn't have a flight today.
Etihad will be the last airline to depart Belgrade, just before noon.
Etihad won't be the last plane to leave. I don't think the airport will close until the end of the day. Possibly not until tomorrow. Aeroflot is about to land at BEG, its departure time is after 12.00. There is also Air Serbia which has planes heading to London and New York at the moment.
DeleteAF flight from CDG has just took off, and it's return STD is 14:10.
DeleteSo it will be open at least until then.
Last flight arrived in 19:20, Turkish from Istanbul, and it was full. I shared some experience in the last post.
DeleteOh my God. Nightmare
ReplyDeleteThat's it! Good night and nice dreams...
DeleteDo they know how long is it closed for?
ReplyDeleteUntil further notice.
DeleteJU was supposed to operate just LHR and JFK today so there won't be any major disruptions.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't recall that we had BEG closed any time. Maybe during the 90's. Any info on that?
ReplyDeleteIt was closed during the Iceland volcano eruption I believe.
DeleteHow long were Belgrade, Podgorica and Tivat closed during NATO bombing?
DeleteLast flight was operated: Podgorica - Belgrade on 23.3.1999 (three hours before bombing began). JAT resumed flights on 18 June (9 days after the bombing ended) to Tivat. Podgorica was closed until 18 October because its was damaged during the bombing.
DeleteJAT did evacuate its fleet. I don't know the exact date these flights took place. 2 B727s, 4 B737s, 1 ATR72 and 1 DC-10 were evacuated to Bucharest and later sent elsewhere.
I think SU with the Tu-154 was the first foreign carrier to resume flights followed by Swissair.
DeleteIt was expected an doesn't come as a surprise. Good luck and hope this doesn't last too long!
ReplyDeleteWorst time for a country to have a national carrier, what will be the losses Etihad and Serbia will have to cover after all this ends?
ReplyDelete*for a small country
DeleteI don't support the subsidies (tax payers money) that was given to Air Serbia in all sort of (non) creative forms.
DeleteHowever, these are extraordinary circumstances, and rules should change, and support should be give to companies that are experiencing a full disruption to their business.
we are talking hundreds of millions €
DeleteDa li postoji mogućnost da AS ne plaća lizing agencijama jer će avioni biti prizemljeni ne njihovom voljom,?
ReplyDeleteNe postoji. Samo eventualno dobra volja lezora da pomogne preživljavanju kompanija kako bi im u budućnosti mogli i dalje iznajmljivati avione. No, to će ovisiti o volji lezora, njihovoj procjeni koliko je to NJIMA isplativo, koliko su im avio kompanije bitne (sigurno da nema isti status Air Serbia i npr. Norwegian), te koliko će tko državne pomoći dobiti (rezon će biti ako ste dobili toliko mnogo, onda dio toga ide i nama).
DeleteZavisi od ugovora. Ako AS plaća samo za radne sate (vreme u vazduhu, operativno vreme na asfaltu, održavanje i slično) onda nema problema. Ako plaćaju bez obzira na sate, onda moraju da se dogovore sa lizing kućom o daljim uslovima. Pretpostavljam da je lizing kompanijama jednostavnije da ostave avione plasirane u flotama dok traje karantin nego da posle ponovo pregovaraju (i plaćaju parking dok su avioni prizemljeni). Naravno, ovo važi samo ako se karantin ne otegne previše.
DeleteNaravno, ako plaća samo po operacijama to je tako kako ste napisali. No, to je gotovo nemoguće za A319, A320 i A330 flotu u ovom momentu.
DeleteVećina flote je uzeta na dry leasing na period od više godina, a ne po operacijama (ne znam za sve, pa ostavljam mogućnost da neki takav ugovor i postoji). Takvi višegodišnji lizinzi se ne mogu raskinuti bez penala. Osim ako lezor ne dozvoli promjenu ugovora anexima iz bilo kojeg razloga, pa i gore navedenog. Upravo zato i jesu dugoročni lizinzi bitno jeftiniji od onih po operacijama.
Цео свет излази у сусрет привредницима, сигуран сам да и куће од којих авио-компаније изнајмљују ваздухоплове. Последње што те фирме желе је да изгубе клијенте.
DeleteKao što rekoh, sve ovisi o tome:
Delete- kako će procijeniti što je NJIHOV interes
- koliko im je neka kompanija bitna (nije isto imate li 100 aviona kod nekoga ili 1)
- koliko će pomoći Air Serbia dobiti od države (a onda će i oni htjet dio tog kolača)
Ima onih koji veruju da ce Air Serbia morati da plati mnogo novca za leasing. Mozda se nadaju da ce to biti smrtni udarac. O kako su naivni!
DeleteIskreno ne vjerujem da tavkih ima. Ako ih i ima to je istinski minijaturan postotak.
DeleteSigurno je da će lizing kuće smanjiti račune (bile bi preglupe da to ne učine), ali da će ih otpisati ili bitno smanjiti to neće. Posebno ne za manje kompanije koje će pomoći država.
Sigurno je i da će Air Serbie dobiti pomoć države. Tako da će na kraju preživjeti, ali da će nas sve, pa i Air Serbiu, ovo debelo vratiti nazad, o da, hoće. Neke više, neke manje.
Lako je prihvatiti zatvaranje aerodroma Srbije. Pa i glvnog, Beogradskog aerodroma. Mere drakonske. Nisu zelje vlada i vlasti drzava. Naprotiv. Prevencija virusa jeste osnov i cilj.
ReplyDeleteJednostavno ne moze se ponavljati zaraze i posledice srednjeg veka. Kada je dobar deo mnogih naroda prosao gore nego od posledica velikog rata. Hvala vlastima sirom sveta, ukljucujuci drzavu Srbiju. Samo pre cetiri dana sam uzleteo sa ANTB-a. Zbog dobra ljudi, preventiva je pravi izbor. Rekonstrukcija terminala i aerodroma je u toku. To je svetlost do ponovnog uzletanja i sletanja.
Uz veliku nadu i pozdrave iz rane Sidnejske jeseni,
Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. Sydney🛫Belgrade.
Will JU return the money to the passengers?
ReplyDeleteyou want them go bankrupt?
DeleteAnon 12:11, that is a very strange comment since nobody wants companies to go bust in a situation like this. However, JU is bound by IATA rules (and others) which they have to follow. In normal situations they would have to return the money, next step would be their money guarantee which they have to have for issuing ticket, if that for some reason doesn't kick-in, it's either their insurance company or if you have bought you ticket via VISA/Mastercard that would kick-in.
DeleteThey are bound by the same rules as every other airline.
Haters gonna hate, even during a global crisis.
DeleteIt's been few weeks already since AirSerbia is allowing change of tickets for flights in March. I guess now extended to mother months.
DeleteMyself, I had to change ticket for the flight that was to happen tomorrow.
They offered partial refund (basically taxes) or change of date without special fee but to pay the difference in price, which is fair!
As my flight was officially cancelled, they rebooked completely free of charge.
Haters gona hate, but AirSerbia is responsible and accountable company I like to travel with!
Stay safe, people!
There is still no official NOTAM issued regarding above mentioned closure.
ReplyDeleteBecause the government is obviously completely uncoordinated with air traffic control.
DeleteThey can't issue NOTAM until JU returns from New York tomorrow morning. Maybe it will be issued from 6AM tomorrow morning.
DeleteYes they can and they did. Ministry gave the special permission for landing, like the last one from Istanbul at the evening.
DeleteGood thing is that banks won't be allowed to charge loan payments and interest rates, like that the economy will be relieved a bit which should help the total collapse. Government has also stopped issuing VAT payments and so on.
ReplyDeleteWill the works on the terminal continue? It can go a lot faster now that there are no passengers and flights. Vinci can also use the redundant workers to help with the construction efforts in a non-technical nature (i.e. moving things around, assisting workers).
ReplyDeleteI think there was a article yesterday saying it would. The government did say that all capital projects would continue as planned. Less people just makes it easier I guess.
DeleteSo basically the second JU expansion is extremely jeopardised. I highly doubt the routes will be launched this year.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/12/air-serbia-set-for-major-network.html
Umm what do you think?
DeleteBoth LHR and JFK were full today. Shame flights are suspended just because the government can't monitor who enters the country through the airport
DeleteI understand the official reason for the current closure, with a lot of diaspora arriving in recent days, but is there any indication they will allow Serbian citizens currently abroad to return?
ReplyDeleteOfficial NOTAM has just been published:
ReplyDeleteA1302/20 NOTAMN
Q) LYBA/QAFXX/IV/NBO/E /000/999/4339N01932E999
A) LYBA B) 2003191239 C) 2004122159 EST
E) COVID 19: FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
ALL LANDINGS TO AND TAKE-OFFS FROM AIRPORTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF
SERBIA ARE PROHIBITED FOR AIRCRAFT CARRYING ON THE INTERNATIONAL
PASSENGER AIR TRANSPORT, IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE ENTRANCE AND
SPREADING OF INFECTUOUS DISEASES INTO THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC
OF SERBIA.
THIS MEASURE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO FLIGHTS FOR:
1. THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS AND MAIL,
2. SEARCH AND RESCUE,
3. HUMANITARIAN AID FLIGHTS,
4. URGENT MEDICAL TRANSPORT,
5. TECHNICAL LANDING AND POSITIONING OF AIRCRAFT ENTERED IN THE
AIRCRAFT REGISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA,
6. EMERGENCY LANDINGS,
7. LANDINGS AND TAKE-OFFS OF STATE AIRCRAFT, AND SPECIAL PURPOSE
FLIGHTS.
DEPENDING ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SITUATION, OTHER EXCEPTIONS MAY BE
PROVIDED BY THE DECISION OF THE MINISTER IN CHARGE OF TRANSPORT.
THE OPERATER THAT HAS COMMENCED THE FLIGHT PRIOR TO THE ENTRY INTO
FORCE OF THIS PROHIBITION, AND HAS LANDED TO DESTINATION AIRPORT
PRIOR OR UPON ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THIS PROHIBITION, SHALL BE ALLOWED
TO PERFORM THE OUTBOUND FLIGHT TO ITS BASE/DEPARTURE AIRPORT.
Why on earth they put soldiers with rifles especially so viable? OK, hospitals I can understand, but what will someone do in airport? Break into plane and "drive" him to some destination in Europe? OMG!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have police with rifles and their fingers on the trigger at German airports all the time. It is a state of emergency.
DeleteWhat kind of emergency? In Germany (France, UK etc.) there is real terrorist threat. Real one, which attack for several times. What treat is in Belgrade airport in this moment? Or in near future?
DeleteWell I'm sure they have their reasons and that they know a thing or two about security and threats of terrorism. I have faith in them. You should too.
DeleteDear Anon 1500, If you think that Belgrade is not in danger of terrorism you are complete fool. There were several attacks back in the past.
DeleteFor the solders, if they are needed or not there is not our to judge, but solder without gun is like doctor without stethoscope. And don't say you feel less safe if you see armed solder then if there and noone?!
Stay safe!
There were several terrorist attacks in Belgrade in past? There was nothing about it in news. That information will make me out of Serbia in future.
DeleteSoldiers with guns make psi-hoses of war, they make police state. And if they are not necessary (and in Belgrade airport they are not) just military state will put them in streets, airports etc. Military state always starts with "if they are needed or not there is not our to judge. And don't say you feel less safe if you see armed solder then if there and noone?! Stay safe!".
It's a contentious issue in Serbia too
Deletehttp://www.nin.co.rs/view_image.php?id=39847
For heavens sake who needed to position these martial guys with guns in front of the terminal building. We understand that the airport ist closed- there is no war!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing nowadays is a reality show so is the show of force. Let them be machos in front of the camera.
DeleteA friend of mine were on the last flight, tonight from Istanbul (19:30), I couldn't go to pick her up because we can't be outside after 20:00... When they arrived, police forced all passengers to go out of the airport building, so they were on their own. Luckily there was a bus to Zeleni Venac and everybody took it. Finally, police stopped her there and took her home.
ReplyDeleteI called the police before to ask if I can go to pick her and they told me that I can go but we both gonna have to pay 150.000RSD if they catch us.
Can you people imagine how stressful was that for all unlucky passengers, and us who's waiting for them?
Sorry admin , I just had to share my story.
Just be grateful they landed here FFS.
DeleteAll "unlucky passengers and you who were waiting for them" know what is happening in the whole world and there was no surprises because they were all well aware when and where they are traveling. Every normal person had enough time to organize himself for the arrival of flight. No reason for drama and pathetic whining.
DeleteIs it allowed to land small private jets as rpyalcharter service? People can split the expenses and return home somehow. There are guys who must returne home, no other choise
ReplyDeleteIs there some flights still operating? I heard for KLM flight on 26th march? I don't know if it is also canceled. And also did some foreign people still stayed in Belgrade?
ReplyDelete