NEWS FLASH
Etihad Airways will suspend its operations between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade over the next six weeks, although changes remain possible. The carrier will operate its last service on the route this Wednesday, with flights to resume on November 25. The airline has been maintaining two weekly services between the two cities since resuming operations in July, down from one daily rotation last year. Etihad requires all passengers to have a negative PCR test in order to board their aircraft. Entry into Abu Dhabi for non-residents is still not permitted, while Australia, a source of passengers for the airline on flights to and from Belgrade, has been closed off for international travel. Flydubai will continue to maintain services between Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. Dubai has welcomed back tourists since the start of July, while Serbian citizens no longer need to undertake a (free of charge) PCR test at the airport upon arrival in the Emirate and will only have to hold a negative test taken prior to their flight.
Quite expected. There is a huge chance there will be a second wave this winter throughout the whole of Europe, especially in the West. Travel will just a necessity especially in November and after New Year. Winter is coming and tough times ahead for the aviation industry.
ReplyDeleteMaybe demand to Dubai will grow now?
ReplyDeleteDemand to Dubai has been rather good. The issue with EY is that Australian citizens/residents are not allowed to leave the country unless they get special permission. Since March only 3000 got permission to travel.
DeleteHow many flights does FZ have now?
Delete4 weekly. Increasing to 5 from 25.10.
DeleteLet's see if they actually increase it. We are in the middle of a pandemic and many airlines have not updated their schedules.
DeleteThis is updated. So 2 weeks ago they had 3 flights. Then they increased to 4, now to 5.
DeleteWonder who is going there so much.
DeleteI flew with Flydubai last month from Belgrade and back. Passengers are mixed. There are people going on holiday, people visiting family, passengers from Macedonia, lots of passengers from Turkey (since there are no flights at the moment for political reasons).
DeleteI have a feeling they won't be back but rather Air Arabia will.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling this will not happen soon....
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/04/air-arabia-shelves-belgrade-flights.html
That was before EY formed a joint venture with Etihad.
DeleteBut Air Arabia won't replace Etihad because of the passenger structure on these flights.
Having flights to DXB, AUH and SSJ is just too much. Add to that DOH and the market gets extremely saturated.
DeleteIn SSJ Air Arabia didn't have EY's network which they do in AUH. I think they make more sense than EY in BEG because the market is not really rich.
DeleteIt would be a stupid move for EY to hand over BEG to G9.
Delete@ 15,04
The market isnt extremely saturated. It is estimated around 20.000 Serbs in the UAE (pre Corona). On top of this, Serbian tourists usually use the ME3 for connections onwards mainly to Maldives, Zanzibar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bali, while most travelling from Australia use one of the ME3 hubs. Not to mention as well that there are a few transiting in BEG onwards onto JU flights.
Ufff, I wan't be able to sleep tonight, because of Etihad
ReplyDeleteThat is bad news for both BEG and JU.
ReplyDeleteBut good for you
DeleteOh, JU could start two daily AUHs with two just acquired A319s,,,
DeleteDoes anybody know what is happening with ISR? Yesterday they had 2 flights today 1, but every day they have at least one flight
ReplyDeleteCharters bringing in tourists.
DeleteTour groups redirected from other countries. They are in lockdown but everyone who lurchased tkts before that can travel. Since Israelis can't enter most countries as soon as Serbia was deemed safe by Israel they rebooked everone to BEG. They stay at Metropol.
Delete*purchased
DeleteInteresting, thank you. I noticed Metropol was open once again. Cool that it's because of tourists. Let's hope more come soon!
DeleteAccording to BEG Arkia resumes flights from 17.10, twice a week, each Saturday and Wednesday.
DeleteJust to add, Tunisair returns to BEG tomorrow. :)
DeleteGood to se those 3 air lines back. TU,IZ, 6H are a bit rare. I see SM is doing well in BEG. Hope situation in BEY will be better so JU can fly there. A tourist destination for Serbs, but also vice versa.
DeleteSomewhere i read that Belgrade was one of their more profitable destinations .
ReplyDeleteThen of course a switch to Air Arabia would make no sense .
It also would be a gift to the competition, especially the one from Qatar .