The Canadian Ambassador to Serbia Kati Csaba has said the two countries are in advanced talks over the introduction of flights between Belgrade and Toronto, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Ms Csaba met with Serbia’s Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, last week where the two discussed the potential service as well as improving relations. “Enterprises from Canada have recognised Serbia as a good destination for investment in the energy and mining sectors. Economic ties would be further advanced with the introduction of nonstop flights between Belgrade and Toronto, which both sides are rigorously working on”, Ms Csaba said. She added, “These nonstop flights are of vital importance both for relations between Canada and Serbia to continue improving. as well as for the Serbian diaspora in Canada, which represents a significant link between our two countries”.
Serbia and Canada signed a new Air Service Agreement in late 2018, paving the way for flights. At the time, Ms Csaba said services would begin in either 2019 or 2020. “The Embassy is in talks with Air Serbia so we can gauge their interest and we believe the route has great potential. There is a large Serbian diaspora in Canada, but these flights would also be very useful for the business community”, the Ambassador said two years ago. This February she noted services could begin “one of these days”. Toronto's Pearson Airport confirmed in 2018 that it too held talks with Air Serbia over the resumption of flights between Belgrade and Canada's largest city. "We will continue to work with Air Serbia to find an opportunity to add Toronto Pearson as one of their newest travel destinations", the airport said.
Flights between Serbia and Canada were last operated eleven years ago by leisure carrier Skyservice, which has since gone bankrupt. During the 1970s and 1980s, JAT Yugoslav Airlines maintained services from Belgrade to Toronto and Montreal. Air Serbia’s predecessor, Jat Airways, conducted a study in late 2005 based on which it estimated it could carry up to 83.000 passengers to Toronto annually. The airline anticipated an average cabin load factor of 74% on a Boeing 767 and believed the flights would appeal primarily to diaspora travellers, as well as transfer passengers from the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, western Romania, southern Hungary and the Middle East. The Serbian government recently said Air Serbia may use lower aircraft leasing rates to acquire an additional jet, although it did not specify the type.
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Besides stated above, Canada simply discriminates Serbs and Macedonias with its visa policies. I live in Toronto and travel to Belgrade often times, Turkish gets everything done without transiting through Europe as a bonus part.
There are tops 15 000 - 20 000 around 100kms of radius. I would estimate that only 1/3 comes to church or truly practices Serbian traditions. If you look at the stats, an average Serbian from Ontario travels to Serbia every 5-7 years. Than, there is a corona effect. We did not have the flights in the last 30 years, why do we need them now?
JU can perform during summer JFK 4/5 and YYZ 3/2 times weekly. But if one huge delay happens then there’s a real trouble. Two A330s would automatically be a relief, but acquiring an additional aircraft during pandemic is highly questionable. Let’s just see what happens next :)
"BEG-JFK this morning has 10 in business and 225 in economy. There are 66 transfers from Tirana, 17 from Skopje, 4 from Zagreb, 5 from Tivat and so on. Hopefully this good performance continues into the winter season. Most passengers in JFK continue to Tampa, 13 of them."
I think for these Toronto flights Air Serbia could also benefit a lot from regional traffic.
So yeah, why hasn't JU joined any alliance yet?
Rgds, Eight.
Regards,
Eight
Regards,
Eight
I guess alot are booking closer towards the departure date rather than in advance due to the situation, as noticed with the JFK increase being announced a month in advance.
PVG departing around 1330 should be back in BEG by 1500, in time for the western European bank, while YYZ departing between 1700 and 1800 should have the ac back in BEG by 1130-1200, fitting well with the regional network.
I have mixed feelings about the A330. Maybe the best experience was with Srilankan Airlines.
The 764 has the following characteristics:
243 (16F, 38J, 189Y) or ideally for JU: 296 (24J, 272Y)
Long range-Maximum: 459–486 kn (850–900 km/h) at altitude of 39,000 ft (12,000 m)
Range: 5,625 nmi 10,415 km
And also the cargo capacity is quite decent:
4,905 ft³ / 138.9 m³
Here you can see all the details on the official Boeing website:
https://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_03/textonly/ps01txt.html
Not to mention that that both DL and UA are currently using it and it will look amazing on the JU livery: https://www.delta.com/us/en/aircraft/boeing/767-400er
It is also cheaper than the Dreamliner!
Covid could be good for JU in the sense that they could capitalize quickly on new and undeserved markets before other airlines do. But who knows, everything is so unpredictable nowadays.
As for the demand, I dont believe that the Canadian carriers were taking on many Serbian pax from ZAG. On top of that, these routes are only seasonal, operating for only 3-4 months. Problem would be more of the other carriers, with several options for transfer. However, with the current situation, JU could work it to their advantage and jump in. One competitor in particular, OS is dropping long haul capacity, while LO hasnt had a good start in BUD.
Question about Canadian service to BEG is meant to address post-covid era. Once pandemic is over, what are the chances of one/more airlines from Canada starting flights to BEG.
But XLR is AŠP's latest "great white hope" for OU's wet dream of ZAG-JFK, being only 3800nm.
Aftakana - everything you said is WAY off. Why does going to church make someone a Serb? I have been into all of the Serbian churches in Toronto as well as most in the Toronto area. It's no wonder people do not go to them. I always leave with a bad taste in my mouth. The priests are corrupt and have an attitude and on top of that people are disrespectful to each other.
These flights would do VERY well, especially with Macedonians. They have such a hard time finding decent connections to Skopje from here.
Canada is *not* the only country restricting travel. And do you blame them? We are in a pandemic. This is not the time to travel if you don't need to.
A lots of Serbians in Ontario (30-40k) and they tend to travel once a year to serbia.
However that is not enough Serbia would need to attract Canadians (whoever they are) to come to serbia for something