Air Serbia to restore MENA operations


Air Serbia intends on resuming flights to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), despite initial plans to significantly downsize its operations in the region. The carrier has restored ticket sales for services to Cairo and plans to return to Tel Aviv as well, while an inventory listing has been filed for services to Beirut, although tickets are yet to be put on sale. At this point, the Serbian carrier will resume flights to Tel Aviv on March 29, with two weekly rotations to be maintained, down from five weekly services in the summer of 2019. The resumption date will depend on travel restrictions. Israel will suspend all commercial flights as of this evening for a week to prevent the spread of new variants of the coronavirus and has banned all travel for its nationals, with exception to those for medical purposes. 

Flights to Cairo are set to restart on June 4 and operate twice per week. The airline resumed ticket sales for the route late last week after several months. Services to Cairo were launched as part of the airline’s 2019 network expansion, which included nine new routes from Belgrade. During 2019, the carrier also maintained two weekly services to the Egyptian capital. Serbian nationals are permitted entry into Egypt with a negative PCR test, which can also be conducted at the airport upon arrival. Egyptian carrier Air Cairo has been maintaining services between the two countries since June with scheduled flights between Hurghada and Belgrade. 

Air Serbia has filed an inventory listing for its service to Beirut based on which it plans to resume flights on June 9 and operate between three and four weekly rotations to the Lebanese capital throughout the summer. However, ticket sales are yet to begin. An inventory listing indicates the airline plans to operate the service if circumstances permit but that a final decision has not been made, meaning the flights could be removed. Air Serbia suspended operations to Beirut just weeks prior to the onset of the global lockdowns in March 2020 due to the deteriorating financial situation in Lebanon. At the time it said the route suspension would be temporary and would resume in June of that year. Beirut was served up to seven times per week during the summer of 2019.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Resumption of Cairo and most likely Beirut is a good idea in my opinion. They are going after transfer diaspora traffic from those countries which will certainly have fewer options for travel than before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:36

      Maybe Amman would make more sense than Beirut?

      As originally planned.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:39

      I believe there is more transfer traffic from Beirut due to size of Lebanese diaspora in Western Europe and US. JU had lots of transfers from France, Brussels and Netherlands on this route.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:42

      Maybe they can launch both eventually.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Good to see the situation improving.

    What's crazy about Israel is that they were bragging how they vaccinated millions of people yet now they are shutting down international travel. Crazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:04

      They said they are doing it so they can vaccinate another 2 million people safely this week.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:41

      By the end of March Israel will certainly open up. So I see these JU flights materializing.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:49

      Hopefully tourists will be coming back as well.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:07

      Great move for JU!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    Great news!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    They should have brought Cairo back earlier.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:05

    I've heard Egypt has suspended airport fees and taxes for all airlines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      Yes but only at the tourist airports.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:10

      Ah I see. Smart move though. I see a lot of airlines are launching holiday destinations in Egypt next summer.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:06

    So pretty much next summer they could restore their entire network except for Rijeka. Plus they will have two new routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      I mean compared to pre pandemic levels.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:11

      Impressive

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:13

      Plans are one thing but reality might be different once the time comes.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:17

      Serbia was yesterday third in Europe by the number of vaccinated people per 100.000 people. Greece already said they will allow people to come in who is vaccinated. That should help in rebuilding what was destroyed by the virus.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:20

      Cyprus announced the same.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:30

      There is only so much you can plan for in situations like these.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:34

      With high vaccination rates and markets such as Egypt, Cyprus and Greece announcing plans for the summer season, JU can already be somewhat optimistic because of charter traffic. This is really good.
      I also hope the situation with Turkey normalizes so that their tourists can start returning.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:36

      Agree. Serbia is this morning 6th by vaccination rate in the world and second in Europe.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:50

      Crazy thing is that none of the vaccines came from COVAX or whatever it's called. 250.000 Russian vaccines are delayed. They were supposed to arrive last weekend.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:10

    Fantastic. JU is slowly rebuilding its network. Of course frequencies are not the same but they reflect reality.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:25

    Let's hope these materialize.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous09:26

    This is the current network as someone posted this a couple of days ago

    Amsterdam (AMS) 6 6
    Atina (ATH) 5 8
    Banja Luka (BNX) 3 3
    Barselona (BCN) 2 2
    Beč (VIE) 10 10
    Berlin (BER) 4 4
    Brisel (BRU) 2 2
    Bukurešt (OTP) 7 7
    Cirih (ZRH) 10 11
    Diseldorf (DUS) 4 4
    Dubrovnik (DBV) 4
    Frankfurt (FRA) 5 5
    Istanbul (IST) 5 7
    Kairo (CAI) 2
    Kijev (KBP) 2
    Kopenhagen (CPH) 4 4
    Krasnodar (KRR) 2 3
    Larnaka (LCA) 2 4
    Ljubljana (LJU) 7 7
    London (LHR) 5 5
    Madrid (MAD) 2
    Malta (MLA) 2
    Milano (MXP) 4 4
    Moskva (SVO) 6 6
    Nica (NCE) 2
    Njujork (JFK) 3 5
    Oslo (OSL) 2 2
    Pariz (CDG) 9 9
    Podgorica (TGD) 17 21
    Prag (PRG) 4 4
    Pula (PUY) 2
    Rim (FCO) 4 4
    Sankt Peterburg (LED) 2 2
    Sarajevo (SJJ) 7 7
    Skoplje (SKP) 7 7
    Sofija (SOF) 4 4
    Solun (SKG) 4 8
    Split (SPU) 4
    Stokholm (ARN) 4 4
    Štutgart (STR) 3 3
    Tel Aviv (TLV) 2 2
    Tirana (TIA) 8 9
    Tivat (TIV) 9 15
    Venecija (VCE) 2 2
    Zadar (ZAD) 2
    Zagreb (ZAG) 7 7
    Ženeva 2 2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:26

      Current network for summer that is.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:28

      Network looks good

      Delete
    3. JATBEGMEL13:10

      I think we will have a few changes to these frequencies by summer.

      For example, I dont think ZRH will be under 14 pw, TIV 21pw.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:24

      I think ZRH will be back at 14 by the end of February.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:27

      In February they are selling BEG-ZRH for as little as 5.500 Dinars. That's rounghly €45. Then on Sunday BEG-ZRH is €250 one way so I guess flights started filling.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:29

    Great to hear about Egypt, Israel and possibly Lebanon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:29

    Well done Air Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:29

    Good to see they are planning for the future.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:33

    Good

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:33

    I really like to see how well JU is managed during these terrible times. Much, much better than many other airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:38

    Proves a lot of people wrong who always have something negative to say about this airline.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:40

    Good news for JU but particularly for people who need to travel.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:43

    Dobro je videti da se dešava nešto pozitivno.Po pitanju Bejruta sam poprilično skeptičan jer se finansijska situacija u toj zemlji ne poboljšava a to je bio glavni razlog prestanka operacija JU.Za Kairo će im trebati dosta transvernih putnika a sa Tel Avivom ne bi trebalo da bude problema jer postoji određeni broj P2P putnika.Nadam se da će uskoro obnoviti i letove ka Italiji koja je jako bitna za JU sa 3 destinacije.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:50

      I'm surprised Cairo can only work with transfer passengers. I would have assumed that many people would go there for tourism purposes. Why don't tour operators combine 2 or 3 days in Cairo and then a week on the coast?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:51

      Посебно сада када Алиталија не планира да се врати било где источно од Беча.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:04

      Anon 09:43
      Za sada kako se čini, Croatia Airlines neće pokrerati linije iz Zagreba i Dubrovnika za Tel Aviv koje su bile u operaciji 2019. godine. Ako se nevaram bilo je riječ o 3 tjedna leta iz Zagreba sa kombinacijom A319/A320 i 1 tjedni let iz Dubrovnika. To ce zasigurno Air Serbiji dati dodatne putnike prema Tel Avivu pa očekujem letove na razini 2019. te mozda i povecanje.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:05

      Pričalo se ovde da upravo iz CAI dolazi dosta transvera za MXP. Ukoliko se AlItalija ne vrati na BEG biće to zlatna koka za JU.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:06

      Kaze se transfera ne transvera.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:39

      Не смемо заборавити да је епидемиолошка ситуација на западу криминална што значи да ће велики играчи бити у знатно лошијој ситуацији него пре. Ето јуче је КЛМ објавио да ће паркирати велики број ваздухоплова и да ће отпустити 1.000 радника. Луфтханса губи два милиона на дан док се Ер Франс спрема за нови круг помоћи. Све је ово супер за ЈУ у Каиру и Бејруту.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:14

      Ovako se piše, kaže.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:59

      Pa ne kaze se. Jedino ti tako kazes, ali nije tacno.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous12:14

      Људи фокусирајте се на тему, маните се глупости.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:43

    JU must focus much more on charters this summer and not only on Egypt and Turkey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:44

      If there is a demand for these flights they will operate them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:45

      Morocco and Jordan could be possibilities.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:47

      Morocco charters were planned for last year, but then corona happened.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:49

      I see, shame it didn't materialize.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:51

    Slowly but surely there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:18

    Good luck. Hope there is more good news soon.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:18

    Hopefully they get more transfers as well on these routes that are returning.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:20

    These routes are important for hub operations.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous10:21

    Good!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous10:49

    Situation in Lebanon is dire. Economically it has collapsed. People are in a strict lockdown. No one can leave their house even for a minute since 14th of January. Money in banks have evaporated. So I understand why they are still just considering it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:33

      Perhaps it could work as a seasonal route. Let's see.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous11:41

    Today JU rescheduled INI flights from March: NUE, SZG, HAJ, TIV and HHN.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:48

      Bravo JU!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:16

      With Wizz cancelling SZG-BEG/SKP JU from INI should do really well.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:04

      They could maybe introduce a third weekly.

      Delete
  26. JATBEGMEL13:04

    It would be interesting to see if they go ahead with AMM.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:33

      Would be nice. This would be a transfer destination like Beirut.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous02:24

      I rather think they should give Dubai or Abu Dhabi a try.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous02:34

      Agreed. Jat Airways did well in Dubai years ago. Although the game has changed since then.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous13:11

    Will be interesting to see what Wizz Air does. I don't think they will simply hand over the market to JU and other airlines. I think the expansion will happen, maybe not all of it but some destinations will be brought back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:17

      Just to add, they removed all new destinations from BEG but MXP is still there. I suppose that will happen in 2021 but probably with a MXP based plane.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:18

      They did not remove Oslo either.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:19

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/01/wizz-air-cancels-majority-of-belgrade.html

      Delete
    4. Anonymous13:20

      Yes Oslo and Hamburg were supposed to be the only ones left but now Milan seems to be staying as well.
      I think 2021 will be very interesting. Now all we need is to see how easyJet will reach on BEG-GVA.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:27

      Which is why ASL should start flights to LIN. Much more central and convenient airport!

      Delete
    6. Anonymous13:29

      LIN can only be used for EU flights.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous14:14

      Really? How come?

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:43

      It's a limit imposed by the authorities. It's in the city unlike MXP so if they didn't block a group of airlines then everyone would be rushing to LIN. Similar to what happened with LHR.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous23:26

      Anon @ 13:29
      you mean LIN can only be used by schengen zone countries.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous01:32

      that's odd

      Delete
    11. Anonymous01:38

      What is?

      Delete
  28. Anonymous16:57

    Impressive comeback planned by Air Serbia. With aircraft lease rates expected to rise in 2021 are they ready to lock in low rates and lease another A330?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Balkan Blues17:13

      maybe they already leased it but does not take effect until summer or perhaps fall 2021. it would be a very risky game AS would be playing. but it could reap massive rewards as the market is now wide open. important thing is to establish as many destinations as possible, frequencies can be increased later on.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22:59

      Doubt they will lease another A330. But it would be very interesting fo sures.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous23:22

      What makes you think aircraft lease rates will increase in 2021? The travel industry wouldn't recover fully until at least 2022-23.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous01:57

      More like it won't recover till 24-25.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous02:27

      I disagree, you can't predict 4 years from now. I'm just saying this year will be still difficult. After that it will get progressively better.

      Delete
  29. Anonymous18:39

    Considering to this situation they really showed great results.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous22:30

    Steta da Egipat nisu ranije pokrenuli. Tamo ima vrlo malo restrikcija, ako netko misli turisticki ici trenutno je idealno u odnosu na gotovo bilo gdje drugo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:02

      ko ce sad neko negde ici turisticki? pa ljudi neznaju vise gde udaraju.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous01:32

    Well done Air Serbia. Really happy to see them starting to look towards the end of this crisis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous01:39

      Appears so. But they are probably in survival mode.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous01:56

      Is there any airline that isn't?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous02:24

      I would say that all airlines are in survival mode. Why what are you saying?

      Delete
  32. Anonymous02:23

    I'm surprised they generally don't have a more extensive route network in the Middle East.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous02:30

      It not bad:

      Beirut
      Telaviv
      Cairo
      Amman (planned)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous02:32

      Larnaca

      Delete
  33. Balkan Blues02:38

    In the future they could add:
    Baghdad
    Teheran
    &
    Baku
    Tbilisi
    Yervan

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous23:29

    Sve je to lepo, nego kad ce Srbija da poleti za Toronto?

    ReplyDelete

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