KLM returns to Belgrade after three decades

NEWS FLASH


KLM has restored flights between Amsterdam and Belgrade after over thirty years, replacing its low cost subsidiary Transavia on the route. The Dutch carrier operated its inaugural service with the Boeing 737-700 aircraft, however, flights will usually be maintained by the 100-seat Embraer E190 jet. Services will initially run three times per week, increasing to daily from June 11. Speaking at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, KLM’s General Manager for Alps, Balkan and Central Europe, Thijs Komen, said, “I am delighted that despite existing circumstance we are launching new services to Belgrade today. It demonstrates KLM’s confidence in the Serbian market. I hope this new nonstop service between Belgrade and Amsterdam will serve as an optimistic symbol for the future and will offer the public additional opportunities to visit the world and meet with friends and family that live in other countries. I also hope that these flights will strengthen business ties between Serbia and the Netherlands”. The Dutch Embassy in Serbia noted, "These flights come at a time when our two countries are becoming increasingly interlinked. This includes almost one billion euros in bilateral trade, 2.8 billion in foreign direct investment,  and over 17.000 people employed by Dutch companies. With KLM as a bridge, we are looking forward to seeing these numbers go up - the sky's the limit". 

KLM’s new Belgrade service will offer good transfer opportunities to Madrid, Dublin and Edinburgh. The carrier will complement Air Serbia on the route, with the two to continue codesharing. KLM last operated flights to Belgrade prior to the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. The airline initially commenced services to the city on October 1, 1931 when it served as one of the stops on its route from Amsterdam to Jakarta, then known as Batavia in the Dutch East Indies. In the pre-pandemic 2019, a total of 176.461 passengers travelled between Belgrade and Amsterdam.






Comments

  1. Anonymous13:12

    Welcome back :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous13:14

    How are connections to the US?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:08

      Good for New York and Chicago

      Delete
  3. Anonymous13:22

    The airline initially commenced flights to the city on October 1, 1931 when it served as a stop on its service from Amsterdam to Jakarta, then known as Batavia in the Dutch East Indies.


    So, Belgrade had long haul flights 90 years ago!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:24

      It had like 20 stops to Jakarta. It didn't fly Amsterdam-Belgrade-Jakarta. In facts it had several stops to Belgrade too.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:25

      Honey there were no long-haul flights back then. That was a long-haul flight at that time.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous13:23

    This is good news for JU. It's much easier to compete with KL than HV.
    I am certain they will fine as there is a decent need to break Star Alliance monopoly on flights to the US. Right now if you want to fly to ORD it's basically OS or LH.
    AF is weak there and JU offers limited connectivity with AA via JFK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:57

      Only real solution is for Air Serbia to start flying to Chicago.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:36

      JU and KL aren't even competing. They are codesharing.

      Delete
  5. JU520 BEGLAX13:47

    Hope to see KL in LJU one day too
    KL in the 80s flew with DC9-32 to ZAG and BEG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Affirmative. JAT flew Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday on B727, and KLM Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on DC-9, AMS-ZAG-BEG. But in addition to that one, there was service AMS-LJU-DBV, as well, operated by both JAT and KLM, JAT Tuesday and Saturday on B727, and KLM Thursday on combination of DC-8/DC-9. JAT operated once weekly scheduled summer season to PUY and OHD from AMS as well. And this June, KLM is starting daily AMS-DBV, too, announced few days ago.

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    2. JU520 BEGLAX21:13

      Thanks Pozdrav iz Rijeke. Didnt know about DC8 AMS-LJU-DBV. I love these old flights fm the 70/80s. Aviation back than was just awesome

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:20

      JU might start offering Ohrid again, as there will be more regular BEG to AMS flights, operated by their code-share partner. Ohrid has been a very popular tourist destination in The Nederlands for decades - it has much to do with a popular Dutch novel from the thirties.

      Delete
    4. Interesting, thanks for that info.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous14:50

    So glad to see KLM in Belgrade! Their last flight to Serbian capital was in November 1991, almost 30 years ago.
    Welcome Royal Dutch Airlines!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous15:19

    Ovaj HONEY da mi se javi :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous16:18

    Hahahah

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous17:17

    Lufthansa Group does not like this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous23:13

    No water salute after 30 years???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As per airline's request.

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    2. Anonymous02:10

      Any idea why?

      Delete
    3. Icing conditions...safety

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    4. The airline decided it didn't want to make a big fuss about a new route during Covid time. That's the official reason.

      Delete

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