The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate has failed to issue Russia’s S7 Airlines a permit to commence flights between Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport and Belgrade, which were to launch on May 21. The carrier has now suspended ticket sales on the route. Flights were initially planned to operate once per week with the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Instead, additional frequencies on flights between Moscow and Belgrade will be awarded to Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot. Serbia and Russia have a stringent bilateral air service agreement in place. Although revised in 2013 to allow airlines other than Aeroflot and Air Serbia to maintain operations between the two countries, it still heavily favours the two national carriers.
Russia is one of Belgrade Airport’s biggest markets and despite the coronavirus pandemic has continued to perform well. Currently, Air Serbia, Aeroflot and Nordwind Airlines maintain flights between Belgrade and Moscow with frequencies limited to fourteen per week by Russian authorities due to the pandemic. Nordwind itself inaugurated operations to the Serbian capital in January but has also faced permit issues with the Serbian regulator. Air Serbia will restore operations to Krasnodar and St Petersburg on June 4 and June 8 respectively, as well as launch new flights to Rostov-on-Don on June 4. Due to existing limitations, both Aeroflot and Air Serbia have often been deploying wide-body aircraft on flights between the two capital cities so far this year, including the Airbus A330 aircraft and the Boeing 777 jet.
Commenting on its Russia operations, Air Serbia’s General Manager for Commercial and Strategy, Jiri Marek, said last week, “We continue to react quickly to all changes in travel restrictions in order to make use of every opportunity that arises. The Russian Federation represents a strategically extremely important market for us, and we are very glad that we will soon be able to operate flights to as many as four destinations in this great country. We are especially proud of the fact that, after Oslo and Geneva, we will be launching flights to Rostov-on-Don, as the third completely new destination in our network since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and the second one this year”. Earlier this year, the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate blocked Turkey’s AnadoluJet from commencing operations from Antalya.
Serbian CAD is out of control.
ReplyDeleteSerbian CAD blocked Anadolou so Turks blocked BNX-AYT on JU. That's why those flights will be operated by (I think) Freebird.
DeleteIt's not just the Serbian CAD that's like that. For example Aeroflot blocked Nordwind from launching two weekly LED-BEG flights because the current regulation states that only SU is allowed to fly internationally from non-Moscow airports. I believe charters are excluded from this rule.
Honestly serves them right from being blocked to fly BNX-AYT as they blocked Anadolu.
DeleteI agree.
DeleteBut the question is where is JU going to get more money. BNX-AYT or BEG-AYT. So it's a calculated risk.
DeleteTHY also block Pegasus to launch SAW-TIV in S19, also.
DeleteCalculated risk = only 50 percent of money .
DeleteShame. It would have been nice to have another One World airline in BEG.
ReplyDeleteYes! I believe Qatar Airways is the only one?
DeleteI'm going to say it again, thank goodness we have open skies with the EU otherwise the CAD would be blocking all flights.
ReplyDelete+100
Deletethey actually tried to block easyJet from flying in 2013 I believe. But all hell broke loose. Went to the top of the government and of course they had to let them.
Why is it so difficult to reach an agreement with Russia, preferably one without limitations?
ReplyDeleteBecause it would not be beneficial for Air Serbia
DeleteNot just Air Serbia but Aeroflot as well. BEG is a fantastic destination for them. I think only IST and BEG had at least 21 weekly frequencies on SU in winter before covid. ATH was 14 if I am not mistaken.
DeleteAeroflot enjoys a great deal of protectionism at home. They even get money from Siberian overflight rights.
"Instead, additional frequencies on flights between Moscow and Belgrade will be awarded to Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot"
DeleteObviously neither side want to liberalise the agreement.
DeleteOne mafia (Air Serbia) colluding with another mafia (Aeroflot.)
DeleteWhat makes them mafia?
DeleteStill don't get the logic of this protectionism. The more options and flights there are, the more people will have a choice and travel. Prices will go down and everyone will be happy.
ReplyDeleteEspecially that Russia is maybe like 25% of the traffic.
Well, it's the sort of agreement the two sides made.
Delete> Prices will go down and everyone will be happy.
DeleteEverybody except Air Serbia and Aeroflot. They would lose money.
But only at the beginning .
DeleteAs time goes by prices will went up again .
They really got scared of 1 weekly flight? Crazy!
ReplyDeleteRestrictions will be eventually removed so they don't want S7's 1 weekly flight to become 2 and then 3 and so on.
DeleteLook at how well Red Wings performed in BEG before covid, they planned a 4th weekly flight.
Speaking of Red Wings, will they return?
DeleteRegarding the Red Wings, I heard they got permission for winter 2020/21 but meanwhile they gave up, so permission was withdrawn... Probably they did not even apply for summer season
DeleteI think they suspended all international flights so who knows. I think they are waiting for restrictions to be over.
DeleteThanks for the info
DeleteUnfortunate as this would be good for Serbian consumers.
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not surprised
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia asked them to do it. They didn't make that decision on their own.
ReplyDeleteThey asked for S7 to be blocked so that SU can get more flights?
DeleteI see it's only 09.17 and conspiracy theories have already started.
CAD does what JU requests from them, whenever that's possible.
DeleteIf JU got the extra flights then it would make sense. This has SU written all over it. They already have one flight less than JU to BEG because of N4. They would have two less if S7 launched flights.
DeleteI can imagine Wizz weeping as they look at the party in Tivat and Moscow and they can't do anything about it. Standing outside looking inside.
ReplyDeleteThey should have received the Serbian AOC like they did in Ukraine. Markets such as Israel, Russia and Montenegro would have been enough. Heck in summer they could use one A320 just for MNE flights.
DeleteWizz Air no longer has Ukraine AOC since 2015.
Delete@Anon 09:18: I bet they are losing sleep over not being able to fly 2 routes with their fleet of 120 aircraft.
I think they are weeping because they have nowhere to fly those planes that's why they are opening random bases left and right.
DeleteTechnically speaking, would Wizz Air be allowed to fly between LED and BEG? Putting the difficulties in obtaining approval aside (favouritism with respect to national airlines).
Delete:(
ReplyDeleteAt a time when they should be happy with any new airline they can get...
ReplyDeleteAmateurs
DeleteRoute regulation. How lovely. Very 21st century.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter if its Serbian or Croatian government meddling propping up ailing flag carriers. Nothing will ever change.
DeleteI'd also add how Belgians and Austrians are doing the same even if both OS and SN are extremely loss making.
Deletehahaha people complain about Serbian CAD and JU but don't know Russians are ten times worse. They banned LO's BUD-ICN from flying over Siberia because of competition. They also banned Norwegian a few years back from flying long-haul from HEL to Asia because Finnair asked them to.
ReplyDeleteCrazy
DeleteRussian CAD also requests all Russian airlines to first get permission from them to operating a certain route and only then can they ask the authority from the other country.
DeleteWould be nice if Serbian CAD had the interests of the passengers in mind, rather than what's good for JU.
DeleteMore competition = lower prices.
@ Anonymous 10:52
Deletewas that also the case when Air Berlin collapsed? Lufthansa offered generous price packages to all passengers...
SVO is a cash cow for Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteYes only because both JU and SU have taken the policy to extort money from passengers with extremely high prices. SU started first with this approach and JU naturally followed up very quickly. Prior to March 2020 used to fly SVO-BEG-SVO on SU flex economy fare for 28500 rub, now this fare is approximately 43000 rub if purchased in advance. Even Northwind is somewhat similar once you add luggage and select a seat (BTW their comfort seats are sold @ 40e one way; watch JU increasing their prices from 11e soon).
DeleteIt's a shame because it would have further increased passenger numbers.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe lowered prices...
DeleteIt makes no difference for passenger numbers because their frequency went to SU.
Delete^ exactly. I don't see what all the drama is about.
DeleteJust open the market. People and the economy will benefit much more.
ReplyDeleteFrom one weekly S7 flights, whose frequency will be taken over by Aeroflot?
DeleteThey have the right to do it. Whether we like it or not is a different story.
ReplyDeleteJust because they can do something doesn't mean they should.
DeleteI wonder what VINCI thinks of all of this?
ReplyDeleteThis won't change number of pax overall...
DeleteNothing, Vinci is happy with all the flights they got left and right especially ROV and KRR.
DeleteWhat a dumb decision.
ReplyDeleteIt's impressive how much demand there is between Russia and Serbia. Even in these times
ReplyDeleteIt's also nice to see Aeroflot's big birds in BEG
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7itM_7MWkI
Thank you for the video. Interesting that we can see how A gates they are fixing now will look exactly the same like the new C extension they are building now. Finally the terminal will look all the same.
DeleteJust open the entire market, not just for EU airlines.
ReplyDeleteThere are agreements in place with different countries. Market is wide open with countries they have free sky agreements like UAE, USA...
DeleteThis is just absurd at a time you should be begging airlines to come.
ReplyDeleteProbably the reason why Ural Airlines never asked Serbian directorate for permission to launch those 5 routes to BEG. They knew they would get knocked back.
ReplyDeleteSince JU is resuming all these Russia flights in June, does this mean Aeroflot will increase frequencies to BEG in return?
ReplyDeleteLooking at their current schedule (maybe it changes) they still have only 5 weekly scheduled in June.
DeleteThey should be careful with these blocks so they don't experience the same.
ReplyDeleteWho is "they"? You do understand Aeroflot got the flight instead of S7?
DeleteIs it just me or did S7 also paint the wheels green too? :D looking at the photo
ReplyDeleteIt's quite common actually, most airlines have wheels painted matching their livery, where possible.
DeleteIt's amazing how people on aviation portal do not understand that air traffic is not ruled by free market, but it's has always been heavily regulated. It's always regulated between 2 countries which may or may not set open sky.
ReplyDeleteOpen sky in Europe is multilateral agreement that created single market. Within EU it's basically domestic market, there is no national sovereignty in this field. They accepted to open partially for other countries like Serbia and that is all. They may decide to change this agreement anytime in the future, but as long as EU is singe market, between those counties it's domestic traffic.
What CAD does we may like or not, but they make decisions based on the international contracts Serbia has.
You are absolutely right, but it is also absolutely ridiculous that there isn't a free market between the two countries, so carriers registered in either country could fly any route between the two.
DeleteNot to mention how absurd is imposing route restrictions in 2021 when the airline industry has been shredded to pieces. It's like people live in an alternate reality.
Good God guys, restrictions are now in times of covid. Once they pass it will all come back to normal. Before airlines could start as they please which is why we had Red Wings.
DeleteS7 was blocked because of Covid? Lol
DeleteSerbian citizens have been banned from most EU countries for 365+ days because of Covid? Lol.
DeleteHow does this have anything to do with S7 and Serbian CAD? Lol
DeleteBecause you asked if S7 was blocked because of Covid? So I am rephrasing the question in order to to show you that Covid=politics in your example.
DeleteAnon 14.56
DeleteActually yes, that is correct. Thse restrictions are officially because of covid.
ReplyDeleteThe power of politics 😎
If S7 gets blocked does that mean that W6 might also be blocked one day if they ever try launching BEG-LED? I mean, now that JU will operate to 4 Russian airports, I guess all the focus will be on them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Wizz can start those fights anyway.
DeleteAnother destructive decision from Serbian CAD.
ReplyDeleteS7 should start flying from Saint Petersburg,Krasnodar or Rostov to Belgrade .
ReplyDeleteIf the Serbian regulator blocks them S7 should go to the Russian regulator and demand the blocking of Air Serbia from these three destinations .
Based on bilateral only JU and SU can open scheduled flights outside of Moscow.
DeleteOkay so if thats the case why did Ural Airlines apply for flying to Belgrade from cities outside of Moscow if thats not possible ?
DeleteI mean why would they apply in first case if it is not allowed ?
Dont they have lawyers who must know the regulations ?
You can apply to operate on a charter basis but that means you can't have direct sales and you can fly once per week. They obviously realized that since they never applied for a permit from Serbian CAD.
DeleteI am confused .
DeleteI guess that anything beside the Aeroflot and Air Serbia duopoly is a lost cause now .
Yes for now until covid restrictions are suspended.
DeleteGuys, the Russian regulator would not allow those flights to begin with.
DeleteThe state of aviation in the former Yugoslavia is depressing ...
ReplyDeleteIt would have been nice to have another option, I will try my best to stick to Aeroflot and Nordwind, as Air Serbia are inept.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling you've never flown with either of the three.
DeleteSerbian CAD is out of control. One mafia (Air Serbia) colluding with another mafia (Aeroflot.) Air Serbia asked them to do it. Both JU and SU have taken the policy to extort money from passengers. Air Serbia are inept.
ReplyDeleteThis site makes for nice relaxing reading. Today's quotes are pure meditation.
But when someone posts a sensible comment the other day about UA&DL potentially reducing plans for DBV later in the season? Ohhh that's a violation!
Air Serbia asked them to do "it" so Aeroflot could get the extra flight and not Air Serbia? What do your investigative skills tell you, will Aeroflot be purchasing a stake in JU and this is actually the first clue we have?!
DeleteIf demand is high then decreasing the offer will result in higher prizes .
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning its very profitable but in the long term customers will seek for alternatives .
In that case that would be for example Belavia .
Maybe Belavia will soon increase to daily flights ?
My friend, they did not decrease the offer. That one frequency that S7 asked for was given to SU.
DeleteBelavia is a success story .
DeleteIncreasing frequency to daily would be even better - they now send their Embaer 95 instead of E75 !
Not only Belavia, Air Baltic would be also a good addition .
DeleteAnd Riga is a beautiful weekend getaway .
Idiots!
ReplyDeleteStanding ovations for single best comment in the history of this blog !!!
Delete