Three Russian carriers plan new Belgrade flights from nine cities


Three carriers from Russia, including Aeroflot, Rossiya and S7 Airlines, have received approval from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency - Rosaviatsiya - to launch new flights to Belgrade. It comes as Air Serbia begins to expand its operations in Russia today with the introduction of flights to Rostov-on-Don and the resumption of services to St Petersburg and Krasnodar, while Nordwind Airlines readies to launch its second route to the Serbian capital, from St Petersburg, next week. Furthermore, Russia’s national carrier has started operating all of its Belgrade flights with wide-body Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Aeroflot has now received approval to commence up to seven weekly flights from St Petersburg to Belgrade, while Rossiya Airlines, which is part of the Aeroflot Group, has also been granted approval by Russian authorities for the same route with the same number of frequencies. 

S7 Airlines, which was blocked by the Serbian regulator from introducing services between Moscow and Belgrade last month, has now filed plans to commence up to 24 weekly rotations to the Serbian capital from a range of cities. These include Kazan, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Ufa, Saratov, Perm and Nizhniy Novgorod. All of S7’s permit requests have been filed for up to three services per week. However, all three carriers must now seek and receive approval from the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate in order to be able to introduce these flights. Furthermore, the airlines themselves can decide against launching any of the routes they initially received approval to launch. 

Russia is one of Belgrade Airport’s biggest markets and despite the coronavirus pandemic has continued to perform well. Demand in recent months has been driven primarily by Russian tour operators selling packages to Serbian mountain resorts. With numerous markets still closed off to Russian travellers, relaxed entry rules into Serbia and visa free travel have made the country a popular choice. “Serbia has never been in such demand before. The most popular destination is the Kopaonik mountain resort, which accounts for about 70% of all sales to Serbia”, tour operator TUI Russia said. Serbian nationals are also permitted entry into Russia.

Two-way indirect traffic between Serbian and Russia in 2019



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    wow

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:02

    Not so sure S7 will get a permit for all of those but I don't think they will be able to block Aeroflot.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous09:05

    I can not believe there is such a crazy demand for Serbia among Russians. I guess very bad relations between the EU and Russia has a lot to do with Serbia being a popular destination for Russians.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:08

      It has most to do that Russians cannot enter any EU market since corona started.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:12

      They can enter Cyprus, they even accept the Sputnik vaccine. I flew on JU880 yesterday and right behind us was a SU B77W.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:13

      That's one out of how many markets

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    4. Nemjee09:16

      It was written that they can't enter any market which is wrong.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:39

      @Nemjee keep in mid that Russia has vaccinated just 7% of its population so it limits the number of people that can travel. I assume that Aeroflot's flights to Cyprus are full but this can also be down to the fact that many Russians have residency permits in Cyprus or even citizenship. Most of the traditional markets where Russians go for holiday are in fact closed for them.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:47

      Good for then

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:09

      Emm, they can enter Croatia too, they are already flying to DBV and ZAG...

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:28

      And Turkey, also a popular destination choice… They can enter Greece too, but the numbers are capped.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:31

      All passenger flights between Russia and Turkey are currently banned.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous11:36

      Pula yesterday: https://www.glasistre.hr/pula/u-pulsku-zracnu-luku-sletio-zrakoplov-aeroflota-iz-moskve-sa-145-putnika-725561

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:05

    Who knew Covid would create so much demand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:40

      It had created some completely new markets or new interest for certain markets, that's for sure.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:06

    Holy cow! WTF???

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous09:09

    I think Serbia will have to grant them all because they risk JU being punished especially now when Russia is being unpredictable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      +100

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:42


      I hope these flights will be approved by Serbia

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:58

      I doubt all of them will but some might

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    Really interesting that none of requests relate to INI, having in mind the most popular destination for Russians - Kopaonik, according to article... It`s proximity to Kopaonik and Stara Planina, as well as to Spa`s, as well as pax taxes at INI is incomparable to BEG...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      It would probably involve INI airport and its management actually doing something. You can't just sit on your hands waiting for someone to come to you. They had a very proactive management a few years ago that brought Ryanair, Wizz Air and Swiss. Then they fell out of favor with the ruling party, they were replaced and now you have what you have.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:29

      You are right, but DCV, JU, INI (read it Airports of Serbia), are now the same page. Diverting Russian airlines to INI can spare JU in BEG, which is interest of JU, which cannot be blamed being passive, for true. Certainly, JU itself may launch INI to Russia...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:30

      Actually, Kraljevo is the best option for the Kopaonik mountin, but there are those runway restrictions...

      Delete
    4. It would be in the interest of the Serbian government to encourage some of these flights to INI, simply because it is still owned by the state - thus profits - while BEG is under that concession with Vinci.

      It would require major work with the tourism associations in Nis, Sokobanja, Kopaonik, Vranje etc.

      A few years ago Nis really upped its game - with great AirBnb, hotel and restaurant offers to accommodate all those Wizz Air weekend tourists.

      Delete
    5. This is main problem. Because of crisis caused by pandemic madness, government need to allow more operations in BEG, in order to give opportunity to Vinci Airports to get some money. Otherwise, part of cake which depends of BEG income will never get to government budget. In case of INI, main reason why government took it, is to CONTROL moneyflow. So we will see some redirections (few S7 not more) on INI just in case if people from Nish (who else) will start to react.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous22:33

      Koji moneyflow? Three euro per passenger is less than needed to operate the airport. There is not much cash and no profit to control.

      Banja Luka management also got Wizz and Ryan plus Air Serbia and Air Montenegro, so what's so special about previous INI management?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous08:24

      €3 was enough once the airport got close to 500.000 passengers. Don't forget that the airport doesn't just live from that tax but from shops, restaurants, parking.... Before Airports of Serbia was created INI published its own financial report and the last year they were profitable.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous08:24

      FYI INI gets a lot of cargo traffic which is a nice source of income.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:16

    This would be great for BEG traffic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      And the tourism industry

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    2. Anonymous10:10

      Absolutely

      Delete
    3. Anonymous00:58

      It will help with the recovery.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:18

    Let's see how many of these flights become a reality.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:19

    My guess is the Rossiya and Aeroflot application are on purpose so they can decide which of the two to send. I don't think they will operate simultaneously.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous09:19

    BEG lists SU from LED from 22.06. I guess that will be operated by Rossiya.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      Great. That means they have already applies for slots at BEG.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:21

      N4 seems to have applied for three weekly from LED. Now we wait for S7.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:21

    Bravo Rusija!
    Bravo Srbija!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:33

    Great. It would have nice to have some secondary Russian cities served from BEG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:43

      It would be better to have secondary Serbian cities served from Russia.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous08:25

      ROV & KRR are secondary cities.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:34

    This is great news. Does anyone know what is the load today for Air Serbia's new Rostov flight?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:36

      It doesn't depart till 1.40pm

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:05

      Return was 3-117 when I checked a few days ago.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:13

      Full on the return, just shows the size of demand to Serbia from Russia

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:41

    This is all great, unless the Serbian CAD blocks it all.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:42

    Purchased tkt SVO-BEG SVO yesterday on SU for October for about 235e (economy light), interesting that JU increased their fare for luggage to 30e per segment. On some days they are more expensive than SU.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:43

    Well, that was ... unexpected

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:43

    Let's hope they launch.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:43

    If those S7 flights start, they will basically cover all of the main points in Russia.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:44

    Almost every week we get good news about new airlines/routes in Belgrade :) nice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:48

      Even in the normal times it would be extra ordinary and especially in these crazy circumstances.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:49

    good ties should be utilized as much as possible :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous09:49

    Some of these routes I'm not sure will work. Based on the data in the article they don't have that many point to point passengers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:51

      They work with tour operators and obviously there is completely new demand compared to what there was in 2019 before the pandemic.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:53

      Demand can be created especially in the cases when there is no direct competition on the particular routes.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:26

      Those are point to point passengers, doesn't include transfers JU would carry.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous09:51

    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous09:52

    Well done Belgrade

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:52

    It is good to see that they are no longer one weekly flights.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:54

      Well it says they applied UP TO 7 weekly and 3 weekly. So it means they can launch between 0 and 7 or 0 and 3. Up to the airline. Of course if they get approval from Serbian CAD.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous09:54

    JU should have perhaps made LED year round.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      LED probably will go year round once Covid passes.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous09:55

    Will Red Wings resume flights?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous09:56

    This is quite impressive if you ask me

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous09:56

    Good. The more foreign visitors the merrier.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous10:06

    It would be good if Wizz Air could launch LED-BEG as well. At least the prices would be affordable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:07

      As an EU carrier they can't operate this flight.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:29

      They can to LED
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/12/european-carriers-get-russia-access.html

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:43

      Doesn't mean they would get access from BEG.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:06

    I think that flights to Russia have great potential.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      S7 seems to think so too :D

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:11

      +1000

      Delete
  32. Anonymous10:06

    This is significant in these difficult times. Let's just hope they launch.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous10:07

    Nice development. Hope these routes start and can be sustained.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous10:11

    With these new routes BEG will have very good coverage in Russia.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous10:12

    Today's JU loads to Russia:

    BEGSVO JU650 104-2
    SVOBEG JU651 159-12

    BEGSVO JU654 132-5
    SVOBEG JU655 157-11

    BEGROV JU676 26-2
    ROVBEG JU677 134-2

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:30

      That's very good. Not surprised about the low load from BEG though. Shows that for the time being these flights will be used by tourists rather than transfers.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:19

      These are good loads but considering that SU is flying A333 and is full on every flight that means that ASL has room for improvement.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous13:26

      I do not see any room for improvement for SVO as JU is sending A320 and it is maxed out... Only thing would be to increase frequencies both with all other flights I do not know if they have enough equipment to deploy for another daily SVO

      Delete
    4. Anonymous01:00

      I also wonder if they have enough equipment. SVO is not such a short rotation.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous01:01

      Speaking of JU and loads this Saturday they have 5 flights to Hurghada.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous08:28

      Don't forget JU has an extra weekly flight compared to SU.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous11:17

    Great to see

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous12:24

    Love it

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous12:24

    I can see Moscow-KVO flights in the future since its closer to mountain resorts which were popular with Russians this winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:28

      Only if the runway gets extended or a new one is built.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous00:59

      They will build a new one.

      Delete
  39. Anonymous12:28

    Great news for Belgrade

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous12:30

    Perm and Ufa are not that close to BEG. How long would these flights take?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:33

      Around 3 hours 50 minutes. Yekaterinburg is furthest away from the destinations they plane. Around 4 hrs 15 minutes

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:45

      Interesting. Thank you

      Delete
  41. Anonymous14:38

    Let's hope this will drive down prices, the prices between Belgrade and Moscow are scandalous

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:37

      I am actually considering traveling to Moscow by car in July for the MAKS airshow as I am not willing to pay €500 for a return ticket (last time I looked). Sure it´s a long drive, but hey, the drive itself is part of the adventure isn´t it?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:46

      Half the fun is getting there. Good luck.

      Delete
    3. Sure. Have you bought BTR vehicle already? Free advice, when car drives 110+ kmh wheels start to overfly quite deep holes, so just keep speed 😂

      Delete
  42. Anonymous16:48

    Wondering if JU could have grabed a bit more of this kolač.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18:23

      Maybe yes but only once they start flying on time. Every time the flight is full there is no chance to turn it around in 45 min on the ground. SVO JU late every day while SU is flying ahead of schedule.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:29

      SU has one of the best on time performances in the world because they have extremely long turnaround times in Moscow for all their flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:29

      That means JU needs to change the handling company in Moscow.

      Delete
  43. Anonymous19:14

    JU needs to greatly improve their on time performance, and renew their fleet, and expand their network. They have a chance now to be real leaders in the region.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous00:57

      What does this have to do with Russian airlines starting flights to Belgrade. Besides, they have been introducing new routes - 3 new routes in 10 months and a fourth one launching next month. Regarding fleet they have started renewing it. They took two younger A319s last autumn.

      Delete
  44. Anonymous00:57

    This should help BEG with its recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous00:59

    I believe this is the first new route Aeroflot has introduced to BEG since the collapse of the USSR no?

    ReplyDelete

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