Air Serbia terminates Geneva service, plans Zurich growth


Air Serbia has discontinued flights between Belgrade and Geneva, just under seven months since launching operations on the route. The two-weekly service was recently downgraded into a seasonal summer operation and was due to run until the end of October but has now been terminated a month in advance. All ticket sales have been discontinued and it is unclear whether the Serbian carrier will resume flights next summer, with no tickets currently available for purchase. The Serbian carrier had planned to introduce flights to Switzerland’s second largest city in March 2020 but was forced to delay the launch for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Air Serbia faced direct competition on the route from easyJet. The low cost airline will maintain three weekly rotations between the two cities this coming winter season, increasing to six weekly from November 29. The route was the subject of intense competition in 2013 when Etihad Regional, easyJet and Swiss all launched the service, however, in the end, only the budget airline prevailed. Air Serbia planned to add Geneva to its network as early as March 2018 but cancelled those less than a month after putting tickets on sale. Serbian citizens and residents who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are permitted entry into Switzerland without restrictions, if inoculated with one of the jabs recognised by the World Health Organisation.

On the other hand, Air Serbia plans to increase its operations between Belgrade and Zurich this winter season, with flights to be maintained fifteen times per week, outstripping its summer frequencies. Services will run three times per day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, double daily on Mondays and Thursdays, and once per day the rest of the week. As a result, Zurich will become Air Serbia’s busiest route in terms of available capacity this coming winter season with 86.100 seats on sale, and the second busiest in terms of frequencies with 606 flights currently scheduled (return service included) between October 31 and March 26.

At this point, Air Serbia has scheduled operations to 38 destinations for the coming winter season. After upgrading its service to St Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don from seasonal to year-round flights, it will serve 36 cities from Belgrade, and one each from Niš and Kraljevo.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    Seems Air Serbia overestimated itself against easyjet.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      They decided to launch the flight when they though easyjet was going to suspend it. Same as with Oslo, they started when they thought Norwegian would not come back, although unlike Geneva they actually have done very well in Oslo.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      Yes but they should know that easyJet is not Norwegian. After all that strategic planning I mean.

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    3. Anonymous09:24

      Maybe that famous 'strategic plan' needs recalibrating - perhaps with smartwings ??

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    4. Anonymous09:25

      Haha yes, Smartwings is the go to solution these days. I don't know, is there another Czech airline that Marek can help to profit from JU?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:28

      You weren't singing that tune when they announced these flights.

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    6. Anonymous09:33

      I did not comment back then when the route was announced.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:27

      SmartWings is clearly becoming a regional leisure leader in Europe. Their fleet and presence is becoming like Jet2.com.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous12:43

      Well I don't know why would Air Serbia "overestimate" itself. They have been competing against EasyJet on Berlin route for quite some time and they seem to be doing fine.

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    9. Anonymous13:04

      Valid point that easyJet and Norwegian are different. Norwegian has a shaky recent history to put it mildly, so I can imagine that some people don't dare booking with them but that Air Serbia feels like a safer option on the Oslo route. However, in the case of easyJet, Air Serbia is up against a financially stable giant of an airline, so they don't have that advantage. The Berlin market might be big enough for them both, but not Geneva.

      Delete
    10. Nemjee13:16

      I think flights from Zurich and Basel are making GVA more challenging. On the other hand if you live in Berlin or anywhere in Brandenburg or Saxony, BER is kind of your best option to reach Belgrade/Serbia.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous13:19

      Air Serbia is definitely lifting above its weight for airline that is NOT part Single European Market.

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    12. Anonymous16:03

      JU has unlimited access to the market, I doubt they would have opened bases elsewhere.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Loads must have been poor if they ended the flights early.

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    Replies
    1. Vlad09:08

      Not loads, but yields. It's a 2-hour flight where you could routinely purchase return tickets for less than 100 EUR. I'm not surprised.

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    2. Anonymous09:12

      And I'm guessing that's because of easy. I don't know why they pursued this route in the first place. They could have down something better as an alternative.

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    3. Anonymous09:14

      They could have resumed Madrid for starters.

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    4. Anonymous09:18

      MAD is a much longer rotation than GVA.

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    5. Anonymous16:03

      No competition to Madrid

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  3. Anonymous09:07

    Good to see this being compensated by growth at Zurich.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      How many flights to ZRH were there last winter?

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:26

    Can we get a statement from Marek on this? Can he explain to us why he thought GVA would work and why it failed in the end? Where did they go wrong? Or is he busy making summer 2022 plan with Smartwings?

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    1. Anonymous09:30

      It's normal in the aviation industry that some routes will work and some won't, especially during exceptional circumstances we live in now. At least they didn't keep a route which was not bringing them money and will be able to use the aircraft somewhere else.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:34

      We are not talking about Ostrava or Brno being suspended but a major European destination with massive O&D, especially when you add passengers from the Lyon area. If JU can't make this work then there is something seriously wrong with their commercial department. Market is there, they just didn't manage to capture it.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:38

      Ok, well there is little point discussing since you seem to have a vendetta against the guy judging by the amount of comments you made about it so discussion is pointless.

      I'm not going into who is responsible but in the last two years they have launched many new routes despite the situation, acted quickly when Adria went bust, capitalized on increase demand on Russian market, started using A330s much more on other routes and the situation in the industry has been far from good.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:42

      I don't have a vendetta against him, I just hate how he presents himself as the next best thing to happen to JU when in reality that's not the case. Let's look at some shortfalls:

      1. Termination of GVA is utter humiliation for JU.
      2. This summer JU was completely kicked out of Crete by Air Serbia and Aegean.
      3. Still no loyalty programme
      4. ATR fleet is falling apart
      5. Opened doors to Smartwings
      6. Still no code-share partner in North America after almost 5.5 years on the market
      7. Russian success is not thanks to JU but thanks to CAD blocking almost anyone and everyone who tries to enter the market.

      Bottom line, JU has big problems and pointing a few rays of sunshine is not enough to part the gray clouds that have arrived with Naysmith and Marek.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:43

      And just to note, I'm not here defending anyone but it is unlikely one single person's decision weather a certain route will be launched. In case of Geneva, I doubt loads were the problem but like someone said yields, considering how low they were selling tickets, while their costs are much bigger than easyjets.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:43

      Crete by Aegean and Wizz Air, sorry.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:45

      All that you wrote at 09.43 makes sense but someone who is in charge of the commercial aspect at JU should have forseen all this. What did they expect? That easyJet would just walk away after they beat Swiss and Etihad Regional on this market? They are very territorial in GVA and it's a public secret.

      Someone failed here in the analysis and cost JU hundreds of thousands of Euros.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:46

      With all due respect 5 out of the 7 problems are historical and date back before Naysmith or Marek were in the picture. Although I have to point out that JU has a loyalty problem shared with Etihad and it's actually quite good, especially since you can use the points on partner airlines and actually use them for hotel bookings which is handy. I would rather have this then a loyalty program of their own which would probably much fewer benefits.

      Out of those points I can tell you that North America codeshare has been an issue because not a single US airline wants a codeshare with them. They tried with all the airlines. Some airlines didn't even want to have a meeting with them when requested. Why? They are a small airline and are in no alliance.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:01

      Then Marek needs to stop using terms like strategic planning because all 7 things fall under those categories. You can't have good strategic planning while flying around with 30 year old ATRs whose cabins are falling apart. Just like you can't be a serious airline without your loyalty program, one that you can change and adapt to your needs.

      Btw Sky Express from Greece, a tiny airline, managed to get a code-share with AA. So yes, there is something seriously wrong with JU in JFK.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:03

      For starters Sky Express is an airline from Greece (a massive market which has been a massive hit with Americans this year) and has a domestic network which is useful to transport American tourists who rarely just visit Athens when going to Greece. Can't be compared. With exception for TIV and TGD, US alliance partners cover all regional destinations offered by Air Serbia.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous15:14

      Sorry but all those are sad excuses. AA is barely present in the Balkans do JU would have a business case.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:34

    There seem to be some routes which don't work for them but do well with LCCs. Geneva is one, Hamburg is another.

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  6. Anonymous09:59

    Problem sa JU je taj sto kada im ne ide linija oni se jednostavno povuku. Ne shvataju da se trziste stvara ali za to su potrebne pare i kreativnost. Trebalo bi naprviti reklame, stimulisati putnike da kupuju karte sa njima a ne sa konkurencijom itd

    Dokle god se to ne promeni nece im biti bolje.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      +100
      they always do this

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:01

    Yep got my ticket cancellation email this week :(

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:14

    The fleet is their problem; this line might have worked easily with a 100-seater. And many others.

    Croatia is doing the right thing now with A220, it s high time Air Serbia to follow suit.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:22

      And you believe Croatia is buying A220?! ������

      Delete
  9. Anonymous10:24

    Air Serbia acts like headless in the last times. Open up there, close here. Pure amateurism from a so called state airline.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:26

      Why "so called"? It is a state airline.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11:14

    I don't understand why there is such a hate against Marek and Air Serbia.

    They showed very clearly their capability in opening new destinations and quickness in their reactions on the changes in the surrounding countries.

    I would just remind that in 2019 they brought 9 new destinations and for summer 2020 was planned additional 6 new destinations from BEG. In total it would mean 15 new destinations in 2 years only and it has never happened in JU history. At the same time no other airline in the region with much bigger potential did not do anything similar.

    Let's not forget how quickly they reacted in case of Adria bankruptcy, how quickly they reacted when Atlas stopped flying to BEG, that they signed very important code share with TK and that they opened in the middle of pandemic very successful OSL destination. At the same time they beat heavily Wizz on OSL and LCA routes and AF on CDG route, they will have this winter more flights to ZRH than Swiss, they keep flying to JFK as the only from ex-Yu and they keep attractive FF programme.

    So terminating one destination after long time is really not a big deal. Airliners keep doing it all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:03

      Hejterima neće biti dobro kad krenu najave za letnju sezonu.A tek dolazak drugog a možda i trećeg A330....,prosto se brinem za njihovo zdravlje.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:03

      Agree +1

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    3. Anonymous16:04

      It's because Marek irritates people with his fake statements which are totally unrealistic.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous01:50

      .... and because he makes such boastful statements about so many things, especially when things go well but is nowhere to be seen or heard when things go wrong. If you are going to own the things that go well, you also have to own the things don't go well. He only seems to be a 'fairweather' manager

      Delete
  11. Anonymous12:02

    Unfortunate

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  12. Anonymous12:03

    It was a long shot to think they would be able to beat easyjet on this route.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12:05

    Why did they cancel GVA launch in 2018?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:24

      Back then they also thought easyjet would suspend the flights because they hadn't put tickets on sale past a certain point. Then easy said it was a technical glitch on their website and a week later tickets were on sale and Air Serbia decided not to compete.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous12:26

    Seems that EasyJet has beat absolutely all competition on this route :D Etihad Regional, Swiss and Air Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:33

      I wish they launched more new routes to BEG.

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    2. Anonymous12:34

      easyjet I mean

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:42

      I'm surprised they haven't done more other than Geneva and Berlin.

      Delete
    4. Bio je i Rim i Malpensa, ali samo jedna sezona, odmah na početku poslovanja u srbiji. Rim je otkazan zbog ju i w6, ali mi nikad neće biti jasno zašto mxp? Letela je samo asl.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:39

      Easyjet i Norwegian su najbolji LCC koji lete za Beograd. I dok je Norwegian u zaista losoj situaciji iz koje su krenuli polako da se vade, easyJet je u mnogo boljoj situaciji iako je i njih ova kriza dobro uzdrmala i zato bi bilo jako dobro ako bi uveli neki novi let uz Beograda ka na primer PMI, LIS, INN, VIE, FCO, VLC,BRU, MAD, KRK, TFS.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous21:48

      Ја бих додао и Пегаза, он је одлична нискобуџетна компанија.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous02:07

      Misliš Pegasus?

      Delete
  15. Anonymous12:47

    Zurich has performed very well for them throughout this crisis.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:10

      Big difference between Zurich and Geneva demand.

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    2. Anonymous02:05

      True, Zurich has always performed well for AS.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous12:49

    Wasn't this the second time ASL cancels the service to GVA? I don't understand why there is so much obsession with this destination. We saw many players in the past and the clear winner was obviously easyJet. ASL, LX and Etihad Regional all failed miserably.
    I guess ASL must stick to ZRH where it is good at.
    Finally, the Wizzair BSL route also hurts quite a lot because the prices are usually quite low. Also makes me wonder why BEG-LYS was a failure having LYS quite close to GVA! It's like less than 2 hours by train or car.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:56

      Someone in the comments the other week said that Air Serbia will replace GVA with LYS but I don't know if it is true.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous13:11

    Them having 38 routea from BEG in winter is very respectable.

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    Replies
    1. I veoma rizično, na granici sa nepromišljenim. Potpisujem da će na min 5 od 38 leteti u debeli minus sračunat u stotinama hiljada evra.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:55

      Je'l ti to potpisuješ Damijane? I šta ako sve letovi budu uspješni?

      Delete
  18. Geneva? Who cares? A little city with no potential for growth. Smart Air Serbia. Focus on the big picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:43

      I care Miroslave!

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    2. I say the same, just without I, Miroslave Care! 😃 If only OU had Jiry and Duncan 😃

      Delete
  19. Geneva is a VFR market which has always been price sensitive and with all these restrictions it is a low yielding route for any airline. I personally regret this decision as I fly to Geneva at least twice a year. However, the winter is coming, we all know what that means. Zurich is a bigger market and if you have to chose between two, the plane is better utilized when sent to Zurich. AirSerbia could bring Geneva back into the schedule next year. I prefered flying AirSerbia but Easyjet has not been bad at all, they sometimes offer return flights for far less that 100EUR.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous15:16

    Expected, maybe they should try Lyon from next summer season.

    ReplyDelete
  21. air serbia is not etihad, flying to geneva for whom? i do not understand air serbia , how much are they in debt loss? they fly arround like klm and connecting as serbia has 30 milion population and GDP size of norway

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous02:04

      The only block letters you used was for GDP, why?

      Delete

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