Russia’s Nordwind Airlines plans to introduce over a dozen new routes to Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia and Slovenia. The carrier, which already serves Belgrade, Zagreb, Skopje and several coastal cities in Croatia, has requested and received approval from Russia’s federal aviation authority Rosaviatsia to launch the new routes, which is a prerequisite for airlines under Russian regulations. It must now seek approval from local aviation authorities if it wishes to exercise its rights. So far, the airline has requested slots for services between Krasnodar and Belgrade but must also apply for a permit from the Serbian regulator, which may prove more difficult due to a restrictive bilateral air service agreement between the two countries. It aleady maintains flights to the Serbian capital from Moscow, St Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don.
Once nonstop flights between Russia and Montenegro are permitted again, the carrier plans to launch operations from several cities to Podgorica and is expecting pent-up demand for travel to the country, as nonstop services have not been in operation since March of last year. On the other hand, the airline has been successfully maintaining flights between Moscow and Skopje and is due to commence operations from St Petersburg to the Macedonian capital next Tuesday. Nordwind now intends on introducing services from the town of Mineralnye Vody, in southwestern Russia, which serves as the gateway to several Caucasian spa resorts.
Nordwind plans to expand its operations to Zagreb with the introduction of flights from St Petersburg, complementing its service from Moscow. Furthermore, it will bolster its presence in Croatia with planned services from Russia’s second largest city to Dubrovnik. Nordwind also intends on entering the Slovenian market for the first time by inaugurating a St Petersburg to Ljubljana service. Based on OAG data, over 3.400 passengers flew indirectly between the two cities in the pre-pandemic 2019. Currently, Ljubljana’s only route to Russia is Aeroflot’s service from Moscow.
wow
ReplyDeleteFinally LED from LJU! I have been waiting for this route for years.
ReplyDeleteFingers crosed
DeleteImpressive. Let's hope they launch the majority.
ReplyDeleteKrasnoyarsk-Belgrade is an almost 7 hour flight. Maybe they plan to use their A330 on this route.
ReplyDeleteWich other aircraft could they use, beside specialy configurated 737?
DeleteThey have 9 B777 in the fleet :D
DeleteTheir fleet is really impressive actually.
DeleteIndeed 9 A321s, 4 A330s, 12 B737-800s, 9 B777s
DeleteDon't forget Pegas Fly which is operated by the same company - they have 15 planes including B737-900s and B767s.
DeleteThe 737NG could make it, but strong winds over Siberia might require a technical stop on the way to Belgrade
DeleteSo most likely a330 or 777.
DeleteVery good news!
ReplyDeleteThe Skopje route is interesting. Never heard of this a Russian town.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tourist destination in the Soviet Union, kinda like how in the former Yugoslavia people would flock to spa (banja) towns. Not sure how well the route would do as a flight not focused on transfers given that Macedonians have local alternatives, but we'll hope for the best.
DeleteI'm just wondering is it targeted at Macedonian tourists to visit Russia or the other way around.
Deletenope, for now they are taegeted at Russians visiting Macedonia an the region.
DeleteMineralnye is more like a transfer point for Caucasus.
DeleteSo the routes are planned for next summer?
ReplyDeleteNo, they can launch them at any time. For example they asked for Krasnodar-Belgrade slots from mid October.
DeleteIt's interesting that everywhere they first launched flights from Moscow but in Ljubljana's case it will be from LED.
ReplyDeletePity that they didnt consider Ohrid from Moscow
ReplyDeletethey are already in talks for that. (according the Agency for tourism in MK)
DeleteAnyone know the load on the first ROV BEG flight?
ReplyDeleteThey sent the A321
DeleteBut in the same document Red Wings was also mentioned. They've received approval from Russia from some of those cities as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd just like with Ural none of these will happen.
DeleteNordwind has a good track record so far. And they have actually already asked for slots for KRR-BEG (from 6.10)
Delete@Anon 10:41: Unfortunately this is true, to the detriment of Serbian and Russian travelers... If the CAD and Air Serbia were to behave more reasonably, we would have seen a more developed network between Russia and Serbia by now.
DeleteWell done Nordwind!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see more and more connectivity from the region to Russia.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteHave a feeling Serbian CAD will block most of the flights to Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteThey haven't blocked a single Nordwind flight or application.
DeleteThey get around it by first applying for a charter permit for which CAD has no basis to refuse.
DeleteMost of these flights will probably be just 1 weekly.
ReplyDeleteIt's for Russian tourists so it is enough.
DeleteFinally Skopje will get better coonection with Russia!
ReplyDeleteThis third route to Skopje will attract so many tourists from macedonia to go there during winter. I think it will be the most successful one.
DeleteWho would have though this airline would become the main Russian airlines between ex-Yu and Russia.
ReplyDeleteWell there is obviously demand. Air Serbia is today sending A330 to Moscow.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are 4 flights between Belgrade and Moscow today
Delete1 by Aeroflot with A330
3 by Air Serbia with A330 and A320.
Impressive
DeleteBesides the Moscow flights, JU is also flying Rostov and Krasnodar today.
DeleteI think this airline is running out of market and don't have the possibility expanding in the EU. Also, where is Bosnia? Bosnia has so much to offer compared to RNM. Have mixed feelings about this. Those approved destinations are pretty random.
ReplyDeleteJust how LH doesn’t fly to SKP, Nordwind doesn’t fly to BH...plus MK has the oldest lake in Europe!
DeleteTook me a few seconds to realize what RNM is. Then the next guy refers to it as MK. :-)
DeleteI call it MAK.
DeleteOh this is huge. I hope that some of these flights will materialize and that Nordwind get approval. Meanwhile strategic planner Mr Marek still deciding about ROV in winter, not to mention new lines
ReplyDeleteROV from SKP would be a good idea!?
DeleteHopefully some OHD connections will happen in the near future...
DeleteNordwind has to appoint representative for ground ops... TIcketing GSA is not enough...
ReplyDeletethere is a part of Skopje which is called Kisela Voda :D time to get them connected with Mineralnye
ReplyDelete☺Sakam Skopsko ☺
DeleteNajdobroto od Makedonia! Pozdrav Rijeci.
Delete:)
DeleteIt is interesting that, except Moscow and St Petersburg, all other destinations got one single pair city in EX yu region. I do not why is this, but seems like they do not want to each other be competion
ReplyDeleteI wonder who flies from Skopje to Mineralnye Vody...
Deleterussian tourists
Delete