Two Gulf carriers are considering introducing scheduled flights to Belgrade next summer season with plans currently being finalised. As EX-YU Aviation News learnt at the Dubai Airshow last week, both markets have been previously unserved from the Serbian capital on a scheduled basis. Serbia has become an attractive destination for tourists from the Gulf region this previous summer, due to relaxed entry requirements for foreigners in light of the coronavirus pandemic as well as affordable prices. Belgrade was among the most connected airports in the former Yugoslavia to Middle Eastern markets prior to the coronavirus pandemic with nonstop services to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Beirut, Tel Aviv and Tehran. In 2020, the Serbian capital was also to be linked with a nonstop service to the Jordanian capital of Amman. However, with the onset of the global health emergency, those plans were shelved, and the airport is today linked with Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha.
During 2019, Belgrade Airport had the most indirect traffic to cities in the Middle East with which it already boasted nonstop flights, primarily Tel Aviv and Tehran, with Dubai following close behind. However, based on OAG data, Kuwait City was the busiest unserved route in the Middle East from the Serbian capital in 2019. Many of the top unserved routes in the region include points in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which are markets in which Serbian construction companies and contractors are particularly active and working on several major projects which has brought about an increase in travel demand to the region.
Belgrade Airport's busiest unserved routes in the Middle East in 2019
Among destinations in the Middle East served directly from Belgrade, Tel Aviv was the busiest, in terms of point-to-point demand. It was followed by Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Beirut. Surprisingly, it was not the Middle Eastern carriers serving the Serbian capital that led the way in shuttling transfer passengers to the region. Rather, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines were the top two busiest, handling 47% of the market. Coupled with AtlasGlobal, which was in business at the time, the share increased to 56%. Turkish carriers, particularly Pegasus, have targeted the Serbian market with low fares to the rest of the Middle East. Out of the Gulf airlines, Qatar Airways, which was at the time unable to serve Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain due to the blockade, was the busiest in transferring passengers to the region, particularly to Kuwait and cities in Iraq and Iran. Aegean Airlines also fared well with 6% of the transfer market.
Busiest connecting airlines for Belgrade - Middle East flights in 2019
In the summer of 2020, Air Serbia was to introduce four weekly flights to Amman, which was primarily aimed at transfer passengers to and from Western Europe, similar to its Beirut service, which has since been suspended. In 2019, 2.771 passengers flew indirectly between Belgrade and Amman. Turkish Airlines was the top transfer carrier, handling 818 passengers, or 30% of the market. It was followed closely by TAROM with 702 travellers or 26% of the market. Behind them came Aegean Airlines, Alitalia and Austrian Airlines.
Very interesting. This summer we had Jazeera Airways and Salam Air operate flights to BEG. Could it be them?
ReplyDeleteGood news for Belgrade!
ReplyDeleteI suppose the companies which would like to fly to BEG are Kuwait airways and Oman air.
It says that these are markets that have not been previously served to BEG and as far as I remember there used to be scheduled flights to Kuwait once upon a time.
DeleteKuwait was served up until 2006 I think, it was linked with Dubai. Maybe we finally get a link with Saudi Arabia, Sharjah or Oman. All three destinations have not been served in the past. Though I wouldn't rule out Erbil due to growing economic ties with Iraq.
DeleteYou are probably correct, but flights to KWI were long time ago at the time when JAT was flying there (probably back in '80s) and Belgrade was Yugoslav capital.
DeleteKWI was served in the 2000s by Jat Airways.
DeleteYes, you are right. I forgot it.
DeleteI believe they operated it both as a stop to/from Dubai and individually too. They even had fifth freedom rights between Kuwait City and Dubai. I remember flying once this routing and seeing dumbfounded Kuwaitis boarding the flight having no idea how they found themselves on this airline to Dubai. I think it was the cheapest option.
Delete"dumbfounded Kuwaitis boarding the flight having no idea how they found themselves on this airline to Dubai"
DeleteLOOL
Or maybe Gulf air aswell, as it was previously announced this year during one of Serbia's presidents visit to Bahrain that they will launch direct flights between the country so hopefully the news comes out soon
DeleteYes, it was earlier this year that the route was discussed
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/04/serbia-and-bahrain-seek-air-service.html
Great news. I also hope other flights to the Middle East are resumed like Beirut, Tel Aviv and Tehran.
ReplyDeleteI doubt we will be seeing flights to Beirut anytime soon as the situation in Lebanon is dire.
DeleteTel Aviv was operating this summer and Israir has scheduled flights to Belgrade next summer.
Mahan Air did fly a charter just two weeks ago to Belgrade and they might eventually return. They actually have flights listed in the system all through winter but are not really operating them.
Is there a chance that Air Serbia will restore plans for Amman?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what was the planned schedule for that flight?
DeleteNight time flight with a split schedule, I think departures at 23.15 and 23.45.
DeleteI managed to find it. Nemjee was right
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/p/air-serbia-belgrade-amman.html
JU has shown interest in the route so I think it will start at some point.
DeleteTheir schedule wasn't the best for connections, missing a few of the larger hubs JU serve. Similar problem with CAI.
I'm surprised there isn't more demand for Jordan from Serbia. It is a great destination. Amman in itself is interesting let alone Petra and Aqaba. Also visa is issued on arrival. And Jordan has been open for tourists for over a year. Shame Serbian tour operators haven't looked into it more. Also should note that Jordan isn't very expensive either.
DeleteMy money is on Kuwait and Tehran. Hopefully JU brings back AMM though I don't think it will happen as the flight is too long and would require a split schedule.
ReplyDeleteHaving MS in BEG would be great. They have the A220 which would be perfect and with their onward connections this could work easily with three flights per week. Also, let's not forget that after the non-aligned movement, many old economic ties are brought back to life. The other day I read that Serbian apples will be exported to Indonesia and Malaysia. Both deals were arranged during the non-aligned meeting.
I don't think the article is referring to either because it says "both markets have been previously unserved from the Serbian capital". My money is on Oman. And not sure about the other.
DeleteAgree MS would be nice in BEG.
True, missed that part. Then my money would be on Oman and Sharjah.
DeleteWorth mentioning that in a month BEG is getting ESB, another previously unserved destination in the Middle East.
As far as I remember it has been mentioned during Vucic's visit to Bahrein that direct air connection between two capitals will be established.
DeleteYou are right. That's a strong possibility. Plus they flew Sarajevo charters this summer.
DeleteI wish Egypt Air introduced flights from Cairo. If Air Cairo can make it work year round from Hurghada then surely Cairo can too.
DeleteESB in the Middle East!?!?
Delete@10.06 Air Cairo will introduce scheduled flights from Sharm el Sheikh to Belgrade next summer.
DeleteAnon 10.23
DeleteOf course, anything beyond the Bosporus is Asia or in this particular case the Middle East.
@10,06
DeleteI can't remember where it was posted but apparently CAI has been interested in seeing JU return. Apparently it will come next year along with MAD and NCE.
@nemjee
I think a destination in Saudi will be one of them. XY had charters this summer from RUH to BEG.
Unfortunately those Saudi flights were for the Indians in Serbia, not for their tourists coming here for holidays. Then again, who knows, Serbian embassies are becoming increasingly active in promoting tourism.
DeleteWhat would help is that Kuwait and Oman abolish visa requirements for Serbian nationals.
ReplyDeleteI agree. How difficult is it to obtain these visas? Is it like what used to be the UAE visa which was easy to get or is it a more complicated process?
DeleteI think for Oman you get it at the airport.
DeleteBahrain and Kuwait require even airside transiting visas, just like the UK and sometimes when you want to fly to East Asia you have to discard transfers involving BAH and KWI connections. That kills much demand.
Deletefor Kuwait you get at the airport as well.
DeleteSerbian passport holders do not need a visa for entering Oman. We get 10 days visa free access. Omani passport holders are allowed 90 days access every 180 days.
DeleteWith Kuwait it is an e-visa, which can also be done on arrival.
Bahrain is where a visa is required but there are talks on having that removed, along with several other countries. Bahrainis on the other hand are allowed 90 days every 180 days visa free stay in Serbia.
Thanks JATBEGMEL. Wasn't aware of those visa requirements.
DeleteYes JATBEGMEL is very right , Serbian nationals are among 54 nations that can get voa/evisa for Kuwait which is great.
DeleteAnd Oman abolished visas for Serbian nationals for up to 10 days.
We can enter Bahrain on evisa.
And we can enter UAE,Qatar and Israel visa-free.
Maybe Air Arabia brings back plans for Sharjah-Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteWith Wizz flying to Abu Dhabi and Flydubai double daily to BEG soon, is there really a need for them?
DeleteFlynas and Salam Air.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGreat. I think Gulf carriers are much more interested in this region now that corona was hit. We saw how many flights there were to Sarajevo last year.
ReplyDeleteYes, BEG should definitely try and capitalize on it.
DeleteI just read in the National, which is a UAE newspaper that Serbia is one of the top picks for UAE residents for their national day holiday this year which is at the start of December.
DeleteI wouldn't mind EK coming along :D
ReplyDeleteHaha has to be from an unserved destination so maybe they launch it from DWC. lol
DeleteIn an interview in 2019 Tim Clark, Emirates CEO said
Delete"We move around 1.200 passengers a day across the two airlines. For example, they fly to places like Belgrade and there’s quite a lot of people from Australia, of Serbian ancestry going into Serbia. Those passengers fly into Dubai from Australia on Emirates, then transfer on to Flydubai".
So at least he is aware that Serbia exists :D
There is enough passengers to fill the economy class of a 77W every day between DXB and BEG every day. The problem is the business class is the one making money and pushes the decision on where EK would fly instead of FZ. Aparently the business class demand is still insufficient to justify the switch.
Delete@Miroslav
Delete+1
I agree. ZAG was an example of this. Summer loads were fantastic, winter not so much.
2 class configuration on the B773 brings around 400 seats to fill in Y. J loads on FZ are decent when it was the 1 daily, not sure how a double daily load would look. However, EK does have a couple destinations where J loads are not the best while Y is always full ie CGK and MNL.
Having said that, EK replacing FZ would bring up the ticket prices and I don't think our market will pay the premium to fly EK when QR, Wizz and TK all compete on the same markets EK would offer.
I'd still prefer double daily FZ to a daily EK flight. It's better for connectivity and it provides passengers with more flexibility. Then again there are certain markets where both FZ and EK fly to. Maybe at some point BEG could be the same. EK takes over one rotation while FZ operate the other. However I think it's too early to speak of this scenario... then again, hope I am wrong.
DeleteI wonder if these will be LCCs or full service airlines from the Gulf region.
ReplyDeleteThere is room for both.
DeleteCould be Saudi
ReplyDeleteI think so too
DeleteI am impressed by how quickly VINCI replaced Etihad with Wizz Air to Abu Dhabi. Looking forward to seeing more destinations from the region.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great to see BEG become more and more competitive.
DeleteVinci didn't replace EY with Wizz. EY is pulling back and giving some routes to Air Arabia and Wizz with deals made with Abu Dhabi government. The whole Etihad Group adventure damaged their finances. Nothing to do with Vinci.
Deletewow TK and Pegasus are killing it with transfers to the Middle East.
ReplyDeleteNot surprised. It is true what the article says that Pegasus has excellent prices to the Middle East. Also Turkish's evening flight from Belgrade connects to all of their Middle East flights.
DeleteI am impressed by Aegean, they seem to be doing a really good job. No wonder they keep on growing in BEG!
DeleteYes good result. Although I'm also surprised by TAROM having so many transfers to Jordan.
DeleteQR actively discourages point to point travel from Doha to Belgrade. Their fares are extremely high. Much cheaper to go with TK.
DeleteIt was the same from SKP when they flew - more than 200 Euros difference QR vs. TK
DeleteWell that's the same how it is more expensive to fly Belgrade-New York with Air Serbia than Tirana-Belgrade-New York with Air Serbia.
DeleteGood. Hopefully this should help BEG in its recovery.
ReplyDeleteThese are some great news. Let's see how TK responds to all this and if it will affect their position in BEG.
ReplyDeleteSo it seems only Air Serbia has completely withdrawn from serving that region from BEG.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately
DeleteWell at least they fly charters to Dubai.
DeleteIt makes little sense for Air Serbia to fly to the Middle East with its current hybrid model
DeleteWhy?? Flydubai has hybrid model but flies successfully to Belgrade. Wizz is a LCC but flies successfully from Abu Dhabi to Belgrade.
DeleteService on Flydubai is much better than service on Air Serbia. Business class is incomparable.
DeleteJU should have restarted CAI, TLV and maybe AMM too.
DeleteIf Air Serbia was smarter and worked on the transfer model they could have had a more active role in the Middle East and Central Asia. Now foreign carriers are eating the cake.
DeleteJU hasn't completely withdrawn from the ME. The pandemic halted the launch of AMM. The CAI schedule limited transfers pre pandemic due to the block time of the rotation, with reduced schedules in their network making it difficult to maintain CAI. TLV is being affected by the Israeli travel restrictions. BEY was canceled because of the financial crisis in Lebanon. Bank exchange rates don't reflect the actual exchange rates of the Lebanese pound.
DeleteCAI will be relaunching next year.
@10,09
The ME rotations dont fit properly in their current waves due to the long block times. They have been adjusting schedules the past 2 years and prior to the pandemic intended to have a third daily into CDG and a fourth to ZRH. I think we will see more ME flights in the next couple of years.
WY or GF would be best option...as next to ME there can be transfers to India / Asia and Indian Ocean. With others you can only sell P2P
ReplyDeleteWY have 737 - 8 154 to 162 seater
GF have A320neo 136 to 150 seater
Interestingly, Oman Air codeshares on Qatar Airways to Belgrade. They previously codeshared on Etihad to Belgrade. They also operated a repatriation flight to BEG last year and this summer Salam Air from Oman had a few charters to BEG.
DeleteThe answer could be in the airlines that have started flying to Sarajevo last summer.
ReplyDeleteThese would be Kuwait Airways, Salam Air, Flynas, Gulf Air and Jazeera Airways.
DeleteThe list of most popular transfer destinations is interesting and a bit surprising. Especially Baghdad being so high on the list.
ReplyDeleteThese will be nice additions.
ReplyDeleteStill would be nice to see a widebody operating from the region.
ReplyDeleteMaybe QR one day.
DeleteI would rather they added a second daily flight than sent a widebody.
DeleteSame! They flew 10 weekly during the summer in 2019. So maybe that comes back next year.
DeleteNo surprise with the Gulf increases. The number of Bosnian and Serbian citizens living there is increasing by the day.
ReplyDeleteActually many have returned since corona hit.
DeleteI think EY is the biggest looser on the BEG market. They actually had fantastic loads. With Wizz Air taking their place now there is little chance for them to return.
ReplyDeleteEY is the biggest looser in general. Lot's of nonsensical moves.
DeleteHave there ever been flights between Belgrade and Saudi Arabia?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteSaudia use to codeshare on Etihad's flights to BEG.
DeleteI think there is a high likelihood these could be flights from Saudi Arabia. In summer 2019 there was news that the Serbian Embassy in Saudi is in talks with local tour operators to organize tour groups to BEG in 2020. Since corona started nothing happened but this could be related.
ReplyDeleteHope so. The more tourists the better.
DeleteWhoever it is, it will be a welcome addition.
ReplyDeleteBEG has actually done quite a good job at attracting new airlines. Just this year we got KLM, Luxair, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Windrose, Nordwind, Eurowings and Anadolujet!
ReplyDeleteImpressive, especially in pandemic year.
DeleteFlynas and Jazeera Airways.
ReplyDeleteThey already did Belgrade charters this summer.
Salam Air from Oman did charters too.
DeleteWell if you put the two and two together it will probably be Salam and Flynas. Jazeera is from Kuwait which is a market served from Serbia previously.
DeleteI'm quite interested to know how come Kuwait City is at the top of the list. Is there a Serbian community there? Where does the demand come from?
ReplyDeleteI think there are many Serbs who live and work down there. Also, there seems to be some limited trade activity which stimulates demand.
Deletehttps://tradingeconomics.com/serbia/exports/kuwait