Serbia to launch domestic flights in 2022


The Serbian government has approved subsidies for ten routes it has deemed to be of public interest, which will include a four weekly domestic service between Belgrade and Niš. It will mark the resumption of scheduled domestic flights for the first time since the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. As previously reported, the government will also subsidise two weekly rotations from Niš to Hahn, Cologne, Ljubljana, Istanbul, Athens and Tivat, with the latter two to be operated on a seasonal summer basis. Furthermore, it will finance two weekly flights from Kraljevo’s Morava Airport to Istanbul, Thessaloniki and Tivat, with the latter two to run over the summer months.


The new subsidies will come into effect on January 1, 2022 and run until December 31, 2023. The Serbian government will organise an international tender to select an interested carrier or group of airlines to maintain the flights. The tender conditions are yet to be outlined. The state’s previous contract to subsidise flights from Niš and Kraljevo, which came into effect in 2019, and was awarded to Air Serbia, has been terminated. Under the previous agreement, the government financed services from Niš to Baden Baden, Bologna, Hahn, Friedrichshafen, Gothenburg, Hanover, Ljubljana, Nuremberg, Rome, Salzburg and Tivat, as well as from Kraljevo to Vienna and Thessaloniki. However, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the suspension of most routes, the majority of which have not been restored since. Air Serbia is currently operating two weekly rotations from Niš to Hahn, as well as a two weekly service from Kraljevo to Vienna, which is scheduled to run until December 30.


The Serbian government has defined routes of public interest as being eligible for subsidies, as they either lack commercial interest, carry less than 100.000 passengers per year, or are insufficiently served by other means of transport. The aim of the subsidies is to stimulate travel, boost tourism, business links and improve the local economy. Air Serbia’s flights out of Niš and Kraljevo are sold at low cost fares. Passengers on these services are unable to accrue miles through the airline’s loyalty program and no business class tickets are sold. The value of the contract is expected to amount to some 8.5 million euros per year.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:00

    It was about time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Great news but it's unfortunate many of the previous routes out of Nis will be cut.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:46

      The previous routes were selected on purpose to enable LCCs from starting them.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:48

      ^ If that were true, LCCs could have applied for the tender if they wanted to. They didn’t.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:50

      Probably because the tender was structured in a way that not only would forbid them from applying but would also limit their potential of increasing service to the Serbian market.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:51

      Wizz met all the requirements. The government even put in Budapest - their base. But they didn't apply.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:23

      JU;))

      Delete
    6. JATBEGMEL10:35

      @09,03

      It's not unfortunate, rather fortunate. BUD barely lasted 3 months and most had questionable loads. It's great to see that funding routes that obviously won't work will stop.

      @09,48

      The tender was made for JU not its competition. They didn't do it right the first time and when FR wanted to launch HHN-INI the DCV blocked it under the excuse of subsidies, altering the agreement where only JU could operate the routes receiving subsidies.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:04

    What exactly is a point of a tender? Who on earth is going to get right to fly domestic flight within Serbia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      Well, you gotta play the game.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:47

      Its just another way to stabilise dead Air Serbia.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:50

      yeah it sure is dead with 37 routes in winter season, intercontinental flights, 1.3 million passengers handled during crisis year so far, above average load factor...

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:04

    What about KVO-VIE?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      It's going to end

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:20

      It is scheduled only until 30th of December like it says in the text. Continently, the current subsidies end on 1st of January.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    Nice. Wonder what the fares will be for BEG-INI

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:21

      If they want to compete with Nis Express bus, it's going to have to be cheap.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:55

      INI express is anything but cheap. One way ticket is around 1.200 Dinars and only a few departures per day operate without stops. You need minimum 3.5 hours by bus.

      Delete
    3. JATBEGMEL15:09

      I don't think the main market is O&D, rather transfers.

      The aircraft has to be ferried from BEG anyway for the flights out of INI so selling any tickets is a bonus I guess. 30€ no luggage fares would ok I guess. Bus is around 1.500-2.000 dinars return.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous00:00

      @14:55

      Yes. 3.5h minimum, same as by plane considering that you have to travel to/from airport + waiting time at the airport. For a bus you come 15min ahead, for the aircraft - you don't. People commenting here live in a paralel world.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    Brilliant! Air Serbia is becoming the leading Airline in Europe. They just need some new Aircraft.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      The new wings of Europe!

      Delete
    2. @An.09.04
      Air Serbia is absolute winner if we look at ex-yu space, or even include BG, RO and AL. In the shortest period of time, they managed to achieve huge growth and decent quality, unlike their counterparts in other Balkan countries. But please let be real, Leading Airline in Europe with British, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Aeroflot, Turkish, SAS, LOT, TAP Iberia, Aegean, Swiss, Austrian around, please....

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:55

      Actually I wouldn't really use OS as a successful airline, today they retired OE-LAX, their second B767 to be sent to the desert. They are definitely struggling big time.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:04

    They might as well have introduced Belgrade-Kraljevo too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      My guess is the Kraljevo flights will operate in W rotation with the Nis flights. So they will use the same aircraft.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:07

      For which destination?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:08

      Istanbul and Tivat

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:11

      That's right, thanks.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:13

      W flights are not possible though. INI will be operated with A319, while KVO with A72 instead.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:21

      Ah true, completely forgot that A319 can't land at KVO.

      Delete
    7. JATBEGMEL15:50

      @09,04

      I believe that fuelling is done in BEG only, as I believe KVO doesn't have the equipment to fuel aircraft. Taking pax between BEG and KVO would be ok for TIV but maybe not for IST and ATH. Maybe someone with more info could answer better.

      I guess ATH and especially IST would see more luggage being carried and therefore fuel taken in BEG would need to be conserved to minimize weight restrictions from KVO. Just a guess.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:09

    This flight will be used for transfers 100%. Nobody would fly from Niš to Beograd.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      Why not? If the price is right

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:27

      Transfers to and from airports and from plain to airports building will take enough time to get to other city.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:58

      I would use BEG-INI with Air Serbia so then I could fly with Wizz or Ryan to other destinations.

      Delete
    4. JATBEGMEL11:21

      I don't see JU focusing much on O&D as much as transfer pax. It's nice to see the option available and could perhaps bring in a few pax where flying might be convenient.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:15

    A220-100 would be ideal for such routes. I'm so sad about HAJ flights being cancelled they had some decent loads in summer. Also I'm glad I had a chance to fly INI NUE in a business jet like style with only 14 passengers 😂

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:22

      Agree A220 or an Embraer would be perfect.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:17

    This is great news, finally BEG-INI. I am generally against subsidies to fly tourist destination in summer like Tivat or Thessaloniki. Maybe for winter season yes, but giving subsidies that your citizens go to holiday is really nonsense. Point of subsidies is developing that region of country, airport and creating new value, and also flying routes which are not profitable in start

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So which routes would you develop from INI?

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL15:59

      I guess it's a way to encourage Serbian tourists to keep their money in Serbian companies as much as possible rather than going to alternative places such as SOF for example and using their companies. There will be some return of investment through taxes, while helping the national airline grow.

      There was also alot of discontent with JU for being too Belgrade centric where there was calls for them to not be 'Air Belgrade' and fly from other Serbian airports.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:21

    So Tivat will and Istanbul will be served from 3 Serbian cities :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:21

      Demand from Serbia to Tivat in summer is crazy. And it got even bigger with Covid.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL16:02

      Looks like that next summer there will be at least 9 daily flights to TIV from Serbia.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:23

    How will they organize it? Won't they need a domestic gate at BEG?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      I don't understand why do people think some special procedure is needed. You could just pass passport control by showing them your barding card (you need to show it either way) and they won't ask for your passport when they see Nis.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:25

      You don't even need passport as ID card would be sufficient. Anyway, they cannot just use boarding pass, but some official ID.

      Delete
    3. Because it is different procedure. Especially if you go INI-BEG and you have connecting flight from BEG. There is only one passport control checkpoint, so you would technically need to leave arrival/departure zone and then come back to get your passport stamped. And no, you can't get your passport stamped in INI for domestic flight.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:56

      Part of T1 will be adjusted, rumor is that they will separate one bus gate for those passengers.

      In other news, the opening of the C concourse is moved to the second half of february :(

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:25

    Great. I think the selection of routes is much more reasonable now compared to two years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous09:25

    Hopefully INI flights connect onto JFK.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:27

    Well I guess they realized it makes more sense for Air Serbia to carry transfer passengers rather than Swiss.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:31

    Good to see all three airports will have decent traffic.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:31

    Will these be operated with ATR or A319?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous09:33

    I wonder which part of Belgrade Airport will be modified for domestic flights. I assume that, in the near future, flights to Kraljevo will become a reality too, so a separate domestic flights section will definitely be needed. I don't recall Vinci taking this into consideration in their building development plans, although I might be wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous09:38

    A good example of how to activate smaller airports.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous09:39

    If Air Serbia does not get more aircraft, we will see huge delays at BEG due to insufficient fleet to support the network next summer.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous09:40

    Congratulations and good luck.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous09:43

    So they are replacing Vienna with Istanbul from Kraljevo? Seems odd, I would have thought there would be more passengers to Vienna.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:45

      Actually they were announcing flights to Istanbul for years from Kraljevo, mainly so it can serve the Raska region which has a large Bosnian Muslim population who travel to Turkey frequently and have close ties to Turkey. The majority of them actually used Pristina to fly to Istanbul.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:50

      Didn't know that. Interesting. I guess it can work on the ATR.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous09:43

    Will the flights from Nis and Kraljevo to Istanbul operate to the main airport or Sabiha?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:46

      Good question. Hopefully it's the main airport

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:50

      Main airport would open great transfer opportunities, especially if TK codeshares. Fingers crossed.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:57

      Don't give them ideas of launching Sabiha Gokcen haha

      Delete
  24. Anonymous09:46

    Let's see if Turkish Airlines will codeshare on the INI and KVO flights.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous09:47

    At least now we know why Anadolujet will start Ankara-Belgrade

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      I mean we know why they were issued a permit unlike before

      Delete
  26. Anonymous09:48

    Were there BEG-INI flights during old Yugo times?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:42

      Not all the time. Later in the eighties, JAT introduced a connecting van which used to depart from in front of the T2.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:23

      See yesterday's posts in trending.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous09:49

    Just wonder how long this adventure will last

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:55

      It's a 2 year contract.

      "The new subsidies will come into effect on January 1, 2022 and run until December 31, 2023."

      Delete
  28. Anonymous09:54

    This will help with Nis's recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Posle duze vremena, drzava pominje pocetak domaceg saobracaja. Zaista nije opravdano da nacionalni avio prevoznik nosi ime Srbija, a ne leti izmedju gradova Srbije. Er Srbiji nedostaju avioni za takav saobracaj. Koji se moze prosiriti na buduce Trebinje, Sarandu, kao i Banja Luku. A zatim
    Tuzlu, Ohrid, Tivat...
    Objektivno Kraljevacka Morava ce moci da bude ozbiljno operativna posle zavrsenja nove paralelne piste. Vojna pista nije gradjena za nosivost mlaznih putnickih aviona. Koincidentno sam prvi posao imao na gradnji ovog vojnog aerodroma prvog septembra 1961 godine. U vremenu pred nama Aerodromi Srbije ce biti komplimenarni potrebi razvoja Srbije i Jugoistocne Evrope. Razvoj privrede i kretanja ljudi su osnov opravdanja Domaceg i intra prostora okolnih drzava. I to ne za "daleka neka pokoljenja",
    Vec taj proces jeste u zacetku.
    Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group. 😀✈🌐🛫🇷🇸✈🇦🇺🛫

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:11

      Čedo, jel znaš da ti gradovi nisu u Srbiji?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:28

      Sigurno zna, ali su jako blizu, to je valjda pointa, da može manji avion iz BEGa da ih servisira.

      Delete
    3. Postovani Anon 12:11
      Pre svega hvala Vam na blagoj reci cedo. Da,
      Poznato mi je gde su svi gradovi koje sam naveo.
      U njima sam i bio. Pre mnogo decenija u nekim od njih. U nekim skorije. 🛫
      Dragi Anon 14:28
      Vi ste me sustinski izgleda blize shvatili.
      Da, manji turbopropi mogli bi realno opsluzivati
      navedene centre i druge gradove u drzavama koje sam naveo. Moguce jos neke. Kako iz Beograda, tako i iz Nisa, Kraljeva, Ponikvi...
      Redovnim letovima, carterima, ad hok...
      Vreme ce potvrditi vreme u koje se ulazi.
      Otvorene granice razbalkanice Balkan.
      Vazdusni kotidori Srbije bice puniji nego
      ikada u istoriji letenja. Iskreni pozdrav.
      Rodney, Kraljevo.😀✈

      Delete
  30. Anonymous10:22

    How long will Belgrade-Nis flight take?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:29

      Their ferry flights for aircraft took around half an hour.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous10:29

    These flights might operate four times per week but it is possible that they have two flights twice per week, once in the morning, once in the evening.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous10:29

    It would be nice to have several other Serbian airlines as in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:30

      'Several other Serbian airlines', market is way too small.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous10:42

    It makes sense that they will finally put tickets on sale for BEG-INI-BEG. They have to ferry the plane anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:55

      Unless they plan to operate INI flights in W rotation with Belgrade.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:57

      They definitely won't because their planes have to arrive into Belgrade in time to connect onto their departure/arrival waves.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous10:43

    Will these flights begin on January 1 or at the end of March when summer season begins.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:55

      I think they will start from January

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:11

      In that case the tender should be held this month and tickets put on sale in December.

      Delete
  35. Anonymous10:54

    Seems 2022 will be busy year for Air Serbia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:11

      It also is indicative to me that they will add more aircraft to their fleet.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous11:59

    Another way to subsidize a certain loss-making, profitable airline

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:12

      No one freaked out when OU gets 10 million for PSO each year or when JP got €4.5 million to fly from BRU to LJU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:37

      At least these are new, not developed routes.

      From the other side we still have ZAG-DBV or ZAG-SPU in the middle of the summer getting PSO. Crazy.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous11:59

    Excellent news for INI and KVO.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous12:04

    My guess for the schedule

    2 weekly
    BEG-INI 00.30-01.15
    INI-BEG 05.00-05.45

    2 weekly
    BEG-INI 14.00-14.45
    INI-BEG 15.15-16.00

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL12:40

      @12,04

      I think that will happen as well. The midnight flight could continue onto IST.

      BEG-INI 0045 0130
      INI-IST 0200 0345

      IST-INI 0435 0405
      INI-BEG 0435 0510

      Short ground time in INI for pax to disembark and embark, same crew would do all 4 rotations. Pax would have full options for connections in BEG and a tonne of options in IST for connections, especially with an enhanced codeshare agreement with TK.

      Delete
  39. I wonder what would be flight numbers for INI :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous12:37

    Still waiting for the PRN - BEG flight! Guarantee the LF will be over 75%.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous12:39

    Probable establishing passport-free travel between Serbia and Turkey can also be useful and help slightly increase the numbers from Kraljevo and Niš .(Even though those who decide to fly there probably do have their passports ready).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL12:49

      It will be interesting to see how that will work. The EU wasn't impressed when Serbia removed visas for Iranians, and further liberising travel for Turkish nationals might see some protests from the EU, especially due to the migrant situation.

      However, it usually works that it's only land borders where it's just an ID card, while air travel still needs a passport, if I'm not mistaken. I used a passport for travel between BEG and SJJ, while going to Bosnia by car I use only my ID card.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:57

      I believe you can also just use your ID at the airport too.

      Delete
  42. Anonymous12:55

    Good to see Serbia's interest in the busiest airport in Europe.

    IST's metro connection is about to be completed. Locals will start to prefer the new aiport than Sabiha in 2022.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:57

      That's great news. A metro line is badly needed especially during peak hour traffic.

      Delete
  43. Anonymous13:56

    It will be interesting to see how these routes perform.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Anonymous14:23

    I like that IST will be served from BEG, INI and KVO. These flights tick many boxes. Great for attracting Turkish tourists, local Serbian population as well as transfers onto TK network.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Anonymous16:29

    Air Serbia is getting subsidized feed from INI that should be used to boost JFK and launch new destinations. Six widebody gates are coming online in a couple of months. A330 lease rates are affordable. What else do you need?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:56

      Strategic planning?

      Delete
  46. Why is there no international airport in Subotica? I would launch one. It could serve people who go skiing to Kopaonik if flights to Kraljevo were available. They could attract Ryanair or EasyJet to fly to some destinations attractive to Hungarians across the border.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dobra ideja. Ali u Vojvodini postoje potencijalni aerodromi za male avione od 20 do 50 putnika. Novi Sad, Vrsac, Sombor, Pancevo, Kovin...
      Nije da i Subotica nebi mogla da ima aerodrom. Kako biti samo odrziv?
      Kraljevacka Morava ima taj problem.
      Problem isplativosti. Sve do izgradnje nove 4.000 metara duge piste, kargo centra sa novim objektima i opremom aerodroma. Naravno, krucijalno je dovesti velikog kargo operatera. Koji ima mrezu i trziste. Verujem koji to moze biti.
      Vlada Srbije i njeni eksperti savetnici su u moci da to u zivot sprovedu. Poreski obaveznici bi bili oslobodjeni da placaju samo vojni deo. Civilni deo ce izdrzavati kargo biznis. I placati porez drzavi. Uz ostale benefite centralne Srbije...
      Po staroj Srpskoj poslovici. "Rodilo se. Valja ga ljuljati". Ulozeno je do sada blizu
      Cetrdeset miliona evra. Za samo odrzivost i profitabilnost to je pocetak.
      Meseci koji stoje ispred, pokazace spremnos drzave koja se bori sa preko deset godina problematicnom Moravom izmedju Kraljeva i Cacka. Pet krakova auto puteva koji su neposredno oko Aerodroma Morava su velika potpora Kargo Centra sa pistom koj ce moci da prima avione svih velicina i namena.
      U civilnom i drugom saobracaju.
      Iduca 2022 godina bice godina Aerodroma Morave. Biti ili nebiti?.
      Videce se kada masine budu izvodile radove na pisti i pored nje i terminala.
      ✈🌐🛫 Rodney Marinkovic and Aviation Enthusiast Associate Group.

      Delete

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