Wizz Air to launch new Belgrade, Podgorica flights


Low cost carrier Wizz Air will introduce flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Belgrade and Podgorica next summer season. The decision comes following the bankruptcy of Alitalia, which served both cities from the Italian capital until the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March of last year. Flights to both Belgrade and Podgorica will launch on June 2 and run three times per week. Alitalia’s successor ITA Airways plans to introduce services from Rome to the Serbian capital next August, while Air Serbia also maintains flights to Rome. On the other hand, Podgorica has been without flights to Italy’s largest city since March 2020. ITA has not indicated Montenegro as being part of its future plans.

Wizz Air will be making a second attempt at serving the Rome - Belgrade route. It previously flew from Ciampino Airport to the Serbian capital twice per week in 2012. However, at the time, the airline said flights were discontinued due to high seasonality. Another budget carrier, easyJet, also tried its luck on the service from Fiumicino Airport in 2014. However, flights only lasted over the summer before they were discontinued. Later on that year, the European Commission ordered Air Serbia and Alitalia to make slots available for a third carrier to enter the route after Etihad Airways acquired a stake in the Italian national airline. However, there was no interest from third parties.

In the pre-pandemic 2019, a total of 153.726 passengers flew between Belgrade and Rome, while 45.748 travelled between Podgorica and the Italian capital. In addition to flights to Rome, the Serbian carrier also maintains services from Belgrade to Milan, while Venice is due to be restored next year. In addition, Ryanair maintains services from Niš to Bergamo. On the other hand, Wizz Air operates from Milan to Podgorica, while Ryanair serves the Montenegrin capital from Bologna on a seasonal summer basis. Further flight details for Wizz’s new service from Rome to Belgrade can be viewed here, while additional information for the Podgorica flights can be found here.



Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    Let's see if its third time lucky for LCCs on this route from Belgrade.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:14

      Has anything changed since they last operated this route?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:17

      Alitalia is no longer on the market

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:23

      Does anyone know which routes has Wizz tried from BEG which have been suspended and didn't work out for them? Other than Rome.

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    4. Anonymous09:25

      ^ I think only Charleroi. They ended Sandefjord but resumed these later.

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    5. Nemjee09:31

      Didn't they also fly to Corfu way back?

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    6. Anonymous09:37

      They flew also BEG-NUE and BEG-FDH.

      Delete
    7. Nemjee09:43

      NUE would be a perfect destination for JU if they had a regional jet. It's good that they are not trying it now as I fear they would send the ATR very often like they occasionally do to STR and like they did to Berlin.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:43

      Salzburg as well.

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    9. Anonymous09:44

      They terminated almost everything from Salzburg.

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    10. Nemjee09:46

      Didn't they launch Salzburg at a time when lockdowns started again?

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    11. Anonymous09:48

      It did but I think their plans to develop Salzburg as a focus city failed completely and they abandoned all plans relating to Salzburg, not just the BEG route.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous10:00

      Lyon also operated for just one season.

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    13. Wizzair also terminated their flights to Oslo Torp from Belgrade.

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    14. Anonymous20:02

      Yes but they restored them this year.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:03

    Good luck

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  3. Anonymous09:07

    Good that the flights are from Fiumicino.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Isn't Ciampino closer to the city?

      Delete
    2. Nooo, I was hoping for Ciampino, much closer, and there is bus-metro line for 1.5e, from Fuimicino bus for 8e. Too bad...

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:10

    Let's see how this will impact JU prices on the route

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:10

    Fantastic!
    Bad news for JU and YM though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:13

      YM went bankrupt a year ago.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:44

      Air Montenegro doesn't fly to anywhere in Italy so it doesn't really affect them. Although it is a missed opportunity.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:00

      Who cares about JU. What matters are the interests of the Serbian customer.

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    4. Anonymous10:05

      Something tells me JU will be just fine as it offers more frequencies as well as transfer options.

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    5. Anonymous10:07

      Plus better schedule.

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    6. Anonymous10:49

      Air Serbia competed against Alitalia which had daily flights so I'm sure they will be fine with Wizz Air's three weekly.

      Delete
    7. Nemjee10:54

      JU also beat Wizz Air in Larnaca and Oslo so it's not like they will lose by default wherever the two clash.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:10

    No surprise, with the arrival of a third Wizz plane in BEG next month, I expect we will see at least one more new route introduced.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous09:11

    Montenegro keeps winning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:17

      We missed you. Where were you? You are usually the first who posts.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:13

    I wonder if ITA and Air Serbia will make a codeshare deal like they had with Alitalia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:03

      They probably will. They have started concluding codeshares with former Alitalia partners, one by one.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:18

      Maybe yes soon.They have code share with Bulgaria Air and other airlines again.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:22

      Good to hear, because Alitalia offered many attractive destinations for transfers.
      Especially to Sicily.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:34

      It really depends. ITA CEO said this morning that they hope to be bought by Lufthansa and that they are in Sky Team for just one year. Crazy.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous13:20

      Agree. It's crazy why they voted for skyteam if they want to sell the company to LH. However the whole alitalia story is crazy. EU leaders would not allow the same procedure for any airline unless they have some interest in it.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:14

    Nice. And with A321 no less

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:18

    Good news for Serbian and Montenegrin passengers, bad news for JU!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:27

      JU does even better when competing.
      Competition forces you to improve your services and lower prices stipulate more demand.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:20

    The more the merrier. Fares will go down and passenger numbers up.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:21

    Next Wizz should try Bratislava from BEG and attack the Austrian/Air Serbia monopoly and the woeful equipment both of them send on these flights most of the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      Last time an airline tried that (Niki) they failed big time. Back then Austrian/Jat jointly slashed prices on the route and squeezed them out. But you are right. They do work together as monopolists on this route.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous09:22

    In their latest expansion this December and next year, Wizz is really going after routes already operated by JU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:30

      Anyone know how bookings are going for the new routes?

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    2. Anonymous09:32

      @9.22 WIZZ is attacking Air Serbia with much lower costs.

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    3. Nemjee09:32

      Wizz delayed a bunch of routes from the region but those stayed so I suppose sales are good. It also helps that they have an A320 which is easier to fill.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:24

    Let's see. Belgrade-Italy seems to have been a no go for LCCs. If I remember correctly Air One also failed from Milan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:23

      Not that they tried much

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL23:31

      Both AZ and JU had transfer pax to help boost loads which none of the LCC's have.

      JU is ok with a load of 90-100 pax while for while for LCC's this isn't a good load.

      There isn't much for them to try. This is Wizz's third attempt at BEG-Italy. And I doubt they will last long, if they ever launch the route.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous09:25

    All the best to Wizz on these routes. Wish them success so they will add more.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous09:31

    Let's see how Air Serbia will compete against a growing Wizz. My guess is not very well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL12:58

      So far JU has reacted well. JU last year was quick to jump into OSL when W6 announced it.

      W6 also announced MXP and has since abandoned it, not even operating 1 flight.

      W6 isn't doing the best competiting in LCA with JU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous01:04

      JU just boosted FCO to daily in June!!

      Delete
  17. Anonymous09:33

    Still waiting for them to reinstate plans for BEG-LIS flights which were supposed to launch under 2020 expansion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:59

      Except for Portugal, what other routes are really left for them to add from BEG?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:23

      Corfu,Kos,Mykonos,Bari,Naples,Catania,Geneva,Nice,Friedrichshafen,Zakynthos,Valencia and others.
      They have big potential in BEG.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:30

      Madrid ...

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:34

      Wizz has a very small network from Madrid.

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    6. Nemjee10:49

      I'd also add seasonal SKG as a potential route. Also I don't think they could fly to GVA from BEG unless they get a Serbian or Swiss AOC.

      Delete
    7. Why wizz never tried varna, bourgas or lviv from beg

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    8. Nemjee11:08

      Can they even operate Ukraine from Serbia? Honestly I'd rather see a Ukrainian carrier or JU fly into LWO.
      Bulgaria might not be as popular among people from Belgrade. I think volume is not there to make it work for Wizz Air. I have a feeling they would rather add another Greek island than add Bulgaria.

      Delete
    9. Bulgaria might be great bussiness in summer months.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous09:35

    It makes sense. Big diaspora in Italy and a good destination for tourists.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:47

      Wizz Air flies where it sees opportunities. Gasto markets are the biggest opportunity in low yielding ex-Yu markets. Same as for JU and others.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous09:36

    Great news :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Nemjee09:36

    This time around Wizz Air is much stronger not only in Serbia but in Rome as well. I believe TGD is launched now that they are basing their fifth A321 at FCO. Will be interesting to see how this route develops now that circumstances have changed. Italy seems to be responding well to Wizz Air's product. After all, they currently run a total of 8 bases in Italy which is impressive.

    I am curious to see where they will fly on Thursdays after Rome. It will have to be a short flight, not longer than 90 minutes unless they plan on returning to BEG way past midnight.

    Personally I would have preferred a completely new destination but anything at this time is good. I am certain that at some point they will launch VIE-BEG. Market is too big for them to ignore it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      I don't think they have an issue of their flight returning past midnight. They have/had a couple of those.

      Delete
    2. Nemjee09:45

      Actually, looking at their timetable, the only flight that was supposed to have an atrocious arrival time was LIS (02.45).
      All others seem to be arriving between 22.30 and 00.20. I think they have to be cautious when it comes to their schedule so as not to be less appealing than their competition.

      For example, take their network in Sofia or Bucharest. They have so many flights that arrive in the middle of the night.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:57

      It might also have something to do with trying to avoid paying duty times for crew for two days instead of one.

      Delete
  21. Anonymous09:41

    So BEG will be operated by BEG based plane, while TGD will be operated by Rome based plane right?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:03

    How many weekly flights did Alitalia have to Belgrade?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06

      Daily flights.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:49

      Thanks. And what equipment did they use?

      Delete
    3. Nemjee10:55

      Started with a mix of E75 and E90 (or E95) and then shortly after the route was upgraded to A320. They also had a lot of connections onto JU's network in Belgrade.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:58

      Airbus319/320/321

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:09

      I remember the time when AZ was flying 3 times daily MXP-BEG with E145.
      That plane is sooo narrow (2 meters inside the cabin and even less close to ceiling).

      Delete
    6. Vlad12:34

      That was the golden AZ age, I remember you could buy tickets to MAD for less than 200 EUR return at a time when air travel was much more expensive than it is today. Then again it's probably why AZ went bankrupt :D

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:06

    Let's see how Air Serbia performs to Rome now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:07

      They should have seen it coming since Wizz planned Milan in their cancelled expansion from last year. So it is obvious they were targeting Italy-Serbia market.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:08

      Both will be fine. The market to Rome is big enough so I am sure there will be room for everyone.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:33

      There is still much room for improvement of offer from Italy to Belgrade.
      Milano and Catania on my mind...

      Delete
    4. Vlad10:53

      I really hope Wizz brings back the plans for BEG-MXP because the JU prices are atrocious. You can rarely find a return ticket below 250€ with luggage.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:02

      That's what Wizz charges to places where they don't have much competition like BVA or EIN.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:03

      At least JU now flies to Milan with their Airbus jets, the worn out Aviolet 737s were not much attractive ..

      Delete
    7. Anonymous11:36

      In all honesty the worn out A319's are just a bit better than the B733.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous10:24

    These middle of the day schedules are not very appealing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous10:48

    There is no doubt BEG-FCO market has good potential

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52

      Of course with over 150,000 passengers per year.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous11:01

    Italy is full of immigrants from Albania and Podgorica airport is easy to reach from Shkoder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vlad12:37

      I doubt someone would go through the hassle of crossing the border when there are so many daily flights to Italy from TIA.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous11:15

    Air Serbia has to stop pretending they can coexist with Wizz. Wizz is not just flying to remote villages, they are also after Air Serbia charter routes and after their routes to primary airports. New leadership has to be bold in exploring every possible legal option to reduce or neutralize Wizz at Belgrade airport.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:17

      Yaaaaaas!!
      Let's go back to the days when air travel was regulated. Those were the golden days... if you were an incompetent government employee working for the airline, not so much if you were a passenger.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:35

      Norway was smart enough to recognize what is better for the country. The only goal behind Wizz is to make a small number of people super rich.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous15:13

    Lets not forget their Dortmund and Riga base closures.....they are now focusing on Western Europe.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous17:59

    Well JU already added more flights to Rome. Good response.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:03

      E kad je još JU uveo tačke na rep tek sad to pokušavaju naslednici Sabena.

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL22:01

      I wouldn't be surprised to see JU add extra flights to FCO on the days Wizz operate. On those days JU only have morning flights.

      Just had a look at the prices, only 2.000 din difference in price between W6 and JU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous07:24

      My good friend, JU already responded with daily flights

      Delete
  30. Norwegian flying to OSL is very tough competition to WizzAir, no wonder they stayed out for more than a couple of years.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:30

      Because a foreign Hungarian airline can't fly between two non EU countries unless it is stipulated in a bilateral air agreement.

      Delete
  32. But why isn't WizzAir flying between Belgrade and Podgorica?

    As the ticket prices on this short route are higher then to London.

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a pity.
    Wizzair would surely bring these unreasonable prices down.

    ReplyDelete

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