Low cost carrier Eurowings is set to commence flights from Dusseldorf to Belgrade, marking its second route to the Serbian capital. Flights are scheduled to commence at the start of the 2022/2023 winter season, on October 30 of next year. Operations will be maintained four times per week. Tickets are now on sale through the airline’s website. The new route will complement the carrier’s existing service from Stuttgart to Belgrade, launched this summer, which is temporarily suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier will run flights between the two cities on December 24, January 2 and January 9, before resuming regular operations on the route on March 4 of next year.
The Lufthansa subsidiary returned to the Serbian market this July after two years with its Stuttgart service. Initially flights were to launch in July 2020 but were delayed by a year due to Covid-19. As was the case with Stuttgart, Eurowings will compete directly against Air Serbia on its new Dusseldorf service as well, which the Serbian carrier currently maintains three times per week. Prior to the pandemic, during the winter months, flights were operated six times per week. Out of its Dusseldorf base, Eurowings also runs services to several other cities in the former Yugoslavia on a year-round basis including Pristina, Split and Zagreb, as well as seasonal flights to Dubrovnik, Rijeka and Zadar.
Despite Air Serbia serving Dusseldorf with nonstop flights from Belgrade, a notable number of passengers flew indirectly between the two cities during the pre-pandemic 2019, almost all with Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Munch. So far, a handful of airlines have confirmed new flights to the Serbian capital for next year. In addition to Eurowings, Wizz Air is set to commence operations to Rome Fiumicino Airport, while Aegean Airlines will begin scheduled flights from Rhodes and Heraklion, which were served on a charter basis during the 2021 summer season. Further flight details for Eurowings’ new Dusseldorf – Belgrade service can be found here.
Great news
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point putting tickets on sale almost a year in advance?
ReplyDeleteExtra cash? I suppose they need the capacity in summer for sunny destinations and once demand drops it's all about gasterbajter traffic.
DeleteI suppose their STR flights are performing well if they are expanding in Belgrade.
I think they will bring the flights forward to summer.
DeleteI have the same feeling. EW is making some cuts right now. They suspended several domestic flights and have announced major reductions in VIE. It was even mentioned that they are considering a complete withdrawal from the market. I am sure they will focus this extra capacity on international flying from Germany.
DeleteIt's a bit odd to schedule new short haul flights this far in advance so fingers crossed they start earlier than planned.
DeleteEW is in a mess, they don't really have a strategy. Probably they found an aircraft and use it now to employ it. Good for BEG. But it wont solve EWs problems.
DeleteWhat's happening to them anyway?
Delete@nemjee the domestic cuts in Germany are only temporarily and in summer 22 they'll grow to a size bigger than pre-pandemic. EW already secured the first sub charters.
DeleteEW is in negotiations with one european ACMI carrier to lease 10 planes for summer 2022 to operate additional EW flights from DUS, STR and PRG
DeletePat, given their situation and how uncertain covid situation is in Germany, I guess we will have to wait and see what they do. From what I saw easyJet is putting pressure on them so it will be interesting to see how things play out in the end. In this fight, my money would be on easyJet.
Delete@Nemjee overall EasyJet isn't really pressuring EW. They'd never do that to LH airlines. Easy nearly gave up all Germany-ops except the routes from TXL. But still I agree that we'll have to wait bc of covid. However EW has the first A220 ACMIs from Air Baltic already secured.
DeleteI am not too surprised that they went for the BT A220. I think LH also leased it back in summer 2019 for their MUC hub.
DeleteIt's getting quite crowded out there as I would also add Wizz Air from Dortmund. They all serve the same catchment area.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a pretty autistic move by EW. Why not launch CGN in stead which seems to be one of the top unserved markets from BEG. Even W6 planned it a year ago.
Yep, Cologne would make much more sense in my opinion as well.
DeleteWe will probably see Wizz introduce Cologne in 2022.
DeleteI am surprised they went for FCO in stead of CGN. They still have some room for expansions so who knows. Maybe they operate it with a non-BEG plane like they do for LTN, AUH and DTM.
DeleteBy October next year they will probably cancel and reschedule a 100 times in line with their usual behaviour
ReplyDeleteProbably. This is Eurowings after all.
DeleteThat's what they did with 'new' ZAG routes.
DeleteTicket are extremely expensive.
ReplyDeleteYes 300 EUR each way!
Deletepricey for an LCC
DeleteWhat a rip off
DeleteI hope that's the fare with luggage.
DeleteNo! It's the cheapest ticket without checked bag. Really expensive.
DeleteCombined with Stuttgart, they will now have daily flights to BEG.
ReplyDeleteBoring route.
ReplyDeleteGasterbaiter traffic.
DeleteNot enough German routes. Missing cities: Bremen, Leipzig, Kassel, Dresden.
DeleteKassel? Seriously?
DeleteNUE
DeleteNot enough German routes?? There is Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Hahn, Baden Baden, Memmingen, and Hannover. That's 11 routes!
DeleteI agree with Anon 9:54 - Dresden, Leipzig and Kassel and Bremen. Serbia lacks connections with Eastern Germany. More focus is on Western Germany,
DeleteBecause the majority of the Serbian diaspora lives in Western Germany, not Eastern Germany.
DeleteKassel would never work as it's too close to Dortmund and Frankfurt. If there should be a connection to east Germany it would be either DRS or LEJ but not both simultaneously.
DeleteGood to see. But Air Serbia will have to up its game on this route with the extra competition
ReplyDeleteGermany is really ell covered from BEG.
ReplyDelete*well
DeleteJU will not be happy at all
ReplyDeleteI think JU can take EW easily.
DeleteJU will kill them on this route.
DeleteGreat news for passengers but bad news for Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteSorry Air Serbia, no more ripping off people on this route.
DeleteRipping off? They are less expensive than Eurowings.
DeletePeople said it was bad news for JU when easyJet launched Berlin flights yet here they are, both alive and kicking.
DeleteIf there were a lot of indirect passengers on this route, it means there is more than enough room for both airlines.
DeleteA large number of indirect passengers on such a short route indicates that JU isn't meeting market demands for BEG-DUS. I don't know what their fares are like but that could play a big part as well. Other factor is schedule, many people are obviously not willing to work around JU's flights so they are flying on LH.
DeleteSuch a shame JU doesn't have a regional jet aircraft with which they could offer a lot of frequencies.
@nemjee - A large number of indirect passenger can come for various reasons. Do not forget that DUS area is a big economical powerhouse of Germany. A lot of businesses there have serious operations in Serbia (e.g. Henkel nowadays produces most of its dishwashing program and capsules for washing machines in Serbia, + Bref + many other). Those companies also have corporate contracts with LH sometimes or most of the times. German business people are in love with Lufthansa. Not only because of FQTV program, but the percieved "safety" of Lufthansa is something that is a big factor in their decision to buy LH ticket. They can be pricey, however business travellers are less sensitive because it is not their private money. I remember paying 500+EUR for FRAMUCFRA "light tariff" because I had to be on the same flight like some Japanese guy. (No, I did not, but I did not care anyway). Finally, the schedule. Via MUC or VIE or FRA it can be convenient to fly from DUS to BEG after working hours/meeting done and arrive same night home, which is not possible on some days with JU, neither it will be with EW.
DeleteOh, did I mention that in Germany the travel time is paid from moment of leaving hotel/office/home to the moment arriving home/office/hotel? So the longer the trip ...
True, you are right about that. However makes you think if there is really enough business demand to sustain these flights? Also their times are not really business oriented. I still think that their main focus will be on gasto traffic.
DeleteAnother thing which I think is a shame is that they didn't schedule their flights when the airport is quieter. They arrive and depart at the same time as JU's second wave in addition to Wizz, Lufthansa, Aeroflot, Qatar, flydubai and so on.
Would have been better if they had a morning departure from DUS, like around 7 with the flight arriving at BEG after 9 when there is almost no one.
Great. Never understood why Eurowings was so passive in Serbia. I think they would have opportunities in Nis too.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI don't think they are a good fit for INI.
DeleteEW's costs are not very low while INI is a price sensitive market. I think Wizz Air and Ryanair are a better fit. Eurowings should focus on Belgrade where there is less pressure on their yields and where they could have a wider profit margin.
Good to see.
ReplyDeleteIt would be great if they added flights from their new base in Prague to Belgrade considering Air Serbia is operating this route with a prop.
ReplyDeleteFor me it is not such a big problem usage of ATR but rather extremely high prices
DeleteDoes that mean Air Serbia will now have direct competition on all its German routes from BEG?
ReplyDeleteGood observation
DeleteTheir schedule is quite good.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. The more competition the better.
ReplyDeleteGreat development.
ReplyDeleteHope we see more new routes/airlines coming next year.
ReplyDeleteSo far there are positive signs for next year.
DeleteGreat news for BEG!
ReplyDeleteYeah, great, yet another route to Germany... even to a city, to where there are already enough flights from BEG.
DeleteSo? The fact EW feels comfortable enough launching DUS means the market grew and matured. Also, you make it sound as if this is the only route BEG got which is so not true.
DeleteI can't take this airline seriously.
ReplyDeleteGreat but why don't they consider Ljubljana as well!
ReplyDeleteWhy anyone else does not consider LJU? :((( Looking at BEG network I always feel so damn jelaous :(
DeleteBad news for Air Serbia!
ReplyDeleteGood thing they have almost a year to prepare for their arrival.
DeleteJat outlived LH on the BEG-DUS route. I don't think EW will last.
DeleteDid Lufthansa used to flt this route?
DeleteYes, they did. LH canceled DUS-BEG at the end of the summer 2008 season. It was operated by the CRJ900 if I remember right.
DeleteActually it was operated by CRJ200, must have been one uncomfortable flight.
DeleteEven the registration of the plane on the photo contains BG :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is so far away by that time we could be in the 21st wave of Covid and Germany could be on its 50th lockdown.
ReplyDeleteLOL true
DeleteWhich equipment will they be using on this route?
ReplyDeleteThe flight info page says A319.
DeleteIsn't it a bit odd to let your competitor know 10 months in advance that you will start a new route?
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or is the Eurowings website page down?
ReplyDeleteIt's just you :)
DeleteDown for me too.
DeleteI'm getting an error page.
DeleteI'm getting this message
Delete"Oh no!
You might have typed the wrong address or the page doesn’t exist anymore. In the meantime, try again or go back to a previous page."
Page is back up now
DeleteAny new flight is more than welcome. Especially in these circumstances.
ReplyDeleteEW has been neglecting RS market for way too long. And they were really missing out from all those gasto traffic. But hey, I'm glad they decided to join the show, however - they've got a really, really long way to even start considering themselves challengers to W6 and JU. If EW is only relying on reaching those indirect/LHG passengers to DUS, this route is gonna be shortlived. My 2 cents - this route success is gonna be all about the price.
ReplyDeleteEurowings still has to deliver PRN-BEG service.
ReplyDeleteThat deal is no longer applicable.
DeleteThat route will exist, deal or no deal. It might take 3 years or 30 years but it will happen eventually.
DeleteIs JU allowed to operate this route? Why would EW do it? What are the current restrictions?
DeleteNo it isn't and look at the archive.
Delete@17,49
DeleteIn short, Serbian DCV considers PRN to be closed as they do not control the airport. PRN is also not a valid entry point into Serbia. In fact, any foreigners entering Serbia through Kosovo are denied entry.
If I remember right, JAT used to have bomb threats on the BEG-PRN flights which complicated things. Also, the DCV, before the Open Skies agreement with the EU was signed, would deny airlines to fly to BEG if they were operating into PRN.
Things are slightly better today, but not great. The lastest issue was non Serbian Kosovo number plates entering Serbia. I don't think JU will be landing in PRN anytime soon, and Serbia might push for a change in the PRN airport name, similar to the Greece-North Macedonia issue.
Let's wait and see what happens. They have already cancelled 2 routes they announced and put on sale for Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteAgree. This airline is the biggest joke ever
Delete4x per week could work, especially because they can attract transfer passengers.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping we see more Easy Jet flights next :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I think they are way too conservative in Belgrade especially since they seem to be doing ok with the routes they have now.
DeleteDusseldorf airport is the largest airport in NRW which is the strongest catchment area in the EU. More than 40 million people live within 2 hours drive and its all high incomepeople, with many big businesses and events around. Also the Serbian diaspora is rising. CGN became less important since German reunification and moving the capital to Berlin, DUS is primarily a business airport with great publi transport connection to the entire area. Air Serbia flights to there are mostly full and I think the competition ill not take much passengers. Demand is just going to grow on this route.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIs Germany the biggest market from BEG?
ReplyDeleteI think Swiss market is bigger in terms of pax numbers. Not sure. It's certainly up there.
DeleteI think the single biggest market is MNE with over 550.000 passengers. Switzerland is around 400.000. Both represent values before covid.
DeleteEW nece biti velika konkurencija ASL, jedino je to dobro za LYBE da sto vise aviokompanija otvara nove linije. LYBE ce imati jos dosta novih linija a mozda i najvise noviteta u kargo aviosaobracaju.
ReplyDeleteINN-NS
Карго саобраћај се изгледа већ лепо развија. DHL је повећао капацитет са В734 на В752 и преусмерио летове са Аустрије на Италију. Лет долази ујутру са Малепнзе а предвече иде или за Венецију или Болоњу.
DeleteNemjee , to su lepe vesti gde imamo takodje veliki potencijal sa dolaskom novih firmi.
DeleteINN-NS