Air Serbia has seen strong demand for its new service between Belgrade and Tianjin which will launch on December 9. The carrier no longer has any tickets available for purchase for the first five weeks of operations, with the first seats available on January 13 of next year, however, these are likely to sell out quickly as well, with the Global Distribution System indicating available seats only in business class. There is greater availability on the return flights. The Serbian carrier will commence its Tianjin service in the lead-up to New Year on January 1, as well as the Lunar New Year public holiday in China which will run from January 21 until January 27. Passengers arriving in Tianjin will be required to undergo quarantine as part of China’s strict zero-Covid policy.
Air Serbia is limited to operating a one weekly service to China’s fourth largest city due to coronavirus prevention measures. The airline has previously said that it plans to commence services to both Beijing and Shanghai once the country eases its pandemic-related policies and would, in that case, review the future of its Tianjin flights based on their performance. Tianjin is located close to Beijing and is linked with a thirty-minute bullet train service to the Chinese capital. Apart from strong passenger demand, the new Tianjin service is also expected to carry significant amounts of cargo based on the volume of trade between the two countries.
Apart from Air Serbia, Hainan Airlines, which maintains a one weekly rotation between Beijing and Belgrade that operate via Dalian on the inbound due to Covid measures, has also seen strong demand since its service launch in July. China has begun slowly easing its Covid-19 protocols for incoming international travellers. It is believed the country could lift many of its restrictions next spring with airlines forecasting unprecedented demand for flights to China. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, recently said, “In the long haul sector, China is one of the three most important markets. And it is forecast to grow much faster than already mature markets such as North America. In addition, there is great demand there for both passenger and freight. Another reason [for selecting the Chinese market] is that Chinese travellers do not need a visa to visit Serbia, and Serbian citizens do not need a visa to enter China. This is very rare in Europe. So, China was the logical choice for Air Serbia”.
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Bravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteHope people realize now why they started China before Canada.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThat was not an issue. It was why Chicago before Toronto?
DeleteBecause if you want to fly to Toronto you need to have 3 aircraft of the same type?
DeleteIt's simply too expensive to fly to YYZ at the moment and especially out of season.
DeleteMarek mentioned a couple months back that the problem with YYZ was that it was more seasonal in traffic. That doesn't mean they won't fly there at a later stage, its just that ORD for now works better for them.
DeleteIn previous years (2006) Jat Airways wanted the first 2 long haul routes to be JFK and YYZ, followed by ORD and YUL with a second B762. That was the best strategy for them at the time. Before that, in 2002, they wanted the first relaunched long haul route to be YYZ with the DC10, probably as they were unable to get the rights to fly to the US.
I think YYZ will come sooner rather than later. And I think YYZ will be bulked together with some interesting news (regional jet additions). There is only so much expansion an airline the size of JU can do at once, and this year has been more than impressive.
Because China has more favorable Covid policies than Canada? Cause I was reading here Canada is hell.
Delete@9.02
DeleteCanada will be for the new premium carrier Pragusa.one
I am Anon 09:58. My responses:
Deleteto Mixer: no, you can fly to Toronto with just one A330 like they did with JFK. Now with 2 they could have picked JFK, TSN and YYZ but didn't.
to Anon 11:54 Already answered. Toronto is not expensive for more than 50 million passengers per year (2019) so that's not an excuse. YYZ should not be mentioned in any other Air Serbia context but ONLY as summer seasonal to start.
to Anon 14:52 Good one - those within Air Serbia opposed to Toronto service used that excuse until couple of months ago, but now that Toronto is open unlike draconian China measures those people are nowhere to be found :)
To JATBEGMEL - thank you, great insight as always. I just extended my patience for another 6 months :)
Thank you for extending your patience for another 6 months. The CEO of JU wanted to personally thank you for your great tolerance.
DeleteDo you understand the meaning of :) at the end of the comment? :)))))))))
DeleteI wonder if Chinese companies are buying up seats for their employees in Serbia
ReplyDeleteI assume it's not just from Serbia but from many nearby countries as well.
DeleteDefinitely.
DeleteGood for JU ! I have no doubt that ORD will see a similar demand.
ReplyDeleteExcellent to hear. I wish them good luck.
ReplyDeleteAnd it should be noted that tickets were/are EXPENSIVE
ReplyDeleteNaturally. Demand is much bigger than supply.
DeleteWhat are the return fares like at the moment?
DeleteGoogle it.
DeleteGood. I wonder if strong ticket sales (with high ticket prices) and cargo can be enough to make this route profitable quickly taking into account the amount of time the aircraft will sit in Tianjin.
ReplyDeleteThat's a standard in long-haul flying.
DeleteNo, it's not standard for the plane to be on the ground for over 30 hours. The reason it is in Tianjin so long is because the same cabin crew will fly the plane back because of Covid measures. Even Marek said this wasn't ideal for the airline.
DeleteUnexpected
ReplyDeleteCrazy! Could they add capacity?
ReplyDeleteThey got a permit just for 1 weekly flight.
DeleteI'm not that surprised, especially ahead of lunar new year. People need to go through quarantine before they are free to move around so they need to get to China early.
ReplyDeleteAny idea why yesterday's flight to Ljubljana was canceled? Seems like they have some problems with atrs...
ReplyDeleteAnyways, absolutely amazing start for YU
YU-ALX went AOG on ground in SKP yesterday afternoon so they were an ATR down last night. It arrived back to BEG this morning and is heading to TIV shortly. A319 was sent for the midnight SKP flight instead of an ATR. A319 was also used for this mornings LJU rotation instead of an ATR.
DeleteThey should have leased A330-300 instead.
ReplyDelete-300 has lower range than the -200.
DeleteThey don't need that range for either Chicago, Toronto or Shanghai.
DeletePerhaps they will need it for some future destinations
DeleteI'm pretty sure they have their reasons why the opted for the =200 series.
DeleteWhat is the capacity difference between -200 and -300 series?
DeleteAren't -200 cheaper?
DeleteIt's quite huge.
DeleteAbout 40-50 seats on average.
Cheaper they may or may not be.
DeleteThey also produce less money.
Even 70 seats on some airlines.
DeleteSecond A330 should have been -300.
Would be nice if one day they got the A330neo. We can only dream.
DeleteOther than the engines, is there any difference between the A330neo and ceo versions?
DeleteNot really.
DeleteJU doesn't need the added capacity of the A333, especially during winter months when that added capacity would make an ok performing route (JFK) worse.
DeleteMaintaining consistent capacity over multiple aircraft makes logistics alot simpler for JU.
If they need extra capacity A350-900 would be perfect plus they can consider LAX, maybe Australia.
DeleteDo they have plans for LAX?
DeleteJos dva A330 ce povecati flotu Er Srbije na cetiri dugolinijskog aviona. Nova era pocinje na Aerodromu Nikola Tesla. Red je i vremeje. 🛫🌐✈🇷🇸✈😀🛫
ReplyDeleteImpressive
ReplyDeleteHopefully they will be allowed to start PEK and PVG soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd keep TSN.
DeleteI hope they will also consider Guangzhou down the line.
Delete...or Hong Kong.
DeleteYes, one of the two should be considered in the future.
DeleteOr Shenzhen:)
DeleteOr Lagos 😂
DeleteYU-ARC looking good!
ReplyDeleteFantastic news. Honestly, I wasn't expecting such strong demand but I realized things were going in the right direction when they sold out one of their Tianjin flights less than 24 hours after sales began.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising they rushed to start these flights. Seems to have been a good call.
ReplyDeleteGood work
ReplyDeletePortret Mileve Marić u izradi po brzom postupku.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteMilanković.
DeleteFrom what I head, the next one will be Maric-Einstein.
DeleteWell, that would be insane, because she was no world class scientist. When asked, they`d need to explain that she was Einstein`s wife, and people would make mockery out of that - and for good reason, too.
DeleteI think it is just the "politically correct" approach to find a woman. It would be ridiculous to put someone just because she was lucky to find a famous husband...
DeleteI would rather go with Desanka Maksimović, Milena Pavlović or Isidora Sekulić than Mileva Marić, that would have been a joke.
My first choice would be Ivo Andrić
Oh yes, and let us all disregsrd the mythomania saying she actually did all the work and Einstein being the facade
DeleteActually the sooner they abandon this stupid 'legends' thing the better.
DeleteCan't wait for a A330 normal tail.
Hard disagree, this approach is great.
DeleteJust check spotters photos and you'll see that vast majority of ARB photos is its Tesla tail. For smaller airlines this is really nice way to advertise.
DeleteMarina Abramovic 💪🏻
DeleteMirjana Markovic anybody? Or Dafina, srpska majka…if you ask me, Nada Topcagic as she has cult status in Serbia and my house, too!
DeleteMilka Forcan
DeleteAnonymous12:40
Delete"Well, that would be insane, because she was no world class scientist."
She was smarter then Albert actually. Albert never saw any Lab work. Mileva was fixing his experiments. At one point Albert father in law, and Mileva's Dad said to him: " Ejj moj Alberte sve je to Relativno" LOL
Photos on the tail are trivial. Passengers are looking for the Value when they are purchasing tickets.
* than Albert
DeleteFor sure, it was all about Mileva Marić, Roman Pope, Trilateral Commission and Free Masons decided to place Albert Einstein instead as they hate the Serbs
DeleteAnonymous20:52
DeleteSorry buddy but nothing about the Pope & BuildBurgers LOL
It has to do Feminine energy of Mileva that did not want to be some kind a mascot for the Science community.
China will be the hen that lays golden eggs for JU.
ReplyDeleteI think these might have exceeded their own expectations.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XGkC5yDXdQI
ReplyDeleteVery happy to see they are already performing well on this upcoming route. I'm sure they will add Shanghai as soon a restrictions are lifted.
ReplyDeleteShame they can't add more frequnecies.
ReplyDelete* frequencies
DeleteYet
DeleteWe will need YU-ARD soon.
ReplyDeleteA330-300 hopefully.
DeleteHow yes no, A350 immediately!
Delete100 A380's for the 100th anniversary would be better.
DeleteI put na Mesec
DeleteAm I (one of the few) who is not surprised? During the holiday time two or three flights weekly can be easily sold out on this route, without lowering the price ...
ReplyDeleteI think the surprise stems from the fact at how restrictive travel to China is.
DeleteWill Air Serbia cover the cost of the Covid rapid test at the airport that passengers to China have to take? Hainan Airlines covers the cost for those departing Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteThe rapid test is like 8 euros.
DeleteAnd so experts commenting here were saying how this is a political route and not demand driven.
ReplyDeletePeople don't understand that Chinese citizens living overseas, most of which travel to China for Lunar New Year can enter the country without a problem. The amount of flights from Europe to China, although improving is nowhere near to fulfill the demand.
DeleteI have no doubt that when China opens up the amount of travel will be crazy. First, Chinese expats who couldn't visit family and friends will head there. Even many Chinese citizens living in foreign countries have not visited since Covid out of fear that they will be stuck for weeks or months due to a sudden lockdown. Even the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia was stuck in China for 3 months this year because there was a sudden lockdown and she could not leave. I'm also sure many Chinese people in China will want to travel again.
ReplyDeleteWith slow steps coming back to JAT routes structure. Which is excellent.
ReplyDeleteMaster Yoda, is that you?
DeleteI also like the look of the new plane. It may be nitpicking, but is it only me or are the letters on the side of the plane a bit out of line (especially the letter S in AirSerbia)?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the same line. You can see from the painting video.
DeleteCongrats
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable...
ReplyDeleteI have to say I wasn't expecting such a strong demand to TSN at all. I thought they were rushing because of the cargo market. Now it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we'll see lots of transfer passengers. Is it even possible to transfer in BEG onto TSN or it has to be P2P because of Chinese regulations?
Yes, since around the middle of last year it is allowed to transfer to China via a third country.
DeleteThis is great. But the real question is are they making money
ReplyDeleteNo, they're losing more than if the flight were empty.
DeleteLogical, right?
wondering how the pax mix looks. All o/d or lots of transfer pax from other EUR countries
ReplyDeleteVery odd.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear this news! Well done and good luck!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work Jiri. And I'm sure (for those people in Ontario) that Toronto will be launched by next summer.
ReplyDelete+1
Deletehttps://i.redd.it/5m7vxxnzqej91.jpg
ReplyDeleteSoon we'll be seeing b787 :D
Can you give more info? First time hearing of it :)
DeleteLooks ugly.
DeleteIt's a joke. Someone just painted an Air Serbia livery on a B787.
DeleteWhen covid pass, serbia must lure over million chinese tourist to country. 3x weekly flights
ReplyDeleteTo do what, go swimming in Ada Ciganlija, or steal your jobs in pekare and mini market?
DeleteWhen this route was announced I thought they are dreaming.
ReplyDeleteI thought this will never work and that its a politically forced decision.
I guess I was wrong. Good work on Air Serbia’s team.