Air Serbia to launch twenty to thirty routes in 2023


Air Serbia’s CEO Jiri Marek has said he does not plan to stick to a single number in terms of network growth this year with the carrier to add between twenty and thirty new destinations in 2023. The airline has so far announced twenty, with another two to be unveiled shortly. “We are not disclosing those two because we don’t want to put on sale routes that do not have slots confirmed. Those two will be on slot constrained airports and, at the moment, half of the slots have been secured but some of them not. We hope to finalise those in the next one to two weeks because the slot return deadline has already passed. Some airlines are returning the slots, while some are still keeping them even though we have indication that they will not operate, so, we believe that within the next two weeks we will be in a position to announce those two routes”, Mr Marek said last Thursday at the New Air Gateway to Europe conference. All destinations launched as part of the carrier’s expansion last summer will run this year as well, including Trieste, which was suspended over the winter but is to be scheduled soon.

Detailing the strategy behind its aggressive growth, Mr Marek said, “We proved in 2022 that growth was the right choice. We made it and it brought us back to profitability. We are making all the right steps this year in order to make it work and we will do it again next year. We learned during Covid that leisure and diaspora-driven routes were the least affected and the one which came back really quickly. That was the main pillar of our expansion in 2022 and the majority of our routes were leisure and diaspora and they stayed over the winter. Our expansion this year is driven by the same factors and, on top of that, we are increasing connectivity, that is, densifying the existing network. I think the magical formula is the fast reaction. Everything is now happening last minute, so the faster you can react, the more benefit and opportunities you can unlock for yourself”.

The CEO said legacy carriers are adopting a low cost carrier mindset in terms of network growth in existing market conditions. “Covid changed everything, and legacy carriers began thinking similar to LCCs [low cost carriers]. Any kind of long-term planning you were making before Covid, for example the golden rule that long haul routes should be profitable in three years, these days are gone. Especially now, the booking window is so short that still 80% of booking are happening ten days to departure. So, you have to react really quickly on the market. For example, when we decided to launch Tianjin in December, the route was sold out for the next couple of weeks within two days and we are now flying full. So, we don’t have to wait another two to three years to become profitable and we will be seeking out more and more for these kind of opportunities in the future”, Mr Marek said. He added, “One of the benefits of the success in our strategy is that we are very flexible. We are not sticking to the IATA winter season or the IATA summer season anymore. Whenever we see an opportunity, we go after it”.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:01

    So the last two routes are LIS and TLV as people keep saying? Are both slot constricted?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:07

      Yes they are slot constricted. Although not saying the two destinations are those. I don't know.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      LIS is. TLV is the first time I hear that is slot constrained.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      Let's wait and see what the two destinations are. Many in the comments were claiming that it will be the return of Beirut and Tel Aviv. Now some are claiming Lisbon.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:16

      they should open LIS and a triangle route BEG-BEY-TLV, with fifth freedom rights

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:35

      BEY-TLV can't be in same triangle due to their political relations, or better say lack of

      Delete
    6. Anonymous11:00

      They might combine AMM or LCA in that triangle

      Delete
    7. JATBEGMEL13:00

      @11,00

      And they might teleport the company back to 1980 in a DeLorean where it was common to open these kinds of triangle routes.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:01

    So once the two routes announced I'm expecting that the next round of announcments will involve long haul routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      I'm guessing Shanghai and Beijing (June), Miami (November).

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:14

      I'm sure there will be more short hauls added in winter.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:03

    " and we will do it again next year. "

    Another 20 routes incoming for 2024 :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:05

      I wonder what else is left in Europe for them to launch. Maybe additional destinations in Austria, perhaps Slovakia too?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:08

      He mentioned both recently as well as Czechia as potential regions for expansion.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:09

      They could do more to improve Scandinavia coverage as well as Baltics. Although we will see how Air Baltic performs on its new Belgrade route.

      Delete
    4. QR 92109:13

      Kosice, Iasi, Suceava, Cluj, Ioannina, Alexandroupolis, Mostar are among those that come to mind regionally.

      Salzburg was long overdue as well as Krakow.

      Delete
    5. QR 92109:14

      ...as well as Chisinau.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:21

      Let’s see how this year’s routes will perform cuz I’m worried about quite a few. Then we can talk about the year of 2024

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:23

      Most people were worried about the 20 new routes in 2022 and all are back,

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:30

      I’m worried only about Marseille, they should’ve launched Nice again...

      Delete
    9. Anonymous09:33

      Nice is already served by Wizz. It would be too much for a destination like that.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous09:34

      There is a big opportunity in Caucasus countries which people have stopped talking about. Yerevan, Baku or Tbilisi.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous09:34

      It has already been kind of hinted that Baku may launch at the end of the year considering the new gas agreement between Serbia and Azerbaijan and increased trade ties. We will see.

      Delete
    12. @09:34
      Baku promissed to cancel visas for Serbian citizens, they signed all bilateral agreement 5 times so far, our president was there, ministers of foreign affairs few times, other ministers multiply times, every time they announce big time on TV and media that Serbia and Azerbaijan mutually abolish visa, and still nothing..We aboliched visas for them 4 years ago..They are just not to be trusted..Few days ago ministers of traffic of Montenegro and Azerbaijan signed a contract about opennning year round route Baku-TVT..I know the guy from Azerbaijan, this will happen- never, or at least not in next 4-5 years..this is how they operate..really slowely..

      Delete
    13. JATBEGMEL13:22

      @09,05

      There are still a decent amount of destinations that could be opened. JU have focused on routes up to 3 hours block time from BEG. I think we will see some longer routes next year. 1-2 routes in the UK (LGW, MAN, BHX, GLA), Middle East (AMM, BEY, JED, EBL, BGW, RUH, KWI), Caucuses (TBS, EVN, GYD), Spain (SVQ, ALC, BIO) all come to mind. Not to mention that there are a few charter routes that could be turned into seasonal scheduled routes.

      3 more ATR's will join for a total of 10. 1 to replace the wet lease, 2 for expansion.

      @09,21

      All routes launched last year are being operated this year.

      @Treshnja

      Perhaps our government should give a dead line for visas being removed for Serbian nationals otherwise we will reintroduce visas for Azerbaijanis.

      Delete
    14. Anonymous14:25

      @JATBEGMEL

      In the UK only LGW and MAN could be possible. There is no point to open BHX or GLA unless UK abolishes visa requirements.

      Regarding Middle East, the possible options are Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Manama. Nothing in Saudi Arabia won't be opened because of visa requirements.

      Caucuses is likely to get some routes from Belgrade, we will see which one tho.

      In Spain Bilbao and Seville are highly possible, in France those are Bordeaux, Nantes and Toulouse, in Germany that can be Bremen, in Norway Bergen, in Finland Helsinki, in the Baltics Riga.

      Delete
    15. JATBEGMEL14:55

      @14,25

      JED might be an attractive option in Saudi regardless of visa requirements due to the Muslim population in the Balkans (religious tourism) as well as catering to the Saudi tourists in the region.

      Delete
    16. @JATBEGMEL you think our government would ever do thing like that? Especially with Aliyev now when everybody needs gas..I don't think so.. I'm just saying that noone should rely too much on words or even written agreements with Azerbaijan..I worked with them, I know how they operate, I personally now these ministers...Everything takes ages with them

      Delete
    17. Anonymous15:42

      @Treshnja11:18 Then Serbia should re-introduce visa for Azeris, simple, and if Azeris want to travel to Europe they'll need a visa everywhere they go. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henley_Passport_Index = according to this data, Azeri passport is really not that good, not sure Serbia should be offering such a massive advantage to a country with low global standing.

      Delete
    18. JATBEGMEL15:54

      @Treshnja

      Great point.

      @15,42

      Serbia doesn't really practice reciprocity on its visa regime policy. India and Burundi really stuck out until recently where Serbia allowed visa free entry for 90 days while Serbian passport holders required visas for entry.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:03

    They are really on a roll

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous09:04

    Oh gosh just announce them already...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:06

      Had you bothered to read the first few sentences of the article you would have found out why they haven't been announced yet.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:18

      That didn’t stop them to announce Cairo weeks ago before putting it into the system

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      Cairo obviously wasn't slot constrained.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:27

      Makes sense, however I still don’t understand the point of CEO talking about it every single day on a record if their slots haven’t been confirmed yet?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:28

      Free PR, why not?

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:28

      Anon 9:27

      He said all of these past few days’ articles in Ljubljana during the conference. It’s just that EX-YU is publishing them slowly

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:35

      ^ not true. He announced it much before the conference
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/01/air-serbia-to-unveil-additional-three.html

      Delete
    8. Anonymous10:42

      Well it won't be long. The text says he said this on Thursday and that he said the route will be announced between 1 to 2 weeks. So within the next week we will know the new routes.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:04

    Good approach. I just hope the fleet development can keep up with the route development.

    ReplyDelete
  7. QR 92109:05

    Belgrade has a lot of catching up to do vs. BUD/OTP so this rate is more than normal.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous09:09

    More destinations in UK and Ireland needed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:11

      I think those are unlikely for several reasons. Strict visa policy and the flights are relatively long. That said I believe they are retuning to 9 weekly at Heathrow this summer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:15

      I can't see Ireland happening any time soon, very small diaspora, visa requirements and very limited tranfer potential, since majority of immigrants in Ireland hail from CE, rather than SE or Middle East.

      I think increasing London, if they manage to get slots, or start LGW ( LH did it recently), or add Manchester, could be more likely, but still not a must.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:18

      Yes, LGW could be an option. Jat Airways flew LGW and LHR for a year or two during the summer.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:29

      Please please for LGW!!!

      Delete
    5. JATBEGMEL13:32

      @09,11

      Regardless of the visa requirements, there are a couple of routes that'll still work, especially on the transfer side of things. JU have a decent regional network that could work for UK transfers as well, not to mention Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.

      The midday wave is noticeably growing this summer and this is where I see those longer flights fitting in.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:12

    All good but building the roof without a strong foundation is a bit risky business. And Air Serbia foundation is currently rather weak; i.e. fleet constrains, staff shortage and high attrition rate, customer service non-existant, maintenance technical support weak, IT support web site weak to just name a few ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      +1000

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:30

      The few times I had IT issues with bookings or anythinf, I got a response and resolution via facebook within 15 minutes every time. So while their website definitely needs updating, I think the support is pretty good

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:08

      And what if one doesn' t use facebook, contact for help / improvement / suggestion is nowhere to be found. The website has bugs especially with date selections. Sorry but I am old fashioned and I only use a PC for bookings.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous09:14

    Wow great news about Trieste. So they will serve 10 destinations in Italy right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:18

      Yes. I think it becomes the market with the most destinations they serve.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:24

      Amazing considering a few years ago they had just Rome and Milan.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:29

      Spain is even more amazing. In January 2019 they didn't have a single route to Spain. Now they have 5!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:38

      LH cartel certainly isn't happy about it.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:50

      @9.29
      Hope they introduce Tenerife in the future.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:53

      Bari also. So, they are Venice, Trieste, Rome, Bologna, Milan, Naples, Florence, Bari, Catania and Palermo. Wizz is doing Rome with alternating airports, and is starting Bergamo. Adding Lisbon now would be a mistake, watch and wait. Hope that Florence or Naples could go all year round.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:21

    Well we should look at which routes they still operate as charters and we can then come to a conclusion what they will add next year. I think Antalya is very likely. And they will probably have to share it with TK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:21

      I wonder if Antalya could work in winter. Turkish wanted to fly the route year round.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous09:28

    Hope the new expansion pays off like last year.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:30

    Will they have enough planes for all these new routes?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:31

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/02/air-serbia-plans-minimum-of-28-aircraft.html

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL13:40

      They will. They will be increasing the fleet size by at least 4 aircraft. The new routes, with exception to BUD, do not have a lot of frequencies

      Delete
  14. Anonymous09:30

    The pace they are going at, they will have 100 destinations much earlier than the 100 year anniversary in 2027.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous09:31

    Why no Amman? It could work really well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:09

      They wanted to start it last year but pulled sales before launch. Probably bookings were not great

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:01

      Surprising. Although Covid was still very much present at the time they were selling Amman.

      Delete
    3. JATBEGMEL13:43

      @10,09

      I think it was also a lack of available aircraft. AMM would of exacerbated the problems they were having last summer.

      Delete
  16. Anonymous09:38

    Bravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous09:39

    We are not sticking to the IATA winter season or the IATA summer season anymore.

    Toronto passengers: finally! Those seasons have been used against us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:42

      You should re read what he said. He said if there is demand they won't wait for summer season to start to launch a new route. What he said about Toronto the other day is that it is extremely seasonal with high levels of traffic only during the summer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:13

      @09:42
      What he said was not supported by following facts:

      "for us, point to point will always be the key plus the regional connectivity." In fact, Toronto has advantage on p2p with 41k passengers vs 32k Chicago vs 10k Miami.

      " Despite having cooperation with Air Canada in Toronto, this, at the moment, is kind of challenging." In fact, it is not once you give up on AC: Porter is at Pearson and codeshares/partners with Air Transat, El Al, Jetblue, Qatar, Icelandair. New routes are Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary - top feeds for JU BEG route.

      "you can’t take a long haul aircraft just for the summer"
      JFK will go from 7 in the summer to 3 in the winter, sitting 4 days a week on a tarmac. Toronto can go max 2 days in the summer, 0 in the winter - sitting only 2 days on a tarmac. So it's fine for JFK to lose 4 days in the winter but not for YYZ to lose only 2???

      "We have Toronto on our priority list but in whatever area you look, Chicago was more preferred"
      No it's not. Toronto is top priority and has been for two years:
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/02/belgrade-toronto-flights-top-priority.html



      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:57

      P2P traffic is not the only deciding factor. Had you read the rest of that article, you would have seen why.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:19

      Marek didn't say the only factor. He said the key factor.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:21

      ^ well I'm pretty sure he knows the stats better than you as to the reason why they haven't launched it, even though he gave you a full list of reasons why they are starting Chicago first.

      Delete
    6. P2P counts, the way they are counted, not necessarily show the real demand on market. I'm sure MIA has much more than 10k, people take altenative routes, not from BEG, in order to reach this destination, since tickets are much much cheaper if initial departure point is not BEG, but some other bigger hub in western Europe, especially Iberian peninsula and France..Anyways, Toronto is just extremly seasonal, and directional, and the only people who can change that are Canadian employers and schools who should give much more vacation days to Balkan diaspora, and mandatory to be taken during autumn and winter season heh..plus joint Catholic and Orthodox Easter..

      Delete
    7. JATBEGMEL14:32

      @10,13

      Cargo was also a factor that pushed JU in favour of ORD over YYZ. Pax numbers isn't the only factor behind launching a route. Care to share those numbers as well?

      While mentioning pax numbers and how irrelevant they can be, look at TSN and how they managed to sell out those flights within 48 hours of launching sales in the worst of the winter period - and that is without a partner of the TSN side.

      JU also managed to secure a massive interline increase with the launch of ORD (70+ destinations). Remember that JU has had for years existing interline agreements with both AA and B6. That's a massive advantage over YYZ. A Porter codeshare would be 6 routes at best.

      Porter is useless in YYZ. Their operations in YYZ is only this year picking up and that on regional jets at best. JU will need a much larger partner in YYZ, not only for pax but cargo as well.

      Air Transit is hubbed in YYZ while the Porter codeshare just compliments their offer. Hopefully JetBlue and Icelandair don't need further explaining. QR's main focus is transit traffic via DOH, especially to the Indian subcontinent. It's a huge underserved market that isn't being used to it's full potential due to Canadian capacity restrictions.

      What you fail also to recognise is that JFK had alot of political backing to relaunch. YYZ however doesn't have that. JFK was a massive burden of JU's finances, they don't need that repeating. Winter JFK frequencies btw go between 4-5 flights a week in the mid December- early January period. Marek mentioned that summer isn't really the problem, it's winter, and they don't need more capacity sitting in front of the hangars burning up the profit they've earned over the summer.

      I think JU and AC will need to partner up for a YYZ-BEG route. Both could sign codeshare agreements where JU provides the feed on the BEG side and AC on the YYZ side. JU could launch YYZ as a year round route at 2pw, while AC summer seasonal with an additional 2 pw for a total of 4 pw between the 2 hubs. It's a win win situation for both sides and would further the case for both sides getting more frequencies, which otherwise takes years at best. EK waited 10 years to get an additional 2 pw into YYZ for a total of 5 pw and only got that once AC started flying to DXB. Without AC it'll be the same for JU.

      Delete
    8. Plus Totonto apearson is the most expensive airport in the World . JU would be stuck in T3 which has horrible facilities and technology from 80s. Nothing functional at that airport. They have 1 proper restoration at that place . Honestly no point waiting time with YYZ. Lots of corruption atthat place. I red lots about CEO and managers giving them selfs millions in salaries but 0 o improve that place.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous20:04

      @JATBEGMEL AC would already partner with JU if they wanted to. Their JV with LH is more lucrative than potential codeshare with JU. AC already said 2pw limit is deterrent to BEG launch. Time to realize different partner is needed.

      Porter's 6 potential feed lines will be up and running way before JU could launch YYZ. Porter with only 6 main routes could bring more passengers to JU in YYZ than majority of those AA interlines to ORD. AA is more likely to send transfers via (soon to be daily) JU JFK service, Porter would send 100% to YYZ. For Cargo, agreed on ORD advantage, but find other partners at YYZ - airlines are not as picky for Cargo deals.

      I already answered winter seasonality, please read Anon at 10:13. JFK causes double the winter grounding than YYZ could.

      YYZ doesn't have political backing??? Did you read the link from Feb 2021? Two years ago officials from both Serbia and Canada stated BEG-YYZ is top priority! Keep in mind, Pearson didn't suddenly become expensive in those two years, didn't suddenly become highly seasonal, restricted to 2pw etc. All those constraints were KNOWN at the time Belgrade-Toronto was declared top priority, so those excuses can't be used. So what really new and relevant happend in the past 24 months that caused TSN and ORD to become higher priority than top priority? Please answer this question. My gut feeling says something about the new leadership, but let me hear your answer.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous20:27

      Toronto fans need to chill a bit, if they thought there was that much potential, they would for sure launch it.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous20:35

      Top priority was declared by officials from two countries, not fans. Potential is there, Toronto is top unserved destination on the planet from Belgrade other than Shanghai.

      Delete
    12. JATBEGMEL00:01

      @20,04

      AA has a JV with BA, AY, IB and EI on the TATL market and that hasn't stopped them from massively expanding on the interline agreement with JU.

      Of the Porter routes ex YYZ, provided that they would offer decent connection times, we have the following.

      Entire Porter network ex YYZ:
      - Calgary / 17,9 million pax / 3 daily ERJ
      - Edmonton/ 8,1 million pax. / 3 daily ERJ
      - Halifax / 4,1 million pax / 2 daily ERJ
      - YUL / 20,3 million pax / 4 daily ERJ
      - Ottawa / 5,1 million pax / 4 daily ERJ
      - YVR / 26,3 million /2-3 daily ERJ

      Compared to 6 of the 70+ routes available via ORD on AA:

      - Las Vegas / 51,5 million pax / 6 X daily B738
      - LAX / 88 million pax / 8 X daily B738/A321 neo
      - SFO / 57,4 million pax / 4 X daily B738
      - SEA / 51,8 million pax / 3 X daily B738
      - Phoenix / 46,2 million pax / 8 X daily B738/A321 neo
      - San Diego / 25,2 million / 4 X B738

      Plus we need to look at how many of those travellers were domestic, how many were international. What demand is there for cities such as Calgary, Halifax and Edmonton compared to Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles etc. LAX btw is the 6th largest underserved destination from BEG.

      ORD compliments JFK on the US connections side as they can offer more pax and cargo connections to US cities on JU metal with a total of 9-10 pw frequencies. YYZ doesn't offer no where near that level of pax connection possiblities, cargo is significantly weaker while the best of YYZ frequencies would be the worst of JFK and ORD.

      AC not wanting/willing to work with JU could be a factor as to why JU is not in a hurry to launch YYZ. JU obviously needs a partner on the YYZ side. Again, Porter isn't obviously going to cut it at this moment. Marek does say that YYZ is top priority but if other destinations and carriers are willing to offer a better deal than the obvious choice is to go with the better deal. Problem is on the Canadian side and not the Serbian side. Canada is well known to be very slow in allowing additional frequencies while the US has given Serbia Open Skies. JU has opportunities to grow in the US, not so much in Canada without AC.

      As for seasonality, JFK is reduced by 50% for the worst period (6 pw best, 3 pw worst). Seasonal YYZ would be a reduction of 100% so it definitely isn't worse than JFK. JFK will continue making some cash during the winter to pay for the lease at least, seasonal YYZ would make nothing while only exacerbate the seasonality issues JU already have with the widebody fleet.

      Finally on cargo, you are only now acknowledging it as the weak point in YYZ, however ignored that cargo was one of the major factors pushing ORD in favour of YYZ. Cargo is a very important factor in long haul transportation and definitely shouldn't be sidelined as it always is when talking about YYZ. Cargo typically makes more profit for an airline than economy class pax.

      Overall, it could be small percentages that pushed JU in favour of ORD over YYZ, however it was much easier to work with ORD over YYZ. That small percentage could of been the difference between loss and break even. They aren't ignoring YYZ, they even acknowledge it as an important market, it's simply that a better deal was found in ORD. Marek has been the first CEO in JU to be seriously looking and actually going into long haul expansion so that actually works in favour of YYZ. He did mention 5 A330's being the ideal number after all. China will be the focus with the 3rd A330 as PVG and PEK had a lot more pax compared to YYZ, and China is cargo heavy which is why ARB has done all the TSN flights. That could set the stage for the 4th A330 where YYZ could be given a shot and if it doesn't work year round, capacity could then be thrown onto expanding their China operations or MIA which was also mentioned. Just my 2 cents.

      As for political backing, I hope you are not serious to think that Canada has the same political importance as the US.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous00:51

      As for political backing, I meant on the Serbian side. This:

      President: Air Serbia plans Toronto as third point in North America :

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/10/president-air-serbia-plans-toronto-as.html

      Delete
    14. Anonymous01:46

      Was this a Freudian slip: "Canada is well known to be very slow in allowing additional frequencies while the US has given Serbia Open Skies"??? Does this mean Air Serbia wants additional frequencies? Does it also mean it was Canada that imposed two weekly flights limit? If so, that would explain Air Canada not being eager to partner with Air Serbia. Wow. Just wow.

      My 2 cents: 0 chance for additional frequency or AC partnership in the future unless Air Serbia actually starts flying to YYZ under current limitations. Air Serbia will never get what it wants just by sitting on a fence. Literally never.

      Delete
    15. JATBEGMEL11:55

      @00,51

      Previously they have also mentioned that JU will launch flights to:

      2016 - Kazakhstan

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2020/02/kazakhstan-seeks-belgrade-flights.html?m=1

      2015 - Azerbaijan

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2015/09/serbia-and-azerbaijan-eye-future-flights.html?m=1

      Baku-Belgrade has been talked about for more than 12 years

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2011/03/azerbaijan-airlines-to-belgrade.html?m=1

      2018 - Iran

      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2018/06/air-serbia-considering-tehran-service.html?m=1

      There's more to that list. All with political backing.

      @01,46

      It's unclear from what side the 2 pw limitation came from, however this tends to be typical practice on the Canadian side.

      JU will want more frequencies at some point once they finally do launch YYZ, however it won't be easy to come by. Back in 2006 Jat Airways was also interested in serving YUL once the second B767 arrived into the fleet. However, as mentioned, it took EK 10 years to go from 3 pw to 5 pw in YYZ. QR has been wanting to increase frequencies and destinations:

      https://onemileatatime.com/qatar-airways-toronto/

      TK doesn't have that many frequencies to Canada despite being a partner airline to AC through Star Alliance and having a massive network in IST.

      AC could possibly not be interested in working with JU as partner LH and friends have VIE and MUC for pretty much similar connections that JU would offer. BEG-YYZ flights would be direct competition to Star Alliance members who benefit the most from the lack of direct flights. LO, AC and LH are in the top 5 list of airlines serving the BEG-YYZ market, LO being the largest, while WAW, MUC and ZRH amongst the top 5 most common transfer hubs. However, some form of agreement will need to come on the Canadian side, preferably with AC due to their size and network, to help boost the viability of the route.

      Delete
    16. Anonymous15:30

      @JATBEGMEL that's good info, thank you. If Air Canada really does not want to partner with Air Serbia then work with Porter and start YYZ flights. Consider A330-300 if possible. Keep improving the service, extending star/stop dates of the season.

      It might end up like JFK, where JU interlined with B6 for years before AA joined. So AC might at one point years from now might want to work with JU, but nothing will happen until Air Serbia starts flying to Toronto. That's the first step.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:06

    Impressive

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:06

    That's over 40 routes in 2 years!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:08

      It is ironic that it is more than the existing network of the other two ex-Yu flag carriers combined.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:10

      More like depressing not ironic.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:01

      He is saying everything that is opposite of what OU is doing. Go figure.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous10:06

    Keep them coming!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous10:10

    Now they really need to invest into marketing to promote all these new routes. Most of the general public doesn't even know about them.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:46

    Always good to see an airline from the region continue to expand and add routes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:49

      Only proactive airline in ex-Yu region

      Delete
    2. The only airline in ex-yu region, to be more precise. The other two are lakrdija, mizerija i lopovluk

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:48

    There is not many new routes left for them to introduce in Europe which can be viable in my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous10:51

    What about flights to North Africa? other than Cairo they seem to be largely ignoring it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52

      Adding destinations in the Middle East makes more sense currently.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:55

      Agree, There are many opportunities in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf. I do not understand why they haven't considered Saudi Arabia. The country is offering several years of subsidies for any new route. The subsidies amount to making the route break even so anything extra stays with the airline. That's why Ryanair has introduced so many routes to Saudi.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:58

      Saudi Arabia won't happen until Serbian citizens can get tourist visa on arrival. Currently Serbian citizens can't enter Saudi Arabia for tourist purposes. This is the case with the majority of the world too except US, EU, Canada and Australia.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:59

      Also North Africa is problematic due to visas. You can't rely purely on transfer traffic.

      Delete
    5. Canary islands, Addis Ababa could be opportunity..as a good link to the rest of Africa, being a big hub, and not so long flight

      Delete
    6. "Whenever we see an opportunity we go after it"
      Jasmineeeeeee!!!! Dje si? Sa ima? Kako je gazda Ivan? Jel bila dobra kahva danas?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous12:19

      Jel' Frankovaaaaa?!!! :)))

      Delete
    8. Anonymous14:29

      I wonder if BEG-ADD could ever work

      Delete
  25. Anonymous13:08

    Good work. Looking forward to future expansions.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous13:28

    What if they lunch more route in North Africa? Like Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:19

      Highly unlikely unless Morocco abolishes visas for Serbian citizens.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous13:29

    I think that AirSerbia should increase frequencies to numerous destinations. It does not make sense to open 20 routes and fly them 2pw or 3pw.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:48

      Totally wrong. 2 to 3 times per week make money and connectivity. What happened to Salzburg, it was due to be operated during winter season?

      Delete
    2. JATBEGMEL14:49

      @13,29

      Frequencies are going up as well. BCN is going from 4 pw to double daily for example. LCA is another route that is having drastic increases as well. OTP is also seeing the A319 along with additional frequencies which is new. LJU will be getting a 3rd flight a couple times a week while the plan is to have 4 daily once they have adequate capacity to do so. FCO and MXP is increasing, along with BER and CPH. IST went from 7 pw to 21 just from BEG alone. OSL went from 2 pw to 5 pw, I won't be surprised to see that route go daily soon. TIA and ZAG are also seeing frequency increases as well. These are just some examples of frequency increases. SJJ might also see midnight flights if SJJ gives the approval for night flights, which we should soon hear about.

      FRA, AMS and LHR is where JU have issues due to slots. JU was rejected by LHR for an additional 5 pw. AMS has put a limit on flights. LH is a problem for JU in FRA.

      @13,48

      SZG isn't ideal for ATR winter ops. They tried to put an A319 on the route during the winter and sales weren't going well.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous08:36

      Ljubljana 4 daily? wow.

      Delete
  28. Anonymous14:02

    How are they gonna maintain these flights for winter season tho?

    ReplyDelete
  29. When are they going to announce new routes for the 3rd A330? I am guessing very soon if the aircraft is arriving end of June ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL00:15

      If they are using the aircraft for more China flights, which is most likely, we could be getting news of the new route/s as late as early June.

      Delete
  30. JATBEGMEL15:56

    YU-APS is fully painted in the JU livery.

    It's without sharklets as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20:15

      Any photo? About sharklets I think that is no so very important .

      Delete
    2. Anonymous21:06

      https://twitter.com/airserbia/status/1623293072883781633/photo/3

      Delete
  31. Anonymous16:04

    TSN profitabilan od samog pokretanja rute! Najbitnija informacija u ovom članku.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Boris18:54

    Its clear to me for a long time what Marek is saying. Post Covid era become shit show ( excuse my french) in terms of doing business in any industry. You have to Act not think. First Jump and then say Hop.
    Lisabon would be interesting destination for a lot of transatlantic connections from Canada that Croatian airlines did not utilize in the past. Interesting times.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous20:08

    Andd traditionaly they are thinking only about Beg. Not include at all INi and KVO... Sometimes put some new routes to BNX... Put priority should be develop of INI and KVO, of course not long haul flights but regional yss.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JATBEGMEL00:12

      JU tried unsubsidised flights this winter from Nis (INI-ZRH) which should automatically have been a success and they ended up cutting the season short, which isn't encouraging. FR cut BGY-INI as yields weren't great and they had better use for the aircraft elsewhere despite having great CLF on the route. Full flight does not equal profit.


      BEG has a JU crew base, INI doesn't. BEG has maintenance, INI doesn't.

      KVO doesn't have fuelling facilities nor does it have a runway capable of handling anything more significantly heavier than an ATR. This significantly reduces the capabilities of JU in KVO.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous20:32

    Air Serbias network is already impressive .
    They should increase frequencies !
    Madrid twice a week is a joke ..

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous21:41

    Bratislava is the 5th richest market in the whole Europe. And its totally underserved. They is not full service airline at the Airport.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:34

      There will be as Aegean announced flights to BTS.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:47

      Its only for summer season (jun-sept), 2 weekly flights. Not usefull for business.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous07:43

    They need to work on fixing their fleet before expanding even more. This morning again there is a mess because some A319s are not flying.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous19:14

    All from Belgrade I guess? Rest of Serbia is dying

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous14:41

    What about restoring Helsinki?

    ReplyDelete

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