Passenger numbers between Belgrade and Larnaca reached their highest levels last year as the service, maintained by both Air Serbia and Wizz Air, saw significant growth in capacity, which was surpassed during the first quarter of 2023. Despite the presence of coronavirus-related restrictions, including vaccination requirements for entry into Cyprus during the first quarter of last year, a total of 72.176 passengers travelled between the two cities. The figure represents an increase of 18.2% on the pre-pandemic 2019 and up 28.1% on 2018. Strong growth is expected throughout 2023, with figures during the first quarter already surpassing those from previous years. From January to March a total of 22.187 travellers flew between the two cities, up 294% on last year and an increase of 654% on 2019.
Belgrade - Larnaca vv. route performance, Q1 2023
Air Serbia plans to double its operations between Belgrade and Larnaca this summer season from seven weekly last year to double daily. Flights will initially run seven times per week, growing gradually to reach two daily rotations from May 30. All services will be maintained with the Airbus A320 family fleet. Air Serbia will compete directly against Wizz Air on the route, which this summer plans to run five weekly flights between the two with its 230-seat A321 jet, up from two weekly last year. As a result, the two cities will be linked by a record nineteen weekly rotations during the height of summer.
Belgrade - Larnaca vv. route performance by year
According to the Association of Serbian Tour Operators (YUTA), Cyprus has become one of the most popular summer destinations for Serbian travellers this year based on advanced bookings. “This year, Cyprus stands out as one of the favourite summer destinations for our tourists”, YUTA said. There are limited flight options between Cyprus and the countries of the former Yugoslavia. In addition to the Belgrade - Larnaca route, the only other scheduled service to the Mediterranean island is from Zagreb to Paphos, operated by Ryanair. Last year, 28.745 passengers flew between the two cities.
Bravo Air Serbia and Wizz Air!
ReplyDeleteWow that's crazy growth
ReplyDeleteRussians not able to fly directly to Cyprus is a large part of this growth in pax numbers.
DeleteYes, Cyprus has become one of the most popular holiday destinations for Serbian passengers but somehow Russians are large part of the growth. I wonder, do you have any data to support your claim?
DeleteWhy deny reality?
DeleteThere are big increases in pax numbers to LCA from countries that still maintain flights to Russia.
Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Israel.
How exactly do you think the tens of thousands of Russian residents in Cyprus travel to mother-Russia? Teleportation?
Just waiting for your source.
DeleteGoogle is your friend!
DeleteSource: trust me bro
DeleteOnly thing is that most Russians actually left Cyprus. Now that sanctions are in place there is little holding them back. Most have gone to Serbia and Dubai.
DeleteAs far as I heard, Limassol is packed with Russians and you will mainly hear Russian language and this has been the trend for the last decade or so. Cyprus was always a destination long-loved by Russians and this will continue to be the case. Many have established their business their especially IT guyz.
DeleteYes all routes from Serbia are either packed with Russians, asylum seekers or are political routes. We know the drill.
DeleteI am literally here right now, Russians have mostly left Cyprus. Those who stayed are those working for local or international companies. Those are not many since the vast majority of Russians operated offshore businesses here. Russian era in Cyprus is officially over.
Delete@12:44
DeleteHaha, yeah! And the planes for PEK and TSN are filled with Chinese workers!
12:48 Russians have not left Cyprus, they are restricted because of EU current bans. They simply cannot find ways to return to Cyprus or it is very expensive to go there similar to other parts of Europe such as Montenegro or Bulgaria for example which also used to have permanent residents throughout the year. All this is just temporary and once the war is over, Russians will return to Cyprus in droves especially in Limassol.
DeleteDidn't you know, that one plane coming from Russia is filling all other planes in both Belgrade and Niš, according to some analitičar.
DeleteMost Russians fly to Cyprus
Deletethrough Yerevan and use Wizz. This combination is 50% less expensive than using outreagously priced JU service.
Vast majority have moved away from Cyprus because keeping ties witt Russia has become virtually impossible. Like I already wrote, most went to Serbia and Dubai.
DeleteJesus Cyprus 12 days, hotel and plane ticket for this time we're going around 500$ or even less.
DeleteWhy wouldn't you travel there?
Surely these routes are 80% tourists?
ReplyDeleteI think the diaspora is very small.
Let's remember the nineties and who ended up in Cyprus and why.
DeleteThe growth is obviously generated by tourists..
DeleteThe 90s were a long time ago and most of those who were here either died or moved away.
DeleteAt this point this demand is generated by transfers, tourists and a bit of VFR.
DiasporA is holidaying in MonteNegro . That is status symbol of holidays.
DeleteI'm surprised Cyprus Airways hasn't considered launching flights in this route.
ReplyDeleteThey are soon getting A220s which seems like an ideal aircraft for the route.
DeleteI remember when it was a complete hit here in Sofia (around 2010-2015).
ReplyDeleteThis year there is also a greater interest here.
There seems to be strong interest in Cyprus, at low prices?
Also Skopje.
Delete09:05 - FR are increasing SOF-PFO up to 5 weekly on some weeks in June, July and October and BH Air are launching charter flights during summer to LCA and will operate from SKP as well for the first time according to the JK Travel MK website. There will be more flights from VAR to Cyprus as well. Obviously it will be the hit this year in the whole region.
Delete+1
DeleteLow prices?
DeleteThere is no low prices in Europe this year.
Decent apartment in Chalkidiki, end all other amenities lounger, umbrella, frappe , 10 days is 2000 euros for the family of 4.
And thats your own cooking.
In Cyprus with airfare that would be at least 3.500 euros. That is low price. This summer there will be a lot of Lavor tourists lol
Anon 18:58 you're 100% right. Just wonder how long they'll be able to sustain these pumped up prices with a recession looming?
DeleteThis year it will be over 100,000 passengers.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteHundred percent
DeleteOver 150 000
DeleteIt has definitely become a hit. I know so many people who went to Cyprus just this year and it's only April.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteVery good result. Going to be a busy summer with 19 weekly flights.
ReplyDeleteJU has some transfers on this route too.
ReplyDeleteFlew BEG-LCA on Dan Air this Thursday. We were 99 passengers onboard. Funny thing is that there were more Croats onboard than Russians.
ReplyDelete85% of the passengers were Serbian holidaymakers.
Romanians are also using this route but they are mostly sticking to Wizz Air.
As for transfers, it also helps that RO is gone and LO never recovered.
Nemjee we are expecting trip report 😉
DeleteHehe didn't make it on the way there since Dan Air is really strict about taking pictures and they make you delete them. Plus their crew was really unpleasant so I didn't want to risk an interaction with them.
DeleteWhat on earth? Why do they have such a policy?!?
DeleteNo idea. A Romanian friend of mine flew with them from OTP to BEG and he was bitched at for taking pictures and they forced him to delete them all. They also warn you during boarding and before take off. Personally they are now flying for JU and paid by JU so this policy should be dropped.
DeleteThat's crazy. I mean they are a company with 4 planes :/ Hope someone brings it to JU's attention.
DeleteI doubt JU cares about it. They have more pressing issues like downgrading a full A320 to an A319 for tomorrow's flight from LCA.
DeleteCom'n @Nemjee, don't make things up, it's impossible Croats flew to Larnaca, you know Croats don't travel anywhere, especially by plane 😃
DeleteFirst time to hear for this. What are they hiding. Is aircraft is bad condition or what?
DeleteActually no, their A319 was fine, it was well maintained and comfortable. Strange policy.
DeleteI wonder who has more passengers - Wizz or Air Serbia
ReplyDeleteLogical Air Serbia.
DeleteNot necessarily. As we saw recently, Wizz is performing better on London route.
DeleteI think JU but it is close..
DeleteIt has more flights than W6 which is flying A321NEOs so more pax per flight.
Must be Russians, coming through Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteDid the original poster even bother to read the article?
DeleteI think he was being sarcastic.
DeleteWow, this is huge. Hope to see most of the frequency in the winter season
ReplyDeleteWizz's 5th weekly is new, it was added these days. It will stay until the end of summer. After that they plan LCA as 4 weekly.
DeleteImpressive
ReplyDeleteReason is totally different, there are so many Russians who live or go to Cyprus for holidays and Serbia is only country which is close and have flights to both Cyprus and Russia (from Turkey its only to Northern Cyprus)
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteWhile Russian travellers did have an impact it certainly isn't the only reason you are suggesting. There has been a big increase in Serbian people going to Cyprus. You would not know as you are not from Serbia.
DeleteLet me repeat what I wrote above, most Russians have left Cyprus and have moved to Serbia and Dubai.
DeleteAlso Russians that stayed can travel home via CAI, AMM, DXB, DOH, BEG and EVN. There's also the illegal option via the occupied north Cyprus.
That's right my friend. Russians also fill LCA, JFK, MAD, BCN, FCO, ATH, FRA, LHR, CDG, MXP, AGP… literally everything. The rest of us can't buy tickets because the Russians bought and occupied everything. Russians are filling even the A321 W6. You didn't know? An A319 arrived from Moscow and filled up to the last seat of an A321 to Larnaca.
DeleteI guess it's the new version of 'Arabs are buying JU because of cheap agricultural land' ... It's easier to come up with conspiracy theories rather than face reality.
Delete"most Russians have left Cyprus and have moved to Serbia and Dubai."
DeleteBelgrade is FULL of russian speaking people, shopping malls, Promenada, Kalemegdan, Knez. Some of turkish speaking turists also, but Russian young families are everywhere. Even in suburbs.
While russian ofcourse use this route its not only because of them. I personally know a few people who went to cyprus in Apiril.
ReplyDeletePut INI LCA... It should become more popular and more available for pax from Kosovo also...
ReplyDeleteCyprus doesn't recognize Kosovo, doesn't allow bank transfers and I think they don't accept Kosovo* passports. At international competitions they don't allow their flag to be displayed or the anthem to be played. I doubt there will be much demand from Kosovo and Metohija to Cyprus.
DeleteI remember Ютер from Russia also did not allow photos. And also one more, was it Lufthansa or some smaller, can't remember. But that Juter gave best food i had on the plane.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion why tourists choose Cyprus this year. Traditional tourist place of Serbs is Greece, but it got more expensive this year, because Turkey have less tourists due to earthquake, and mostly those international tourists choose Greece over Turkey.
ReplyDelete