NEWS FLASH
Serbia and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work on a bilateral Air Service Agreement in order to enable the introduction of scheduled flights between the two countries. The development comes following talks between Serbia’s Minister for Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and the Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistical Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, in Belgrade late last week. "We had fruitful talks about bilateral relations and possibilities for deepening our cooperation in the field of air traffic. We have a plan to raise our relations to a higher level. I am confident that a bilateral agreement in the field of air traffic will be signed soon, which will enable the two countries' national carriers to introduce nonstop flights between Belgrade and Riyadh. I have invited Mr Vesić to visit Riyadh where such an agreement could be signed", Mr Al-Jasser said. There have never been scheduled flights between Serbia and Saudi Arabia. Currently, the only two markets in the former Yugoslavia with scheduled services to the Kingdom are Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
More widebodies in Belgrade!
ReplyDeleteLol how?
DeleteThank you Mr. Vesić!!
DeleteI doubt it would be widebodies between Serbia and KSA on scheduled basis. Maybe few offs during Hajj period for Sandzak people. Saudia flies A320 to Munich and Frankfurt. Only London, Paris, Amsterdam and similar see widebodies. On the other side, JU has much more important and more lucrative markets for A330 then KSA, which btw is in range of A320F. If this flights happen, I believe it's more likely they would be operated by Flynas, Flyadeal or Wizz then Saudia or Air Serbia, but you never know, maybe bilateral will be tailored to exclude them. Anyhow, flights in my opinion are likely to happen but definitely not on widebody. BTW, writing this from Jeddah, KSA
DeleteHow are you liking Jeddah, mr. Pozdrav? I'm thinking of heading down there for a trip due to the sheer amount of options that are now available from my airport.
DeleteIt's definitely not the most attractive tourist spot in the World, but it's also not (anymore) so traditional, religious and restricted as it used to be. It's not cheap as well, and if looking for the beach, only recommend if you are resort type, and like being within the fence and on the sunbed. At this time of the year, combination of heat and humidity is another disadvantage, along with Hajj to come soon, so if you really consider coming, I guess you should do it 4-5 months
DeleteVisas should be abolished if they want any flights to happen
ReplyDeletehuh? what in the world would be the purpose of Belgrade to Riyadh?
ReplyDeletethis is really unexpected, kind of impressive from the saudi to really try routes to anywhere, but also easy with the oil money to pay for anything.
Saudi Arabia is opening up to the world, finally, and the business demand is slooowly getting increasing, as well as tourism. The biggest obstacle right now is a visa regime, but I guess that will be dealt with in due time. Won't hurt to have a route to Riyadh from BEG either way
Delete@Slav.Man aka Hamburger 15:15
DeleteWhat in the world would the purpose of your comment? You don't have knowledge, you don't have good ideas. On top of Anon 16:20 response, Belgrade is already well connected to Middle East: Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Tel Aviv and looking to restart Beirut and start Amman. Riyadh would fit well for new passengers and transfers to the region.
@Anon 16:39 Serbian citizens can't visit Saudi except for Business, flights are nonsenical unless that gets revoked.
DeleteThey are working on an Air Service Agreement. They are not going to start flights tomorrow. By the time flights start, visas will be abolished.
Delete@16:39
Deleteprobably never heard of Riyadh before, its a closed Islamic kingdom where people need official invitation and visa to visit.
UAE and Qatar are major transfer hubs that are open to the world and are also well ingratiated in world business and tourism,
Jordan and Lebanon also open for business and tourism, with significant Christian population to maybe build ties for business/politics that could work with Yug/balkan demographic.
Riyadh has non of that hence my surprise. would be equally surprised with announcement to Pyongyang
ow wow just looked they got rid of the invitation requirement they're really opening up.
DeleteAnd not only that, but I got my visa and entered the country with Israeli stamps in my passport. Until recently, you could do it in dreams only
DeleteOur company for example flies constantly to SA, and I know at lest 10 other companies that are doing the same. So great
DeleteSaudi is the future UAE, mark my words. The country is opening up at lighning pace... visas will soon be abolished.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteAbsolutely. Saudis are opening up and there will be new opportunities for Serbians to travel and spend their holidsys, especially during winter months. Same time BEG should further invest and enlarge Beograd na vodi, u ll have plenty of Saudis spending their Summer holidays in Belgrade. Belgrade is well located for the future world. Take advantage of it!
I have Italian Citizenship, 180 euros for visa, I was thinking to go, but 180 euris are 180neuros for visa.
ReplyDeleteAs there is no Saudi Embassy in Croatia, and the nearest in charge of Croatia is in Sarajevo, I was advised by Sarajevo Saudi Embassy to do my business visa through mediator agency in Zagreb. I paid nothing, it was all covered by my company, but my visa plus agency costs were 470 euro
DeleteThey are working on it .
ReplyDeleteWhich probably means that it could take years .
And just a bilateral between the two national airlines which unfortunately excludes Saudi Arabias other airlines whic are the better ones (flynas, Flyadeal) ..
I am excited about Riyadh Air, the airline is expecting to serve 100 routes by 2030 and has some 70ish i think 787s on order. Lets hope they establish scheduled flights to the other Balkan markets. Next week there are two daily flights to Jeddah from Skopje on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but they are charter as per usual every year.
ReplyDeleteIf Riyadh Air ever comes to Balkans they're probably gonna go with Athens and that's all I don't see them operating flight to BEG, ZAG, TIA or SKP fro example.
DeleteIt is all about the subsidized by the saudis Wizzair flights from their Riyadh base. The craziest and useless route at this moment in Sofia... usually with 50-60 pax in direction.
ReplyDeleteI arrived to Jeddah from Istanbul on Turkish. We were 60 passengers on A330-300
DeleteWizzAir does not have a base in Riyadh or Jeddah.
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