Air Serbia plans to expand its long-haul network and has made no secrete it will next launch flights to either Shanghai or Guangzhou in China, depending on where it secures better landing and departure slots, once it manages to find a suitable Airbus A330-200 aircraft for lease on the market. However, further down the line, the carrier plans to commence flights to its third destination in North America, following the launch of Chicago earlier this year and New York JFK back in 2016. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, says a decision between Toronto and Miami has still not been made, noting that both have a similar chance of turning a profit”.
Commenting on the matter, Mr Marek said, “Toronto has a large diaspora, but also high seasonality. Miami, on the other hand, is a year-round destination. Our partner, American Airlines, has a large hub at Miami Airport. Both destinations are similar in terms of profitability, but we have not made a final decision yet”. He added, “We have been flying to New York since 2016. The route has matured and planes to the Big Apple are flying at full capacity. The diaspora living in the United States benefits from these connections. This is also why we launched a nonstop service to Chicago. The US diaspora is still price sensitive, which is why we initially delayed the acquisition of a second wide-body aircraft. During the pandemic, there was an opportunity to fly to China. We did not hesitate to use it. Operating to China and Tianjin guarantees profitability”.’
Mr Marek has reiterated the carrier’s commitment to expanding its long-haul network in the near future. In late December of last year, the CEO said that sourcing a third A330-200 jet might take “nine or more months”. However, the airline entered into talks with a lessor this spring, but the deal ultimately fell through. “As soon as we take delivery of the third Airbus A330, we will focus on expanding the Chinese market. We have already received permits for Guangzhou and Shanghai. We will decide later between Miami or Toronto as our third destination in North America”, Mr Marek said. This coming winter season, which begins on October 29, Air Serbia plans to operate two weekly flights to Tianjin, which is one more than last winter, two weekly flights to Chicago, increasing to three weekly between December 18, 2023 and January 1, 2024, and three weekly rotations to New York JFK, increasing to five weekly between December 22, 2023 and January 7, 2024.
Something tells me it's going to be Miami.
ReplyDeleteBig diaspora, tourism opportunities, transfer opportunities, lower costs than YYZ.
DeleteThere will be riots if they choose Miami over Toronto :D
DeleteToronto will be more useful to Serbian flyers, Miami more useful to Russian flyers.
DeleteNonsens.
DeleteIf Toronto is so lucrative like some claim, why doesn't Air Transat launch it?
DeleteIf Miami is so lucrative like some claim, why doesn't American Airlines launch it?
DeleteHope not to see TS ever in BEG. Their aircraft and service are aweful.
DeleteJU has to remember they are a Serbian airline with a mandate to connect Serbian communities. MIA has no Serbs and Florida itself has about 10% the balkan diaspora of Ontario. If this is launched prior to Yyz because of Russians then it is truly an insult to every single Serbian taxpayer.
DeleteThe only mandate Air Serbia has is to be profitable. No mandate whatsoever to connect Serbian communities.
DeleteThey need to focus on a mini hub and spoke concept with partner airlines. This will create HUGE opportunities for connections as well expansion of the network. YYZ/YUL are way too expensive Canadian airports due to high airport fees. A much cheaper option would be YWG, which is connected to all Canadian airports and has reasonable fees.
DeleteAnon @11:29 most flights from Toronto will be 1-way, with people moving back to Serbia to escape the Trudeau government
Delete@11:29 Air Serbia has a mandate to connect Serbia to as many places as possible, while being successful. to also offer employment, be profitable and contribute to the economy of the country.
DeleteI personally think Canada due to diaspora and try improve connection between canada and the JUG/ balkans. but no point in flying to canada when the serbians and everyone else wont then use the service. instead theyll just fly cheaper with Lufthansa or KLM or something.
They should fly to where they can fill seats and make a profit.
Plus, Miami will see a LOT of cruise crew members
Delete„ If this is launched prior to Yyz because of Russians then it is truly an insult to every single Serbian taxpayer.“
DeleteWhat nonsense. JU does not take money from the state, but for your information, it paid €20 million to the state by the middle of this year. So JU has the right to fly where there is profit and not who orders her what.
Florida's economy is thriving and booming, expat community living there can actually afford to travel. Canada on the other hand is doing poorly and traffic there is mostly older generation which doesn't have much disposable income at this point. Serbs have more or less stopped immigrating to Canada since the 1990s. Meanwhile many have moved and keep on moving to the US.
DeleteFlorida’s economy is thriving and booming? Dude have you opened a newspaper in the last few months? They are essentially imploding due to piss poor leadership.
DeleteThere is a quite large Serbian comunity living in MIA and neighboring towns..Who says there is no diaspora in Miami??
Delete@anon 12:00. Sadly or luckily I am one of those. Any openings for atr f/o with Air Serbia? Currently on Dash8-300 f/o.
DeleteToronto seems to have more connections and frequency to Europe so could be harder with more competition and the seasonal flights to Zagreb already with Air transat.
DeleteMaimi has less connection to europe meaning less competition and possible transfers from Latin America.
Why not both 2 x a week to Miami and 2x to Toronto using the same plane
DeleteAnonymous 03:29 Air Serbia is still a small long haul player, it would be better to introduce destination one by one until the airline grows to the size it can introduce two long haul routes simultaneously.
DeleteAir Serbia will only become a relevant long-haul player when it reaches 5 A330 in its fleet. However even with the 3rd one they will have to make sure that they are not at the airport at the same time as there is no more space during JU waves. It's tight even now when you have JFK and ORD departing at the same time.
DeleteWhen you add Wizz which will most likely add a 5th plane and all others, it's getting busy out there.
LA! or Miami
ReplyDeleteLAX is too far away, less demand and wouldn't be profitable. Not my opinion, Marek said that. MIA, yes, highly likely. And I am looking forward to it 😃
DeleteThey will nerd different aircraft for LAX. Probably 330 neo or 350..
DeleteLA(California) definitely best option:
Delete1. Big number of people from Balkan are there.
2. Lot of tourist from there are visiting Balkan( most Americans that visit Croatia are from California)
3. All of them (1&2) have very good standard
4. People from Balkan like to go in California, for me much better place then Florida or east coast
Standard* in English means *hit i.e nothing.
DeleteIt's called 'level of life' in English.
When could Toronto or Miami be added to the network? Summer 2024?
ReplyDeleteFrom June.
DeleteGood to see that the long haul expansion will continue and that we won't wait years till the next new destination.
ReplyDeleteMiami is actually a good choice. There is a large Balkan diaspora not just in Miami but in Florida in general and it is also a popular holiday destination and good transfer point to South America.
ReplyDeleteThis is precisely the bottom line.
DeleteThis is incorrect. The balkan diaspora in Miami is absolutely tiny compared to Ontario. About 10%
DeleteLarge diaspora in Miami from Serbia, 8 of my friends live in Miami and in vicinity , and just 2 in Ontario region...And I know many other Serbians who live in south Florida...But, considering transfer pax and tourists from Balkans , Miami beats Toronto probably more than 50:1
DeleteDon't be modest, go with 500:1!
DeleteLarge diaspora isn’t 200 people. Ontario has 20,000
DeleteRussian angle is interesting for Miami
Florida is booming with proper leadership..btw
Yes Florida is booming with its main industry - theme parks- threatening to leave. The place is a dump.
DeleteFlorida was doing well but some key policy decisions have changed that. Reconstruction in hurricane disaster areas have stalled. Businesses are finding it less hospitable to the point that political donors have decided not to contribute this year and next.
DeleteHowever, Florida has a growing Serbian diaspora as well as Bosnian. The Russian diaspora is sizable and can no longer fly directly back. Miami has good connections to South America as well as to the rest of North America. The cruise industry is huge here as well.
This route could work out with the current world political situation. Hopefully that is enough to get it established.
7 long haul flights off-season, and 10 weekly long-haul flights during two weeks end of year. This is not a high utilization of the aircraft, so hopefully they use these aircraft on some other routes.
ReplyDeleteWhen are the C-checks planned? And when is the cabin on ARC getting retrofitted to match that one of ARB?
They are using it to Moscow every week
DeleteI mean, they will be using it to Moscow every week during the winter.
DeleteUtilisation has had big improvement considering it wasn't too long ago that 1 aircraft was operating 2 flights a week to JFK during the winter months.
DeleteIt would be better they sort out their delays and cancellations in Europe first before expanding further.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how nobody said it to LH in FRA...
Delete^^^
DeleteI knew it was LH's fault the delays and cancelations by JU in BEG!
It is LH's fault for delays and cancellations in FRA, bigger than JU has in BEG.
DeleteBut still, hey it is LH and for Balkan people as long as it comes from Germany must be extra sega mega good.
🤮
The same goes for any Airline. Customer Satisfaction should be No.1 priority!
DeleteThe number 1 priority for most airlines is profitability.
DeleteSo LH delays in FRA justify JU delays and flight cancelations in BEG! 😆
DeleteI don't know what 'cancelled' flights you are talking about.
DeleteAnon 10:12
DeleteHere you are: https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/06/air-serbia-to-optimise-and-reorganise.html
Yes, as I expected you are talking nonsense. These are pre cancelled flights due to capacity constraints. Same done by most European carriers this summer. You are presenting as if they are adhoc cancelling flights during the day. The number of precancelled flights is rather low especially in September.
DeleteHaters will hate.
DeleteNothing new.
Lufthansa is at fault for FRA's failure to turnaround JU's A319 in 45 minutes. No wonder Lufthansa is shifting focus to MUC, they are moving all of their A380s (8) there.
DeleteIt seems that unfortunately nobody still knows when third A332 will arrive...
ReplyDeleteMIA, YYZ - both are formidable propositions, sad that one of the two won't start. We need Canada, but Miami would be a very nice addition.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure eventually both will be part of the network. It's just a question which starts first.
Delete✅️
DeleteAgreed
DeleteAnd the best of all, first we will get Canton/Shanghai flights and then on top of them we get Miami/Toronto.
DeleteAs I said before, if JU could find affordable 330s they would take five. They have great long haul expansion team and they do miracles
Actually from mid-December to mid-January they will be unable to operate their planned schedule with 2 A330s. Either they will get a third one by then or they will wet lease a plane.
ReplyDeleteI thought they had found the third aircraft already and were in the negotiations faze.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously haven't been reading the new here.
DeleteAny info why "the deal ultimately fell through" for the 3rd A330-200?
Delete“because the existing customer has either extended the deal or overpaid”
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/08/air-serbia-to-take-delivery-of-seventh.html
Why are they only considering the A330? Why not another plane type for long haul operations?
DeleteFleet unificaton bring the costs down.
DeleteJU is very serious about fleet unification! 😆😆😆
DeleteIt is. It has just two different types of aircraft operated in house. Airbuses and ATRs.
Delete@Anonymous 10:16
DeleteLOL! You could also say that ATR is 50% owned by Airbus, so it only has one aircraft family in house!
MIA 2 times per week would be great.
ReplyDeleteWith more Balkan connections and a codeshare, the US market should perform well.
ReplyDeleteJasmineeeeeee!!! De majke ti procitaj sa' covjek prica... A, ne smis, zabran'lo....
DeleteTedious as ever…!
DeleteSkip, scroll over, proceed without reading, or even better, write tedious under Bravo Hrvatska, as ever....!
DeleteHopefully I can finally see exotic destinations.
ReplyDeleteThis winter BTS gets A350 World2fly charters, even Brno in the Czech Republic gets a Neos 789 to Phuket. OTP, SOF don't seem to have many such flights this and last year.
This company is not able to make a proper phone application and PC online web page that works properly and is expecting to conquer North America!?! As of yesterday when one launches the application it comes up with a blank white screen. Only if you somehow happen to guess to scroll the screen from left to right some bogus menu comes up. Unbelievable that their IT sector is so useless and that they promote products without fully testing them. I hope line maintenance mechanics are a better although many AC have engine panels with various coloration (APH one of them). All that tells a lot about JU level of service so what third destination in America they will fly is somewhat irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteIf an engine cowling panel tells you a lot about an airline, I would highly suggest to look around United, Delta, American, Air France, ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Scandinavian, Iberia, Vueling and many others - doing exactly the same - and not just with the engine cowling.
DeleteYou said nothing about the state of the cabins and the hard product ASL is failing to provide properly - but you said "look engine cowling". LOL!
Why not Miami year round and Toronto twice a week seasonally. Test the market.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteMIA should be seasonal. Aside from latinos I don’t see who goes to MIA in the off season.
DeleteMiami is a year round destination and as such will always attract passengers.
DeleteNot really. Miamians escape 305 during summer if they can.
Delete305?
DeleteThere you go. Serbia can promote itself over there so that Miamians can escape for holidays to Serbia with JU. It's a win-win situation.
DeleteHow many long haul routes can they realistically have with 3 A330s?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the frequencies
DeleteThey can decide on a new destination when they have a plane for it. Until then, it's just chit chat, bla bla bla
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing these types of comments just over a year ago. Since then they have launched another 2 long haul routes.
DeleteWhy not both?
ReplyDeleteThey would need another 2 A330s to make that happen.
DeleteGood luck! Hope it happens.
ReplyDeleteI can bet you they will choose Miami.
ReplyDeleteI think they should actually choose MIA before YYZ.
DeleteBoth please!
ReplyDeleteDoes jetBlue have an extensive network from Miami?
ReplyDeleteNot really. Boston, Los Angeles, Newark and New York JFK
DeleteYes, but American airlines, which JU cooperates with has a hub in MIA.
DeleteAA and JU have a paper thin interline agreement. JetBlue is their only American “partner” and they have almost 0 presence at MIA.
Delete@anon 11:25
DeleteJetBlue has focus on Fort Lauderdale airport which is also in Miami. So JU could opt for it.
AA's network at MIA dwarfs what JetBlue can offer at FLL in terms of connections.
DeleteJetBlue is trying to purchase Spirit whose base is FLL. AA has a huge network out of MIA. For Air Serbia FLL may be a cheaper option to fly to as it is still convenient to Miami but we'll see.
DeleteAnyone know how long would a nonstop flight from Belgrade take to each Toronto and Miami?
ReplyDeleteThey should choose the destination which will bring them most money.
ReplyDeleteWhatever they do, most people here will find something to complain about. Same with any other airline reported here.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the YYZ.
ReplyDeleteJasmineeeeeee!!! Dje si? Je l'se ispila kahva? A dje cemo mi sljedece nakon Mostara? Nidje, pravilno, dodaj ti blago meni jos Vrankurta i Minkena, pa da nas Bog vidi. Do pemzije.
ReplyDeleteVrankvurt Minken, Minken Vrankvurt
Deletehahaha
DeleteIf I understood clearly, third widebody will serve one destination in China and one in North America? They just did not choose it yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, the third widebody will serve China, and the North American expansion will have to wait for the fourth.
DeleteThey should fly to Miami in MY opinion and let Air Canada launch Toronto service since they have already expressed interest in flying to Belgrade two years ago I think. They were pushing the government to remove those restrictions of 2 carriers flying twice a week so they can fly 4 times a week, which would be more than welcomed!!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely no one is stopping Air Canada to launch flights. So Air Serbia has no need to "let them" fly anywhere. The bilateral designates Air Canada as a party to the agreement.
DeleteAC will not launch BEG. They’ve made it a point not to fly places where there isn’t two way demand. Visas for Serbs prevent this. If AC Rouge still existed maybe. But that train is long gone.
DeleteActually that is not true. Air Canada said in a statement that they will not fly to BEG because the 2 weekly frequencies they got is not enough, they want 3.
DeleteLol. Problem with MIA is that you already serve america. Canadians will not under any circumstance transfer in America. It’s a nightmare. By flying to Yyz you access the Canadian market. By flying to Mia you are not gaining any new market. You have to gateways to the USA already.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteExactly! Besides that, AC and JU already signed some kind of interline agreement. YYZ could also serve as a hub to other destinations in Canada.
DeleteYes there is a big new market– transfers from Central and South America. AA has a massive network from MIA.
DeleteAnd how much is US market bigger than Canada?
DeleteMuch.
DeleteIt's very obvious that it will be Miami but Marek is being cautious so it appears that Toronto is being given an equal chance.
ReplyDeleteMiami is a year round destination with traffic both ways. Contrary to what the Ontario crowd is saying, there are significant Serb colonies in Florida. Other than Miami, there are Serbs in western Florida, Tampa and Orlando, most of whom will travel to Miami International for a direct flight to Beg.
If we add the fact that many people from the Balkans are retired in South and central Florida, the success of this route is a given.
Perfect analysis.
DeleteSo Serbs are colonizing Florida.
DeleteYes, Srbija do Majamija!
DeleteHahahah
DeleteThey should aim for somewhere where they can get a better LF then 73%. Maybe just a seasonal to Toronto for now to test the waters?
ReplyDeleteYou realize 73% load factor is average of just first 6 months including slowest months. Are you for real?
DeleteWell during the slowest months JU had only 2pw frequency to JFK which was supposed to boost their LF, the flights were also full. Something's def strange with the LF...
DeleteThe airline increased its average load factor for the first 6 months by 9.4 points on last year and had one of the highest average load factors by any European airline at JFK. You can make up conspiracies as much as you like.
DeleteMarek: noting that both (Toronto and Miami) have a similar chance of turning a profit
ReplyDeleteWas that estimate made based on year-round or seasonal service?
Consequential answers to meaningful questions should not be expected. Air Serbia is not our beck and call.
DeleteUneducated guess based on what Marek answered during the original translated interview: MIA probably as a year-round, YYZ as seasonal:
DeleteToronto has a large diaspora, but seasonal and destination flights. Miami, on the other hand, is a year-round destination. Our partner, American Airlines, has a large hub at the local airport. Both directions are similar in terms of profitability, but we have not made a final decision yet.
Don't underestimate the cruise line (crew movement) demand for the MIA flight.
DeleteCrew are price sensitive bunch and flying LOT, LH, TK and others. Soon BA. They will travel one-stop over direct to save $50.
DeleteCrew don't pay for those tickets... cruise lines do. They don't have luxury of being price sensitive, and purchase based on schedule and need.
DeleteDepends on a cruise line esp for 1st timers. Cruise lines are price sensitive for those tickets.
Delete@anon 18:32 - cruise lines ALWAYS pay for crew flights! Does not matter first timers or 50th timers. It is our agencies that "charge" first timers for flights and that is highly illegal! CBA (Collective bargain agreement) between UN and all shipping lines define what is paid by shippong companies and flights are ALWAYS paid by shipping companies. So yeah, MIA would see a LOT of crew transfers as BEG cluld serve as "one stop shop" for wider Balkan area (as it already does for cruise crew movements for European flights).
DeleteYYZ fan club should not forget that JU is limited in Canada while they are not in the US. If they launch Toronto and it does well then it will be extremely difficult for them to grow. What will happen in someone like Air Canada and Transat stepping in and profiting from JU developing this market.
ReplyDeleteMIA on the other hand is a rich and prosperous market where there is less pressure on yields. There is a massive Jewish community there so JU can expect a lot of feed to TLV. Add to this destinations such as Athens, Istanbul, Cairo... and you get a full flight.
JU no longer plans on relying exclusively on gasto traffic.
Miami is a rather poor market for Serbia. what are you people smoking lmfao
DeleteIf Anon 17.08 says so then who are we to disagree. Am I right or am I right?
DeleteI used to smoke Winston. But I quit, long long ago. The other stuff was never my thing. So I smoke nothing. 😃 And for your info, Air Serbia hasn't been limited to Serbia only, and MIA market maybe is rather poor for Serbia only, but in combination with entire ex-yu, entire Balkans, Israel Egypt.... where JU provide transfers, (at the moment, with highly likely more to come), it's not poor at all. That's what some people don't understand when I talk about missed opportunities of OU to create hub in ZAG, similar to one JU is perfectly constructing in BEG.
DeleteExactly, every market out there has O&D demand and then after it comes demand you create by attracting transfers. That is why JU can launch Miami especially now when it can also rely on Russian passengers who absolutely love Florida. It's a sunny bling bling paradise - their favorite!
DeleteAdd to that their interline with AA and you get quite a few options via MIA.
MIA should be a no brainer for JU.
How hard it is, lunching North America and Chinese routes with 2 A332…
ReplyDeleteI prefer breakfasting them :D
DeleteI would go for dinnering 😃
DeleteGuys please be serious. Anon 16.33, to answer your question, eating North American and Chinese roots can be very attainable so long as you make an effort to avoid the poisonous ones. Sadly even 2 A332s will be of limited help in that regard. Good luck!
Deletehahaha that was a good laugh, thanks guys.
DeleteApparently Air Serbia is already setting up an office in Toronto...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.airlineshubs.com/air-serbia/air-serbia-toronto-office-in-canada/
No, that's just a generic mailbox service.
DeleteJU office on young st in Toronto exist for over 50 years so no idea what you are talking about .
DeleteYonge Street
DeleteMiami 100% wins.
ReplyDeleteIts no brainer. Not counting diaspora which is large in both cities (even larger in TO i would say) the other parametrs are on the side of Miami:
Higher disposable income in south florida, Disney theme parks, beach destinations, gateway to latin america, year long potential of travel,
Transfers to meadle east on JU network
All in all i think Jiri is trolling Toronto by saying they have equal chances😊
Anyway the have to find a plane first
He's not trolling YYZ.
DeleteHe's using YYZ as leverage to get better conditions at MIA. He wants something. Either a discount or maybe some favorable slots.
Same as his comment about Shanghai or Guangzhou. He is playing them against each other for leverage but we all know that both destinations are in JU's plans.
It is a brainer, TORONTO wins with all hands down.
DeleteJU is too insignificant for both airports to play leverage. Leverage means poluga and that means that your side “na poluzi” is significantly
Deleteheavier and that is obviously not the case with JU.
Let them first get the plane or two otherevise all the talk is academic now.
TO and Canada is becoming second tier in terms of bussines attractivnes. If you are already short on planes you want to make sure to execute more attractive markets.
Exactly, I also don't think it's a leverage game, I think it's more Marek enjoying his PR moment.
DeleteAll these airports are quite busy and they wouldn't lose much sleep over a potential 2 weekly flight onboard an A330. That said, when JU contacts them and expresses interest they will definitely do everything they can to accommodate them and make sure they launch flights.
I am not sure why they can’t do both seasonally. Fly to YYZ in summer and fly to MIA in winter. Win/win. Has anyone been to MIA in summer, it is unbearable plus there is the hurricane season. Definitely a winter destination for most visitors.
ReplyDeleteJFK daily
DeleteORD 3x
TSN 1x (with sleepover)
This is what summer 2023 looked like with 2 planes. Next summer with 3 planes:
JFK daily
ORD 3x
TSN 2x (no sleepover)
CAN 2x
PVG 2x
YYZ 2x (summer), MIA 2x (winter)
Tight but doable with ideal scheduling. PVG, CAN and MIA need more flight time than JFK, YYZ
Chicago performed really well in 2023 so let's hope that in 2024 we get a 4th flight.
DeleteAnd I don’t know why they are limiting themselves to the A330-200. An aircraft like the A321XLR would be perfect for routes like YYZ in winter and they have already have crew trained on the A320CEO.
DeleteHave they ever considered frying from the Washington DC Metro Area (Washington Dulles International Airport IAD or Baltimore/Washington International BWA)? To fly to the capital city would be better than adding additional flights from New York or Chicago. Getting a direct flight would stand a higher ticket price. Now, with 1 stop, we are not interested in going to JFK, and we use other airlines that fly from AID. Plus, we can collect miles with StarAlliance.
ReplyDeleteWhy not 3 times a week to Toronto, and 2 or 3 a week to Miami?
ReplyDelete