Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vučić, has said the country’s national carrier will begin flights between Belgrade and Tokyo Narita Airport within the next six months as one of three new routes of strategic importance set to launch in the coming period. The comments were made during the Serbia - Japan Business Forum, attended by over 100 Japanese companies in Belgrade. The Japanese business delegation arrived on a nonstop Air Serbia chartered flight from Tokyo earlier this week. Speaking at the conference, Mr Vućić said, “I have discussed this matter with [Minister for Finance] Siniša Mali. There are three new routes we will need to launch in the next six months. One of those three direct routes is Tokyo”.
The President added, “According to the business plan, it is the least popular route among Air Serbia’s management, but we will be of help in order for them to change their opinion on this because, business-wise, they have done a good job, and they have certain reservations but connecting us with Japan is of outmost importance for our country. We will give our all for this route to commence in the next six months. If Japanese airport authorities can be of help with some small incentives, we would be very grateful”.
Air Serbia previously announced that after completing its expansion in China, set to conclude with the launch of its new Shanghai service on January 11, 2025, the airline will shift its focus to North America for its third destination on the continent. The carrier has also said it would consider flights to Tokyo and Seoul in the future, though it emphasised that further expansion into the Far East remains a part of its long-term strategy. On the other hand, President Vučić has hinted at potential new Air Serbia routes on several occasions, though only some of these have materialised so far.
Air Serbia yesterday operated a charter flight to Tokyo, returning the Japanese business delegation to their home country. This flight marked the inaugural service of the airline's latest Airbus A330-200, registered YU-ARD. The aircraft, delivered two weeks ago, was initially set to enter service last weekend. Following a small delay, it has now completed its first flight for Air Serbia, successfully operating the journey to the Japanese capital.
Idemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteLike we did after he said the same for CAI?
DeleteAnd Baku...
DeleteHe also announced Delhi last year
DeleteNext year Shanghai. Miami and Tokyo. Those rouutes like Cai, Baku, Delhi or Soeul are comming in future, but not next year..
DeleteEvo i odgovor Purgeru sta ce da rade 4 A330. A to on se mnogo brinuo.
DeleteDon’t take into account self proclaimed “analitičar”, he is far from reality or aviation business.
DeleteSerbian gouvermant owns JU and they should have sime influence in the routes, especially strategic ones Great job again as they continue to make this airline successful and better .
DeleteBut Mr. Vucic is not "gouvermant"
DeleteIn which country is the strategy of the airline defined by the ‘prousident’?!
DeleteTurkey
DeleteAlmost all state owned airlines has politicians looking out for it.
DeletePresident should tell Air Serbia to fly to Banja Luka daily. What Tokio? Air Serbia does not have own aircrafts.
DeleteWhat are the other 2 strategic routes? Im curious.! Go JU!!
ReplyDeleteOne is Miami for sure
DeleteI think it must be Baku,Cairo or Seoul, these cities/countries has been mentioned in media about wantingnto increase the trade/investments for the country
DeleteShanghai, already scheduled, Miami and Tokyo
DeleteIt will be launched just like Cairo and Baku were promised to be launched this winter
ReplyDelete+!
DeleteSeems that in every country he visits he promises them a direct route by JU.
CAI (4 pw) along with MRS, CGN, FLR, TLV and PVG were part of the routes loaded in the preliminary schedules starting from April 2025. PVG ended up with a January 2025 launch. Lets wait and see what they announce for the summer 2025 schedules, the frequency increases look quite impressive for now.
Delete@Anonymous 11:45
DeleteHas there ever been a single decision made by JU that you did not find impressive?
He never said CAI is strategic route, however he did say that JU should bring flight back and they would work on it . I am confident flight is coming back but due to situation in the region they are not pushing it as demand is soft and they do not need to waste money.
DeleteCAI may have been interesting - but the current situation doesn’t show expansion to that part of the world. In saying that, US elections are just over 2 weeks away and CAI could be back on the map. Many governments publish ‘white paper’ type documents with what they would like to see for their aviation sectors - there’s too much focus on one individual and how to trash him for his rhetoric. If no government had influence in operation of their carriers, why would they capture information to know where people are coming from, or going to, and then sharing with airlines to introduce be services?
DeleteAny info on when the Cairo route that he announced 3 months ago is starting?
ReplyDeleteHer said it would be within 2 months?
Do we have an update on why it is delayed?
"President: Air Serbia to restore Cairo service"
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/07/president-air-serbia-to-restore-cairo.html
Not sure maybe JU doesnt want to loose money, hes admiting it ablut tokyo but well se if JU will listen, the other strategic route must be baku, cairo, and tokyo? Maybe seoul.. i guess they want to increase trade and these countries have been mentioned in the past as countries where they want to increase trade.
DeleteMy guess is baku, cairo, seoul must be 2 of those
CAI is a massive market, how can they lose money? Think of all the connecting flights JU could sell.
DeleteYeah i agree out of these routes mentioned i belive CAI is a no brainer but probably has with aircrafts to do, the lack of it as to say
DeleteWith the E-jets JU is getting CAI could easily be launched. Or with the A320s now that the summer charter flying is over.
DeleteCAI was quite a long rotation for JU's midnight wave missing quite a few routes due to the departure and arrival time. Small delays made a not so ideal situation worse. Loads to CAI were decent and I don't believe profitability was an issue, more of a scheduling issue. With additional frequencies launched this year and those planned for next summer this should ease the problem for connecting pax to a few routes (CDG and FRA for example) as well as aircraft scheduling.
DeleteHe said publicly: If Japanese airport authorities can be of help with some small incentives, we would be very grateful”.
ReplyDeleteThat isn't something the president of a country should say, sounds like begging coming from him.
JU management should be the ones asking for discounts from NRT.
+1
DeleteCompletly disagree.
DeleteI expect the president to so just that.
To help and work on ways to make it easier.
Full support for these flight to begin.
Begging for airport subsidies is truly novel for a country's leader...
DeleteWelcome to the Balkans.
DeleteI think it's very presidential of him - and i really dissaprove of him.
DeletePublic pressure is good, and this one helps pretty much everyone
This is what happen when you have an aviation geek as President
DeleteI'm sure the Japanese were very impressed when they saw the head of state of a country with his hand extended towards NRT management asking for some subsidies...
DeleteYes, Japanese head of state - Emperor Naruhito - never bothers with such stuff.
DeleteIf he wants them to launch these flights why doesn't the state also provide them with funds to buy new aircraft?
ReplyDeleteThey do.
DeleteNo, they do not.
DeleteSure...
DeleteI would love to if the route would be launched so soon, I just hope it is viable as NRT is one of the most expensive airports to operate into.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Air Serbia!
It is expensive for everyone.
DeletePriprema za dolazak Toyote i fabriku automobila u Srbiju.
ReplyDeleteToyota je vec kupila plac u Indjiji pored Toyo fabrike. Samo da kazem...
DeleteSamo hvala na informaciji.
DeleteExcellent, love Toyota and great quality.
DeleteDoes anyone have some pax numbers between BEG and NRT?
ReplyDeletePolitical routes brought PanAm into bankruptcy. It has to be careful with such decisions.
I'm sure the president is aware of these considerations before he made the announcement!
DeleteEverything in Serbia is “political”. Everything needs to be politicised so that the inert average Joe can blame his lack of drive and achievement on someone/something. Never satisfied, always complaining.
DeleteLook, polithical or not, Air Serbia had higher profit last year than all other airlines in former YU alltogether
DeleteThey wont fly half empty planes I am sure of that
DeleteI think that if JU puts itself as a reliable carrier which can compete against other european carriers, they wont have problem in launching such long-haul routes, because then they will have transfer pax from more parts of Europe not just the Balkans.
DeleteBut anon 12:23 they already fly half empty planes to Chicago with this as everybody says in this blog , big serbian diadpora ! You think they can do better in Tokyo ??
Delete*diaspora
DeleteYou have their load factor, revenue, profit on Chicago route to make such a statement? I didn't think so.
DeleteYeah, I am sure they will do better in Tokyo. Diaspora routes are just going to perform worse and worse - people are getting integrated, new generation does not want to visit every chance they get, all perfectly natural. On the other hand, Japan is now a GREAT value for money destination and a perfect city break, ski holiday, gastronomic trip, and many other things. I am sure 9 out of 10 people in Serbia (and the region, who use Air Serbia a lot) would travel to Tokyo rather than Chicago. And you don't need visas for any of the countries there.
DeleteAnon 17:59 When you start with wrong assumptions you end up with wrong conclusions. None of the things mentioned are based on facts and research. But I ended up laughing when I read suggestions about city break destination that's 12 hour flight away!
DeleteEconomic situation is USA and Canada is a lot worse now than at the time Chicago started. And its going to be even worse. So, not too many diaspora people have opportunity to travel a lot. Anyway, they also are very price sensitive, so they rather choose cheaper transfer flights than homeland company AirSerbia. And that's pretty unfair, regarding their long lasting claims for "direct flights". I believe same would happen if JU start Toronto flights one day.
DeleteИмаш ли неке бројеве и чињенице? Нећу да губим време без тога.
DeleteThey have neither the planes nor the crew for this gamble. Expo plane arrived with couple of months delay and the fourth is yet to be delayed and with ARB and especially C desperately needed refurbish. Let alone slots, approval, time to promote the route, feeding network etc. With two new China routes started/about to start with unknown outcome and TSN, ORD struggling, lounching Tokyo in 6 month could be suicidal to JU's long haul ambitions.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem that every A330 and Embraer jet JU is getting is delayed.
Delete@09:25
DeleteHow can TSN fail when JU is the only European airline flying to it?
Because he talks nonsense. He has no insight into how much money each route makes, but he already knows what is failing and what not.
DeleteThankfully Anon 09:58 has insight into how much money each route makes, he already knows what is succeeding and what not!
Delete@09:56
DeleteJU is the only World airline flying to KVO. How can they fail.
I didn't say they fail in TSN but struggling. Same as in ORD. Na mišiće ih održavaju.
Again you know everything. They should appoint you as CEO. Marek said in an interview that if any long haul route was not profitable he would have no issue discontinuing it. In that same interview he highlighted that TSN was doing very well for them. But you know better
DeleteAnonymous10:02
Delete+1
^it is typical in the Balkans to know everything and be an expert at everything.
DeleteWell, to be honest, TSN is struggling. Actually, the JU is benchmarking all of their long haul routes to JFK which is super profitable nowadays so every new long haul looks like struggle.
DeleteTSN was great idea that came really "out of the box" and it works just fine. Not great, just fine
Don’t be stupid. If you increase frequencies, route would become non profitable in some parts of the year. So frequencies are rising in summer timetables only. For now
DeleteJust look what is happening with PVG fares. Started two weeks ago at 29,000 RSD one-way, now they are upwards of 50/60k. I imagine new frequencies will be coming soon.
DeleteVučić in his reciprocal to Eswatini: AirSerbia must launch strategic Mbabane route
ReplyDelete😂 so true.
DeleteJohannesburg easily covers Swaziland, so such comments are pure sugarcoated punches about things other than aviation.
Delete@09:55 so if he visits South Africa he will announced JU flights to JNB?
DeleteYou seem to miss the point, but anyway. Im talking about probabilities and not underhanded sweeps at government.
DeleteI would love to see YU flying to Joberg, or Cape Town, but can they make money on that route, that is the question? Tokyo could work well only if lot lot lot of work and marketing is done upfront the flight inauguration
DeleteJU, sorry
DeleteWell-well.....Olympic airways 30 years ago......and it didn't go good.
ReplyDeleteAviation was a very different ballgame 30 years ago.
DeleteOnly issue for you is, JU is profitable.
DeleteOlympic was a state run dinosaur that existed purely to hire political appointees.
DeleteJust like Malev, Balkan, CSA, Alitalia, Air India etc. Privatizing it was the best thing Greeks did for their aviation sector.
Within six months is "wishful thinking" but sometime late 2025 is a possibility. Having said that, Marek did say that Air Serbia would eventually like to have eight A330s. And that will take time because 2025 will see either Miami or Toronto. Possible both
ReplyDelete@Miroslav
Delete+1
It's sad some people here sound like hypnotized by President's b/s. We can do everything in 6 months and all the long haul routes are profitable and JU has/can aquire planes and crew for new destinations in no time. Otherwise, Wamos is just one phone call away.
Wamos is sold again FYI.
DeleteHe said Tokio to impress the audience but he really meant Toronto.
ReplyDeletemaybe he said Tuzla? Or Torino?
DeleteI'm sure it was Tulsa.
Delete100% Toronto. Miami and Toronto go togerher. Like PB&J.
DeleteI'm actually really liking this Expo livery. Might have been nicer if the tail followed the fuselage design but overall it looks colorful and is really eye catching.
ReplyDelete"According to the business plan, it is the least popular route among Air Serbia’s management, but we will be of help in order for them to change their opinion"
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like JU will get some free money for them to start it xD
He does promise a lot of things, most of which never happened.
ReplyDeleteWould be better if JU can get slots at Haneda (HND) rather than Narita.
ReplyDeleteAfter 13-14hrs of Economy, who cares ;)
DeleteHaneda is even more expensive
DeleteI don’t think they give Haneda slots to new entrants.
DeleteLets get Toronto and Cleveland.
ReplyDeletetwo way passenger traffic between Serbia and:
ReplyDeleteCanada: 61.000
Japan: 11.000
There will be no flights to Tokyo any time soon unless HE wants to bankrupt Air Serbia. Case closed.
He may give JU a subvention to maintain this route.
DeleteHe won't.
DeleteWell the route would be more profitable and quicker if they fly over Siberia but they can’t/won’t
DeleteWhy not Toronto
ReplyDeleteWell, if there really exists a list of "three strategic routes" (having in mind all that president said in the last few months), two of those are probably Tokyo and Seoul. Third one could be Delhi... But, as already mentioned by a lot of people... It wouldn't be the first time he just said something to move attention of the public from some of the big problems in the country...
ReplyDelete