Air Serbia has discontinued ticket sales for flights from Belgrade to the southern Russian cities of Kazan and Sochi. The decision comes in the wake of similar actions taken by other carriers following the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer E190 aircraft, which is widely believed to have been mistakenly shot down by Russian air defences. According to Air Serbia’s booking system, the airline’s final service to Kazan is scheduled for January 19, while the last flight to Sochi is set for January 20.
The suspension of these routes is expected to remain in effect until at least the end of the 2024/25 winter season in late March, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia. Air Serbia has not yet released an official statement regarding the matter. Flights to Moscow and St Petersburg will continue to operate as planned.
The Serbian carrier maintains just two weekly flights each to Kazan and Sochi. Passengers who had already booked tickets for these flights are advised to contact Air Serbia’s customer service for assistance. Apart from Azerbaijan Airlines, other carriers to have suspended flights to either Sochi or Kazan include Flydubai and Turkmenistan Airlines, although the likes of Turkish Airlines continue to maintain flights to the area. Air Serbia has in previous years been forced to discontinue operations to Krasnodar and Rostov-on-Don, which were later replaced by Sochi and Kazan.
Understandable
ReplyDeleteIt should have happened right after the Azeri aircraft was shot down and then refused emergency landing in Russia.
Delete09:13 absolutely, I cannot believe carriers are flying into/over Russia after that event
DeleteIf they are really afraid of the security situation then shouldn't they stop flying right away instead of waiting another 2 weeks? Other airlines have immediately stopped flying to certain Russian cities.
ReplyDeleteAs we all know politics play a part too and JU as Serbia's national airline has to be a bit diplomatic with Russia.
DeleteHave you thought that the flights are full and that it might not be so easy to simply cancel flights with limited alternatives?
DeleteSafety normally comes above such considerations.
DeleteAffected pax could be rerouted through IST since TK keeps flying to Russia.
Have you perhaps thought that it is middle of the New Year and Christmas travel period and that there are no alternatives on other airlines either?
DeleteGod bless that last anon is no CEO or pilot of airlines
DeleteWhy?
DeleteSo what makes you think the passengers would have been safer with TK rather than with JU?
DeleteGood news!
ReplyDeleteIt should have happened though right after the AZAL flight shooting down.
Russian airports west of the Urals are no longer safe.
Bravo to JU for reducing their risk profile.
LED closed for a few hours yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe situation is getting worse, not better for aviation inside the Russian federation.
+1
DeleteSome of the people arguing against this move do not seem to understand how much an airline is affected by insurance premiums and lessors not allowing planes to fly over warzobes.
ReplyDeleteA small airline like JU could face tremendous difficulties if one of its planes suffers something while flying in Russian airspace.
I don't think anyone is arguing against it...
DeleteYep. Only debate I see is whether they should've done it sooner
DeleteIt will be interesting to see if they will keep SVO and LED in the long run too.
ReplyDeleteIt’s disappointing but understandable given the circumstances. Safety should always come first. I hope Air Serbia resumes these routes soon after the situation stabilizes.
ReplyDelete+100!
DeleteAgreed.
DeleteNo surprise here. Air Serbia is just following what other airlines are doing.
ReplyDeleteFirst Krasnodar and Rostov, now Kazan and Sochi. It feels like connections to Russia are slowly disappearing.
DeleteLaunching flights to Yerevan and Tbilisi would be far better and safer. They have dozens of flights every day to Russia and it would be much better for both travelers and JU.
DeleteAnon@10:47 Air Serbia had no choice in this, these airports were closed by Russian authorities and right now they are practically military only.
DeleteJust few hours ago, flight restrictions were imposed at Kazan airport due to the drones threat...
ReplyDeleteGiven the aviation risks, this decision was inevitable
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis situation is unsettling. It makes you think twice about flying through certain regions. I hope Air Serbia compensates affected passengers properly.
ReplyDeleteIf you cancel flights two weeks before you only have to return the ticket money to your pax as an airline. Hopefully affected passengers won't pay too much for flying via Turkey or south Caucasus to Russia.
DeleteAviation authorities need to work on better protocols to prevent incidents like this. Airlines can’t keep suspending routes whenever something happens.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia made the right call, even if it’s inconvenient for travelers.
DeleteThey can and they should. If Russia is prepared to shoot down, refuse emergency landing and try to cover up the incident of a friendly nation's civilian aircraft probably all flights from foreign airlines should be cancelled until they prove they're capable of providing safe passage and not cause of the insurance premium spikes but rather common sense
DeleteWill Turkish Airlines and others eventually follow suit?
ReplyDeleteOf course not. They're not dumb enough to panic. With all the other airlines leaving their flights are gonna become only more and more popular. Nice handy help coming from JU.
DeleteHighly unlikely for TK.
DeleteTurkish Airlines does not fly to AER.
DeleteThey fly to Kazan
DeleteTK is hardly someone to look up to in terms of safety.
DeleteThis could be an opportunity for Air Serbia to develop alternative routes. Maybe expand to other destinations in Asia instead?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe rely leases on wet leases and fly its schedule with own crews and aircraft.
Delete+1
DeleteGood call
ReplyDeleteAs a passenger of the flight to Sochi every year, this decision is completely understandable for the safety of passengers and for Air Serbia.
ReplyDeleteBut, however, this route was very popular, and simple for people wanting to go to the south of Russia. Now, the route may be more complicated....
Going through Georgia now.. idk ?
All part of politics and change in Serbia's foreign policy
ReplyDeleteIndeed
DeleteThey milked Russian market long enough. This decision was a no-brainer, Im surprised it didnt happen earlier.
ReplyDeleteI have plan to travel to Kazan next autumn. I hope flight will be restored by then.
ReplyDeleteSecurity reasons are just an excuse for discontinuing flights.
ReplyDeletePolitics and business dont get along very well.
Are Flydubai and Turkmenistan Airlines also using security reasons as an excuse for discontinuing flights, or did your in-depth investigation prove it was only Air Serbia?
Delete