Air Serbia is considering introducing an additional new route to its 2025 summer network. It comes as the airline welcomed its millionth passenger on board this year. As EX-YU Aviation News learns, the potential new European destination is already served from Belgrade. The carrier has kept capacity aside in order to be flexible in launching an additional new route if the opportunity arose, similar to what was done last September with the introduction of Nice. “This route is on watch, depending on how the competitor evolves, so we are ready to jump in”, the carrier told EX-YU Aviation News recently. So far this summer, Air Serbia has launched flights to Florence, which will be followed by Mykonos, Alghero and Tbilisi in June.
If the service goes ahead as expected, it will become Air Serbia’s 81st destination out of Belgrade and the 85th to be served in its network overall on a scheduled basis. Currently, Air Serbia has 30.518 scheduled operations this summer season and 3.698.317 seats on scheduled services. This represents an increase of 5.8% and 4% respectively. The carrier is due to take delivery of a second Embraer E195 aircraft shortly, which is yet to be scheduled into the network and will further boost capacity levels. Furthermore, Air Serbia also plans to maintain regular charters to a number of destinations this summer. They include Antalya, Bodrum, Cephalonia, Dalaman, El Dabaa, Hurghada, Kavala, Marsa Matrouh, Monastir, Preveza, Skiathos, Sharm El Sheikh and Zakynthos.
Air Serbia carried its one-millionth passenger of 2025 yesterday, April 22, three days ahead of last year. “We are extremely proud to have recorded our millionth passenger so early in the year once again, which confirms the trust our passengers place in us and reflects the dedication and hard work of all Air Serbia employees. We are constantly improving our destination network, service quality and operational efficiency, and we are pleased that the market recognises these advancements. This achievement further motivates us to continue developing the company ambitiously and strategically, in the best interest of our passengers”, the carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, said.
Guessing it's a Wizz rpute they are looking at
ReplyDeleteIt does not seam to be MUC if this is taken into consideration: “This route is on watch, depending on how the competitor evolves, so we are ready to jump in”. LH has pretty much evolved on that line. Looks like Geneva to me.
DeleteMUC market is much bigger than GVA but JU prefers to give it all to LH rather than get some of it.
DeleteOh no, JU for MUC guy strikes again....
DeleteSince the great majority of travelers are Serbs, local and diaspora MUC would make sense. And so would GVA.
DeleteVery similar characteristics of the people flying these routes.
Not at all. MUC are transfer passengers to LH network. Diaspora uses W6’s FMM route
DeleteLH main hub for transfers is FRA. MUC serves a much bigger metropolitan area and is far more convenient airport than FMM.
DeleteAgree.
DeleteDisagree. Diaspora is highly price sensitive. They will never use LH prices before W6 because of commodity.
DeleteThey only have to used JU prices. And who do you think flies with LH on its routes to BEG?
DeleteThe big majority of people flying are Serbian, not German.
Agree on MUC, good choice. But nobody is speaking about TLV, a destination that it is currently growing by a lot and all European airlines are rushing to restore service. In fact most have already done so.
DeleteWhat do you think? Plus all the connections JU would get to the rest of its network.
As I wrote. Transferring passengers to LH destination network. From and to Belgrade
DeleteI don't see MUC happening just yet. They will need to go big from day 1 to adequately compete and I don't think JU has the resources to do so just yet.
Delete@10:00
TLV is being operated on and off by foreign carriers. It's not worth the trouble until the situation improves.
On and off? Sun d'Or flies 3 times per week year round.
DeleteOn and off by foreign carriers in the sense of foreign carriers into TLV. Israeli carriers haven't stopped operating from TLV.
DeleteAll foreign carriers are ON big on TLV.
DeleteYes, foreign carriers have mostly returned to TLV but operations still face alot of difficulties, heavy delays being the least of the problems. 1 thing is having a large fleet and network at your disposal another is an airline the size of JU that doesn't. Getting into TLV isn't the problem, it's the departures thats the problem. Throw in the not so optimal slots at TLV and it's understandable why JU isn't in a hurry to return.
DeleteMUC is definitely missing from its route network and is already served from LH.
ReplyDeleteSo fingers crossed.
+1
DeleteI don't think so. They say they are looking how the competitor evolves, which likely means that the competitor is reducing the route, rather than increasing.
DeleteHow is LOT doing in Belgrade? Could WAW be the route?
DeleteThey need LOT codeshare in order to succeed in WAW.
DeleteNo, JU tried WAW and failed. A lot of WAW bound pax are transfers to the extensive North American network of LOT.
DeleteJU should offer connections to Polish travelers on its US and China routes.
DeleteJU is in no position to go head to head with LO. Better cooperate and get what you can.
DeleteWhen it comes to Poland JU needs to focus on boosting KRK to daily and to launch WRO.
DeleteI‘m afraid if JU and LO start to work closer, even more pax will transfer in WAW.
DeleteI would rather like to see JU increasing ORD and launching YYZ first.
They would transfers more at WAW because JU is unable to create competitive code-share agreements (TK, QR, A3...). Prices are usually unreasonable with random times.
DeleteTrue dat. JU needs to eventually stand up to LO and protect its home market.
DeleteNemjee that is happening because they offer JU only the most expensive fare classes to sell on its own website.
Delete100% of the time you can get cheaper to much cheaper prices on the TK or A3 webpages.
Most JU code-share agreements are a joke compared with what other airlines offer.
DeleteLOT flies double daily to YYZ and some US destinations! That's impressive! (I get that their diaspora is huge, but still..wow)
DeleteThey fly 2-3 daily to Toronto due to Canadian gouvermant deal in transvering Indian immigrants in WAW. They supplement their airfare, and it is pure profit for LOT. Even when you open LOT websites, warnings about those immigrants are main focus. Would not love to see JU be part of that.
DeleteWhat you mean about, "Canadian government deal in transfering Indian immigrants in WAW."
DeleteDo you have more info on this? Thx.
Deportations of Indians illegaly in Canada through WAW and on to India.
DeleteI know that, but did they really sign a deal with LOT for that? I see nothing on the net.
DeleteGood to see more growth coming
ReplyDeleteI guess this means another route to Spain. Alicante? :)
ReplyDeleteDon't think so. Most likely Geneva.
DeleteDidn't JU fly to GVA, and failed?
DeleteYes, that't what article says
DeleteArticle says "As EX-YU Aviation News learns, the potential new European destination is already served from Belgrade" and not "was served by JU in the past".
DeleteAnyhow I believe GVA is the destinaton they are looking at now.
So I guess it's Alicante then. W6 is starting this route in June, and JU is awaiting to see how it performs for them.
DeleteHopefully not Alicante since Wizz scheduled it as three weekly with A321. JU should stay away for the time being especially with AGP & VLC having such modest frequencies.
DeleteNemjee +1
DeleteJU can not compete on price with W6 on a summer route when they are flying A321neos.
These type of market is much more price sensitive.
@09:07
DeleteThats correct. However this time JU has smaller aircraft (ERJ) which would better match the demand, considering that the A319 seems to be too big of an aircraft for JU on the route.
@09:37
BCN disagrees. JU does better when competition steps in. BCN is 10 pw while the other Spanish routes are at 3-5 pw.
I see Sevilla😉
DeleteHow can it be Seville when the article says route is already operated?
DeleteAlicante is a must. Bigger airport in the east coast of Spain. Very big market not served and many russian residents will connect thru BEG.
DeleteThat one might be GVA since the easyjet reduced it to two weekly.
ReplyDeleteI really like how they fight for each market in Europe. W6 in GOT and HAM also reduced frequencies.
Yes, Geneva makes most sense. And now JU has Embraer which would be perfect for the route.
DeleteExactly my thoughts. GVA will be the next route.
DeleteUnlikely.
DeleteSounds like Geneva is the mentioned destination. It makes sense as easyJet reduced it this summer.
ReplyDeleteNot so smart move. Easy jet shouldn't reduce it, if there is no reason for that. There are so many new potential routes to explore, especially with decent Ejet fleet
DeleteIt is a smart move if you want to take over the destination from the competitor.
DeleteTaking in consideration that starting from next winter GVA is again served 3 times weekly from BEG I conclude that the most probably the reason for decreasing the frequency to 2 weekly during the summer is not a demand, but some internal reasons.
DeleteIt is not logical to have 3 weekly in winter and 2 weekly in summer.
Easyjet has quite a number of summer seasonal routes from GVA. The aircraft have to come from somewhere.
DeleteMožda Ženeva,easyJet je smanjio na samo 2 lete nedeljno.
ReplyDeleteIs the GVA route doing so well that they reduced it from 4 weekly to 2 weekly?
DeleteFrom next WITT GVA goes again on 3 weekly.
DeleteBecause during summer season U2 makes more money using its aircraft flying Geneva travelers to beach destinations.
DeleteeasyJet is no indicator of market potential from Belgrade. They failed from Berlin, Rome and Milan, all busy markets from Belgrade.
DeleteExYu Admin, can you please give us the first letter of the potential destination? Is it Ž?
DeleteYou made me laugh loud, Anon 09.40. thx.
DeleteEasyJet failed also from MLH/BSL.
DeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteWhat's been happening with YU-ATC? It was supposed to arrive in Belgrade sometime during the weekend according to the admin. Any news on that?
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that it maybe got a slot for painting instead of just stickers?
DeleteThey should launch Alicante, that whole area is getting more and more popular
ReplyDeleteWizziar is launching Alicante, so maybe Air Serbia is looking to see how it performs for them. Tickets are already on sale, and Air Serbia is known to attack/respond quickly when competitors try something new.
DeleteArticle says that the route is already served from BEG and ALC is at this moment not served from BEG. It will be starting from June, but it isn't now.
DeleteAlicante has a strong presence of many LCCs, many legacy carriers are not flying there. Valencia is a great alternative for that area.
DeleteJU is receiving another ERJ not A320 so it'll be something on the ERJ. It won't be ALC.
DeleteJust a side note to Anon @ 12:42
DeleteERJ is an abbreviation for Embraer Regional Jet, and it is used for Embraer's smaller aircraft like ERJ135 - ERJ145. E170/E175/E190/E195 and all the E2 variations are called E-Jets.
No one is going to drive with train 2hrs from Alicante to Valencia plus to airport, esp. with family
DeleteAlicante/Murcia has more population than Valencia, more tourism and Alicante airport is a big and nice airpor. Valencia airport is very tiny and dirty.
DeleteAlicante market os bigger than Valencia one
DeleteBravo JU!
ReplyDeleteGod for them but I hope they get rid of those horrible Getjet planes. Flew on it recently and it was a horrid experience.
ReplyDeleteThat said there is one thing that is usually overlooked when it comes to JU and that's customer support. Yesterday we confirmed a group of 11 passengers and the person we worked with was fantastic, helpful and professional. They generally are at least based on my experience so far. Same with their crew, I find them to be one of the better ones in Europe.
They are not getting rid of Getjet. Serbian crew for GetJet is already on training in Sofia.
DeleteBeggars can't be choosers.
DeleteBeijing?
ReplyDeleteThey won't be going against Hainan on PEK.
DeleteMy money is on Dubai
ReplyDeleteThey said European destination. It could be Malta from Niš.
DeleteDubai/Abu Dhabi crossed my mind too, but I would put my money on Geneva at the end of the day.
Delete@09:57
DeleteNo way JU could compete FR on INI-MLA.
It says EUROPEAN route in the article
ReplyDelete5 new routes this summer is pretty good!
ReplyDeleteNot enough, in they want to reach 100 in 2027
DeleteIt is actually not their goal.
Delete^ ceo said few years ago they would like to have 100 destinations for 100th anniversary in 2027. They already have 100 with charter destinations.
DeleteNo, they don’t
Delete@12:02
DeleteIt's still possible at this pace. JU also launches new routes during the winter so expect a couple more new routes this winter. Quite possibly by January 2026 the route count should be around 83 routes ex BEG (88 in total).
Stepping away from the ex Marathon ERJ's should speed up the ERJ implementation. 1 is arriving soon, another 2 by the end of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if that number is 6 by next summer, followed up with up to 10 new routes for a total between 90-93 routes ex BEG.
EasyJet’s Geneva winter schedule is really not traveler-friendly.
ReplyDeleteOn Fridays, the flight to GVA is the last one of the day for that aircraft — often delayed and arriving quite late. On Mondays, it leaves at 06:30, which is nearly impossible to catch unless you’re staying right in Geneva.
Since GVA serves a much broader area — including parts of France and western Switzerland — this schedule just doesn’t work for most travelers. Air Serbia could really stand out by offering more convenient times, even something closer to EasyJet’s own summer schedule.
Is there a demand for 5pw?
DeleteWhats happening with long haul?? All those aircraft are still chilling on tarmac and wasting money...NYC is the same frequency like last summer, ORD same, PVG and CAN same frequency like winter...Let me remind you- they had 2 planes last summer, now they have 4, so doble size...They serve only 4 more flights with 2 extra aircraft!! Where are those guys who were telling me- just wait a bit more and you'll see...See what? I'm getting more grey hair
ReplyDeleteMaybe because those are optimal frequencies for the time being? Maybe because there is a shortage of finding these planes on the market and they took it when the opportunity arose as they have announced plans to further expand long haul. You ask the same thing every two days. Same as you write every two days how you hate QR. We get it. With a profit of 40 million and 84 destinations they seem to be knowing what and why they are doing.
DeleteI don't coment AS in bad manner, nor saying that they are not doing well in things they are doing good..Their proactive approach in regards of european destinations is great..But I will not praise them in something that obviously its not handled well..Now they keep soo many expensive planes on the ground, and its already been for quite a while..They should've already come out with some kind of solution...Siting and doing nothing about it is not a solution..
DeleteJU was looking for these two extra A330s for years. One would think that they had some plan on what to do with them...
DeleteNothing new about launching Beijing or Tokyo like the president had said they would. Not even increasing frequencies on JFK and ORD.
It has already been said they are launching Miami this winter and Toronto next summer. And they have said a million times that after the China launches they will focus again on US while Tokyo and Seoul are long term plans.
Delete@treshnja
DeleteThere is no need to lie to put out an argument.
JFK frequencies have increased quite a bit for this summer. Daily frequencies start a month earlier, last longer and extra frequencies compared to last summer will stay until the winter time table.
Last summer TSN was 1 pw now we have 4 pw to China this summer with more frequencies expected.
3 A330's are fully scheduled up with minimal ground time (bar PVG rotations). JU is waiting for additional rights to China to increase frequencies, which could happen as early as this summer.
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/03/air-serbia-plans-china-boost-in-h2.html?m=1
@17:20 when did JU said that it will be launching MIA this coming winter and YYZ next year?
Delete@17:22 there is no need to call someone a lier just in order to emphesize his own lies...JFK frequencies have not been increased this summer, they may start a few weeks earlier, that's it..for winter time hahaha you made me laugh big time...like they never put loads of flights on schedule, and when time approaches, they cut it..Thanks for mentioning TSN though, I completely forgot about it..That confirms my theory even more- they have doble more aircraft than last summer ( 4, not 3, instead of 2) and they have only 3 more flights per week this summer in comparisson to the last year summer,..so utilization of planes is even poorer than I thought..
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/03/air-serbia-considering-seasonal-toronto.html?m=1
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/03/air-serbia-and-mami-airport-close-to.html?m=1
MIA has been actively seeking and supporting new routes and airlines for the past couple of years, which has been successful. No doubt that JU will be getting a good deal launching MIA.
The added Chinese frequencies will help balance the seasonality with N American operations keeping 3 A330's busy the entire winter (while A330's 1 by 1 go for scheduled maintenance) leaving room for something seasonal in the summer (added N American frequencies plus YYZ).
Well they never officialy launched them but we can all agree those are two most likely future long haul destinations. That and increase in PVG frequencies.
DeleteYou will have to wait a bit longer for other destinations. Don't trust everything you read. This was more than six months ago and it didn't happen:
President pledges Air Serbia Tokyo route launch “within six months”
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/10/president-pledges-air-serbia-tokyo.html
@treshnja
DeleteSpinning false narratives doesn't make fact no matter how many times you post it.
JFK frequencies have increased quite abit this summer:
"they may start a few weeks earlier,"
you even stated it. And it's not only an earlier start, its a longer season.
"Thanks for mentioning TSN though, I completely forgot about it"
You obviously aren't following what is happening if you "already forgot" about TSN. The increase in China capacity is only 300%, no big deal to you I guess.
Could JU better utilise the A330's, maybe. 1 extra ORD rotation wouldn't hurt for example. But JU also did have expensive AOG incidents last summer with tight scheduling of aircraft rotations so I guess they're playing the safe card. Let's not forget that JU are actively seeking extra Chinese frequencies and we know that Chinese routes go ahead with very minimal notice. Let's see how things go.
I'm tallking about now..now..not uncertain future...Now has been ongoing for quite a long time already, since end of december..
DeleteJFK frequencies have not been increased, they had 7 last year during summer, they have 7 this summer..although they said they would go up for 2-3 freq. as I recall, but it didn't happen..
Here we talk about pure maths- last summer they had 7+3+1=11weekly flights with 2 aircraft, is that right? This summer we will have 7+3+4=14 flights with 4 aircraft, is that right? Good utilization for 4 aircraft would be 24 flights weekly on same or similar length routes, do we agree here? I don't care they are keeping plane in PVG for 26,5 hours, thats their choice, it doesn't need to be like that..So I don't understand what are you trying to defend? numbers don't lie.... AS should've thought about this in advance, or at least come out with some solution by now..
@TRESHNJA cool down my friend . Do you think JU cares if they lose money from a330's sitting in Tarmac ? Of course not , since they have the government cover the loses , they just don't care !
DeleteWhat are you talking about Anonymous21:18? You present things as if Serbian gouvermant has soo much money and they do not care where it goes . That gouvermant established AirSerbia and they are the reason why we have such a profitable and successful airline. Looked around you and more rich countries that were never under any sanctions or the war do not have a national airline. You might be miserable person but most of us love JU and where they are standing today.
DeleteMeh, boring. Get more interesting routes to Asia, Africa, Latin America.
ReplyDeleteAre other airlines based in Ex Yu opening more interesting routes to Asia, Africa and esp Latin America?
Delete@18:20 so what? he is talking about AS, not "other airlines"...You should look towards better, not worse
DeleteTahiti and Hawaii are even better, but only if Treshnja pays for the losses such extravagant and wasteful routes would incur.
DeleteAS should open new routes after a thorough research, Which I hope had already been conducted, since they were waiting for years to acquire these 2 new aircraft...should do some action quickly...
DeleteMIA, IAD, LAX, YUL I could definitely see. But they also need connections to Greece, Israel, Egypt, BEY. DEL would also work this way.
DeleteJust my2cents
As a new destination, I think it will be Geneva
ReplyDeleteIf it's Geneva I don't think anyone will be excited like we were when Tbilisi, Kazan or Krakow were announced.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
Deleteindeed
DeleteI see that many people are mentioning Munich and Warsaw.
ReplyDeleteIn order to succeed in Warsaw JU needs to offer good connections to LOT's network and have codeshare with competitive prices. That is because P2P demand is low, most passengers are transfers.
That also means that JU should offer good connections to LOT's flights in Belgrade.
And finally, they need to have at least daily frequencies in order to be competitive with LOT who flies 12-13 weekly flights.
Regarding Munich, story is similar.
JU will not have any transfer at MUC because they won't have any cooperation with LH. However, P2P demand should be sufficient to fill daily flight with E190.
Question is just, does Air Serbia have enough capacity, enough crew, and good slots (MUC is slot restricted and LH will probably make it difficult, WAW need to connect onto LOT's network) and to launch daily flights.
Not sure if I understand you. JU should not worry about LOTs network, JU is after pax from WAW to transfer via BEG.
DeleteJU does not have to offer good connections to LOT's flights in Beograd. JU is competing with LOT not cooperating with them.
Agree that JU needs at least daily frequencies to be able to compete with LOT.
Same story for MUC. JU should not worry about LHs network or transfers at MUC, JU is after pax from MUC to transfer via BEG.
JU needs at least daily frequencies to MUC to be able to compete with LH.
Regarding does Air Serbia have enough capacity, crew, and good slots at MUC and WAW, agree.
To sum, JU only has to worry about their own network from BEG, because JU is after pax to come to THEIR HUB and then to make transfer wherever JU flies. Not the other way around.
That’s perfectly right. JU should feed its own network, not others. But realistically, how many transfers it can get from WAW or MUC, since thier homeland companies have much better networks? And that’s the answer why there are no JU flights to either of them
DeleteAlicante
ReplyDeleteSo still no listed config for sets in business class JFK BEG route, confusing A330-200 , comments ? June 9 travel
ReplyDelete