Air Serbia’s CEO Jiri Marek has confirmed the airline’s next destination in the United States will be Miami. Speaking to “Business Focus”, Mr Marek noted, “Our next logical US destination is Miami. In North America, we are also considering Toronto, though its high seasonality and diaspora-driven demand make it less stable than JFK or Chicago, which also have stronger cargo potential as another differentiating factor”. He added, “Historically, our US flights have been driven by diaspora demand from the former Yugoslavia. Post-Covid, they have also grown in popularity with tourists from both sides. Now, we are expanding connectivity through a codeshare with JetBlue and cooperation with American Airlines, extending our network beyond New York and Chicago to the rest of the US”.
Air Serbia has been in talks over the introduction of flights to Miami for some time. The airport’s head of Air Service Development noted in March that by the end of this year or early next year, services between Belgrade and Miami could be announced. In a separate interview recently, Mr Marek said the airline is prioritising increased frequencies on existing long-haul routes in the short term over launching new ones, citing market volatility. Air Serbia handled 168.263 passengers on its US operations last year, with 124.939 travellers on the New York route and the remaining 43.324 travellers on its Chicago service.
Mr Marek noted that Air Serbia is looking to grow its market share beyond the former Yugoslavia in the wider region. “While we are already the leading airline in the former Yugoslavia, our ambitions extend further. With over seventeen destinations in the region, we now aim to become the leading airline in the broader regions, expanding into Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary”. The CEO added, “If you look at the numbers in perspective, our 6% growth in 2024 may seem small, but we are already operating 70% above 2019 levels while some major European airlines have yet to recover fully. We experienced massive growth in 2022 and 2023, launching over forty new destinations in two years and nearly doubling our operations compared to pre-Covid. After the post-pandemic surge in demand, 2024 has been about stabilisation and fine-tuning as we scale”.
Miami is a great addition. Tere’s definitely demand, especially with the Serbian and Balkan community in Florida growing.
ReplyDeleteRussian also
DeleteGreek/Romanian/Bulgarian as well
DeleteAlbanian too!
DeleteYea albanian is in the "balkan" statement you dont need to point it out.
DeleteChill it dawg.
DeleteSo it seems it will most porbbaly launch next sumemr rather than this winter.
ReplyDeleteThey never announced it for this winter (or ever). This is the first time they officially acknowledge Miami as a future destination. In fact the Miami official said in March it will be announced at the end of the year or early next year. so I don't know how you expected it to launch in winter.
DeleteI know they didn't announce anything. I was just hoping it would be this winter :)
DeleteAre they getting an extra A330 to fly MIA?
DeleteThey don't need an extra A330 to fly to MIA.
DeleteSo they won't be having an A330 as a back up once MIA starts operating in case an A330 brakes down?
DeleteUnlike in the past, they now have enough aircraft to launch additional long haul route.
DeleteWe all know that this is an excuse for getting A330s in 2024 for routes that will be launched in the summer of 2026.
DeleteThe real question is why they are not using them in high demand destinations now such as ATT, ATH, FCO, BCN, CDG.
@09:57 If they launch both MIA and YYZ even without increasing frequencies on existing destinations they wont have a spare aircraft in case one goes tech and needs replacement.
DeleteAnd they haven't had a spare aircraft for 8 years of long haul operations and have had minimal disruption.
DeleteWinter/spring is high season in Miami
Delete@09:58
DeleteFor JU it doesn't make sense to put widebodies on low yield routes. ATH already barely fits between the 2 waves, the added ground time to turn the aircraft would reduce pax numbers due to loss in transfer traffic which isn't insignificant.
@10:09
Exactly this. They have gone overboard with excess capacity. As a bare minimum they could of added a couple US frequencies and still have excess capacity for AOG.
I also think they could start MIA in winter and maybe YYZ next summer. Seems too long to wait whole year with planes ready now
DeleteDoes the last paragraph mean they will add new destinations in the markets mentioned?
ReplyDeleteYes. And makes sense considering they have enought ATR72s.
Deletewith Wizz Air dominating in those markets, it won’t be easy
Delete^ They are going after completely different passengers.
Delete^ What sort of passengers would JU go after that W6 doesn't?
Deletetransfers, especially on long haul.
DeleteCould these transfers be enough to fill a new flight?
DeleteIt could be enough to fill 50-70% of an ATR, which makes that flight already profitable
DeleteTransfer flights on break even are also ok. Main profit is from hub to end destination
DeleteNice
ReplyDeleteMiami might make sense on paper, but I hope Air Serbia has done its homework. It’s a competitive market, and seasonality is a big risk if not properly managed.
ReplyDeleteThe Miami route could complement the existing network well if it balances diaspora traffic with tourist demand. Curious how it’ll perform during the off-season.
ReplyDeleteGood to see that the long haul expansion will continue
DeleteMiami season is whole year long
DeleteAs usual you don't count biggest source, workers on cruisers from wide area.
DeleteToronto is still a big missing piece. Seasonal or not, the diaspora there is strong and loyal. Hopefully, it's not off the table permanently.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/03/air-serbia-considering-seasonal-toronto.html
Why isn't it possible to open Toronto seasonally only?
DeleteOk, we got it that it is seasonal market, so JU does not have to fly there whole year.
Better to open it seasonally than not to open it at all.
They are planning to open it seasonally.
DeleteThe article linked by anon @9.25 now makes a bit more sense. The way I see it they will launch MIA and YYZ at the same time (summer 2026). MIA will be year round, YYZ summer seasonal.
DeleteHow long does this consideration process take at airlines in general for long haul destinations? Is it couple of weeks, months or more?
DeleteNegotiations usually take months or even years (especially for smallre airlines). Here is an article from just the other day how EY made a rash long haul decision and how that is very ucommon.
Deletehttps://onemileatatime.com/news/etihad-bizarre-surprise-approach-launching-charlotte-flights/
It only takes years if you so not really want to launch a new route.
DeleteDiaspora has proven NOT to be loyal customer. JU should think twice about Toronto
DeleteLOT has very loyal diaspora customers in Canada. Belgrade is one of their top transfer destinations out of Toronto. For loyalty to be of use, one must have a nonstop route first.
DeleteMiami airport CEO was in Belgrade few months ago, so this job is concluded. It’s only matter of time when JU will start MIA route
DeleteWhy overlook Toronto again? It has a larger Serbian population than Miami. Feels like a missed opportunity.
ReplyDeleteYes but south Florida has lots of Russians which Ontario does not.
DeleteSo the route will depend on Russians who are btw already flying long haul with TK?
Delete^ and where did you come up with that expert opinion Mr expert? I suggest some reading comprahension which might solve your bitterness. Russian demand is just another layer of passengers you can serve.
DeleteFlorida diaspora is growing rapidly. It’s one of last decent places to live and work in USA and Canada. Many Canadian diaspora is moving to Florida and California
DeleteOh yeah, the Canadian economy is destroyed and other fairytales.
DeleteIt’s fairytales if you don’t live in Canada. People are struggling there and you are making fun of it
DeleteEven though I don't know official numbers, my feeeling is that South Florida is now larger then Canadian. Nobody imigrates to Canada anymore, but Florida is the number one destination for eveyrone, starting with Balkans, through our diaspora from New york, Chicago etc.
DeleteEveryone has opinions but no one posted any actual numbers. Fun stuff to read.
DeleteI think its enough to mention 40% difference between USD and CAD. They used to be equal in some better times. And USD deteriorated 15% to EUR recently
DeleteIf you look at USD/CAD rates in the past 30 years you would notice that's normal. And not of major impact
DeleteAir Serbia should focus on building up frequency and stability on current long-haul routes before launching more thin services. One step at a time.
ReplyDeleteWhere JU makes most money, it is on the US and CHI markets Airfares are not cheap, load factor is high and cargo is impressive.
DeleteI guess their flights to Russia are the most profitable.
DeleteYes, both frequency and stability are important. Recently, one of their A330s went tech, and the flight was delayed by 6 hours until they got a back up plane to replace it. (And this was in Belgrade).
DeleteRecently I flew with Lufthansa. Our flight was first delayed by 2 hours. Then we boarded and had to wait another 2 hours on board until pilot informed us we would have to disembark. Another crew and aircraft had to be found. Total 7 hour delay. And this was in Frankfurt.
Delete@10:33 I hope you got your delayed flight compensation! Air Serbia is actually good with the delayed flight compensation, as well as with delayed luggage compensation! Quick to payout.
DeleteI can't imagine Miami on BEG's drparture board :D
ReplyDeleteI think in the end they will launch both Miami and Toronto.
ReplyDeleteIf they start Miami over Toronto, it won't go down well with the diaspora in Canada :D
Deleteхахахаха
DeleteWhat would the potential departure times be for MIA? Same as JFK?
ReplyDeletetkts for new North America route starting next year will have to start this year.
ReplyDeleteMiami is actually a good choice. There is a large Balkan diaspora not just in Miami but in Florida in general, as well as Russian diaspora and it is also a popular holiday destination and good transfer point to South America.
ReplyDeleteAnd also all Balkan crew embarking/disembarking from cruise ships every day
DeleteMIA 2 times per week would be great.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Hope it happens.
ReplyDeleteMaybe LAX the next destination, before MIA?
ReplyDeleteOr you could read the article. Or even the headline...
DeleteI think LAX will start as a charter route just before Expo in 2027. If proves right, may become scheduled
DeleteLAX is absolutely not in their plans. Next is Miami/Toronto and then later on Seoul and Tokyo.
DeleteHa,ha,ha.. 2 days ago I was taking an UBER from Long Beach to LAX to my KLM flight but I didnt remember what terminal, so I pressed see all airlines.....ha ha you can see Air Serbia terminal 5......maybe some spoiler alert????
Delete@10:40
DeleteOh, yes, it does.
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/06/air-serbia-assessing-one-or-two-new-us.html
JU later clarified that its CEO mispoke and meant one or two destinations in North America not US.
Delete"...we now aim to become the leading airline in the broader regions, expanding into Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary”.
ReplyDeleteThis is very good, too.
In Hungary, only option is Debrecen as I know. Bulgaria maybe Varna seasonally, Romania with Iasi and Cluj, maybe Craiova. Poland proved grat with Krakow, why not try Wroclaw or Lublin
DeleteVarna has for years been a seasonal JU route.
DeletePardon me, I thought Burgas
DeleteSpeaking of Varna, it has potential for year round ops though
DeleteI am not so sure.
DeleteHope this time Toronto will proceed from consideration to a positive decision for seasonal service. Good luck Air Serbia!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteIf and when this happen , Air Serbia must do an extensive advertising there . As a Greek with relatives in Houston Texas , I know there are about 90.000 Greek Americans in the state of Florida and prefer Turkish airlines or the US carriers coming to Greece . Air Serbia must not lose this oportunity.
ReplyDeleteGood news but we already knew Miami was their next destination. And people need not worry. Load factor will be through the roof. JFK and ORD took years for profitablity. This one is a jackpot.
ReplyDeleteMAR-A-LAGO na dohvat ruke.
ReplyDelete🤣
DeleteMIA will be a great add on for the World Cup 2026
ReplyDeleteAre we going to qualify?
DeleteCleveland is still patiently waiting for flights to Belgrade lol. Im sure it won’t happen but it used to be a thing so its wishful thinking. Large EXYU population on top of Cleveland only having flights to DUB. Belgrade could benefit as well with the connections they offer throughout Europe.
ReplyDeleteNot happened.
DeleteThis will definitely be popular with the Russians. A MIA-BEG-VKO routing is ~1000 km shorter than MIA-IST-VKO. I'm just not sure how the timing of the connections will work out. Turkish has double-daily flights to MIA and is killing it. Their friendly baggage policy also helps.
ReplyDeleteJU is flying SVO, not VKO.
DeleteUS passengers are fickle when it comes to service. So JU had better make sure that the hard and soft product are top notch. Also, significant possibility of selling out Business class in every flight.
ReplyDeleteAir Serbia has been flying to US for almost nine years.
DeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteJust talk talk talk...Action, acton?
ReplyDelete