Two North African carriers, Nouvelair and Air Algerie, are exploring opportunities to commence scheduled services to Belgrade, EX-YU Aviation News has learned at the IATA Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit in New Delhi. Both carriers are aiming to strengthen air connectivity with the Balkans. Nouvelair currently maintains an extensive charter program from both Monastir and Djerba to the Serbian capital. During the ongoing 2025 summer season, the airline is set to operate over 200 flights to Belgrade, with 72.342 seats on offer, up 20.1% on last summer. Following the success of its summer charter operations over the past few years, the airline is now looking into commencing scheduled flights to the city, which was served on a year-round basis by Tunisair until the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Air Algerie is also interested in expanding its reach in the Balkans and is in ongoing discussions about potential flights from its hub in Algiers. The Algerian Embassy in Serbia has launched a diplomatic push for the service to materialise and has facilitated discussions between the Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate, the airport and the flag carrier since 2022. Air Algerie’s CEO, Hamza Benhamouda, recently outlined an ambitious expansion plan aimed at strengthening the airline’s international network as part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity and make Algeria more accessible to the world. Flights between the two countries were last operated up until the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Both Air Algerie and JAT Yugoslav Airlines maintained operations between Belgrade and Algiers
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport’s new incentive policy, which came into effect this year, has identified North Africa as a market of special interest. It has singled out Morocco, Libya and Algeria, as well as all destinations located between 2.500 kilometres and 4.000 kilometres from Belgrade as applicable for incentives. The policy offers financial support and promotional backing to airlines launching new routes within this range, aiming to stimulate connectivity with underserved regions. These incentives are seen as a strategic move to attract carriers from North Africa and improve the airport’s aim of becoming a regional hub.
This would be nice. Shame Tunisair never resumed BEG. JU also used to have scheduled year round Monastir flights.
ReplyDeleteHow about the transit potential with Air Algerie?
DeleteI don't think it would make much sense to transfer via BEG to Western Europe from Algeria. For Balkans/Eastern Europe sure but I don't think there is much demand.
DeleteNorth African destinations would add nice variety from Belgrade.
DeleteI'm a bit surprised by this Algeria initative. Considering there are visas on both sides and I don't think they are so easy to get.
ReplyDeleteAlgeria visa is difficult to get if you are traveling individually. If you go through any tour agency, it is easy to get. So people don't misunderstand, there are no tour agencies offering packages to Algeria but if you book your individual travel through a tour agency you get the visa easily.
DeleteInteresting. Was not aware of that. Thanks.
DeleteAlgeria along with Libya of course is the least tourism developed country in north Africa.
DeleteI'm not aware of its tourist attractions or Mediterranean resorts.
Algeria is stunning actually. Lots of Roman ruins
DeleteI was in Algeria and may and did what the other commenter mentioned about a visa through a southern tour, was not difficult but the visa process took them a month to get the letter issued then I paid for visa on arrival at the airport with it. I had a few flights with air Algerie also, they were very cheap but the planes were quite old and dirty. I did do one leg in business as it only cost $33 and it was what you’d expect for that price but included 2 checked bags, economy was just $17 for Constantine to Algiers. Also flew to tamanrasset and back, was fine but flight back delayed by hours.
DeleteThanks. How much did the visa cost? Did you enjoy your time in Algeria?
DeleteNot Anon9:34, but I've flown with Air Algerie once, honestly one of the most terrible airlines I've flown with. The country itself was nice, though, albeit unbearably hot
DeleteWell duh, all you needed to do is check a weather app. The Sahara, (or Dubai) are winter destinations.
DeleteThe visa on arrival depends how long you will stay, mine was for 7 days and cost ~67 euros, i paid 70 and got change in dinars. BTW if you go, bring cash, the black market exchange rate for euros was like 230 to 1 euro, while official is 150 to 1 euro, you can save a lot by doing this. I don't think I used a credit card once (except prebooking flights and hotels).
DeleteAnd as for enjoying the time there, it was mixed, the southern desert was amazing and I got to climb mount tahat but there is so much red tape for tourists, nothing is simple and even as a solo traveler I was obliged to hire a driver, guide and cook for a few nights in the desert - though the cost was not so high even with tipping. In the north it was ok, but NO WHERE had wifi except very poor connection at the airport and one hotel I was in, everywhere else not at all.
DeleteThanks a lot for that information. Interesting insight.
DeleteGreat info guys, many thanks.
DeleteSounds like Algeria is not too keen on getting tourists to visit.
Their attitude is the polar opposite of neighboring Morocco which I fond very strange.
Morroco visa is harder to get than US. Ridiculous country
DeleteI'm surprised by the amount of flights Nouvelair has. Even as charters. That's a lot.
ReplyDeleteClearly something’s working
DeleteNorth Africa is an untapped market for BEG. Lot's of opportunities there.
ReplyDeleteSuprising that JU sees no potential in that market.
DeleteI’d love to see more connectivity to Morocco as well. Casablanca or Marrakesh would be amazing additions.
DeleteMorocco is really far away. If JU decides to go to that part of the world better to launch Canary Islands that is much better tourist destination.
DeleteHowever, it would be nice to see RAM in Belgrade despite still existing visa regime. I don't know why they are so stubborn by keeping it for Serbian citizens.
Well, when I was on cruise ship we couldn' t get off in Cazablanca, because we "needed" visas, although everyone knowes that with ship card you normally go out in every port in every normal country, having or not having a visa for that country...That was very strange, because most of the places really look forward having tourists from cruise ships, its quite big income for tourism
DeleteAs long as Algerian visa remains extremely difficult to get, I don't see a point in flights to Algiers, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that such flights won't be used as a means for Algerian migrants to come here illegally.
DeleteThat is what caused the IKA flights to stop.
There is a visa regime in place. So no, it would not be used. No reason to belittle everything.
DeleteIt is not only the visa. (for individual trips, you physically have to apply to a nearest embassy).
DeleteWhile Algiers is charming with its colonial architecture, and there are many other spots that may be interesting for tourists, there is barely and touristic infrastructure. Algerians seem to not care about this much, as they get their revenues from export of fosil fuels.
Interestingly, most major European airports are connected to ALG, but to cater for the Algerian diaspora.
My last 2 flights were with LH via FRA and ITA via FCO. But, there are flights to LHR, MAD, AMS, and of course CDG and other French cities.
Also, for the interested: they have a currency control, and as a consequence a black market for foreign currency: 1 euro in an exchage office is 130 dinars, and it is the double on the black market.
Plenty of people from Africa and Asia who overstay their stay after coming to Europe with a tourist visa.
Delete^ and I'm sure they all enter through Serbia and not Italy, France, Spain. Nonsense.
Deletedo you guys understand how horrible and unfair Serbian visa regime system is for the third countries..If Algerians put double restictive conditions for us, they could've hardly reach our crazy system..I'm always for reciprocity- you give me hard time entering, ok. I'll give you the same..This is called respect in diplomacy..Especially because Serbia doesn't have any reason to apply such a strict rules for issuing visas, stricter than EU...No one will stay here illegally...If some of those people wanted to get illegally to EU, that wouldn't be our problem, because we would have visa system imposed...Anyways, EU is not excuse at all, because since Milosevic era, we had the strictest rules for visas towards third countries, and it just kept going on..What police in Ljermontova requires from visa applicants is rediculous, and how they reject visa issuence..and our embassies cannot do anything about it...We don't issue visas for friendly nations and countries, but allow EU citizens to wait in the same queue as our citizens and use the same passport machine on the border crossing, so make our citizens harder crossing because of longer wait time...crazy
Deletedo you guys understand how horrible and unfair Serbian visa regime system is for the third countries..If Algerians put double restictive conditions for us, they could've hardly reach our crazy system..I'm always for reciprocity- you give me hard time entering, ok. I'll give you the same..This is called respect in diplomacy..Especially because Serbia doesn't have any reason to apply such a strict rules for issuing visas, stricter than EU...No one will stay here illegally...If some of those people wanted to get illegally to EU, that wouldn't be our problem, because we would have visa system imposed...Anyways, EU is not excuse at all, because since Milosevic era, we had the strictest rules for visas towards third countries, and it just kept going on..What police in Ljermontova requires from visa applicants is rediculous, and how they reject visa issuence..and our embassies cannot do anything about it...We don't issue visas for friendly nations and countries, but allow EU citizens to wait in the same queue as our citizens and use the same passport machine on the border crossing, so make our citizens harder crossing because of longer wait time...crazy
DeleteI agree with regard to EU - they should wait in foreigner queu like we are supposed to over there (even though i never do anyways).
DeleteI flew Nouvelair from Monastir last year and was surprised by how packed the flight was. Scheduled services make perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteLet’s just hope these announcements don’t stay in the “talks” phase forever. We've seen too many “potential” routes that never happened.
ReplyDeleteSome routes take time and in some cases in many parts of the world talks go an for years. Remember that talks about Kazakhstan flights have been taking place for years and now they will finally happen this year.
DeleteAir Algerie is a very unreliable state owned airline. Even if they announce something it is questionable if the flights will happen.
Delete^ Like all airlines in North Africa.
DeleteTunisair and Royal Air Maroc are nothing like Air Algerie though.
DeleteTunisair is very much like Air Algeria. Royal Air Maroc you are right.
DeleteTunisair is one the worst world companies. Check it. If you dont, know something, dont write
DeleteI flew Tunis Air once from Nice to Tunisia, 3 years ago. And trip was not bad. Prices on board are bloody cheap, shots for 50 cents, cigarettes for 9eur/10 packs and so on. Cabin crew was nice and friendly. Plane was quite clean, lots of space for cabin bags. All in all - we identified this flight as the only nice thing regarding the whole Tunis trip, which was the worst trip in my life, out of 50+ countries I have visited. We flew back on Transavia.
Delete@09:19 Egypt Air is very good and reliable company
DeleteIs there actually enough demand between Belgrade and Algiers to sustain regular flights?
ReplyDeleteThe future of aviation lies in non-obvious connections.
Delete^ Who says that?
Delete^ Airlines and airports are more and more focusing on secondary cities and unserved routes rather than just the big hubs and trunk routes. IATA and ACI frequently talk about the importance of developing point to point routes in underserved regions.
DeleteI wonder if this could open the door to connecting Belgrade with sub-Saharan Africa via Algiers. Interesting network potential.
ReplyDeleteImagine a Belgrade–Algiers–West Africa triangle route.
DeleteLagos, bro, Lagos.
DeleteWhy isn’t Libya mentioned more seriously here? With things stabilizing a bit, Tripoli could be another potential route.
ReplyDeleteMaybe because the article is about two airlines that are interested in flying to BEG and no airline from Libya is interested in BEG.
DeleteLibya is not stabilizing anytime soon. Last week there were serious clashes between rival militias, using Russian tanks and weapons. I think we can forget Libya as a serious destination for this decade.
DeleteIt’s great to see Belgrade opening up to Africa. Hopefully this will be followed by better visa policies too.
ReplyDeleteThese incentives are useful but they can’t replace actual long-term demand. Airlines won’t stay if routes aren’t profitable.
ReplyDeleteActually this Air Algerie CEO just said the other day, their main aim is not to fly just profitable routes but increase country;s connectivity.
DeleteThen there is a good chance they launch BEG :D
DeleteSeems like Belgrade Airport is finally taking incentive policies seriously. Good move targeting underserved areas.
DeleteIncentives or not, the airport needs to improve its transit infrastructure if it wants to be a proper hub.
DeleteNouvelair has been consistent. Last winter (24/25) they started even operating a few winter flights to BEG. So I would not be surprised with scheduled flights.
ReplyDeleteTurning charter success into scheduled routes makes sense. It’s a natural progression if the numbers support it.
DeleteStill waiting for a solid direct link to Egypt. That’s the North African market with the most potential.
ReplyDelete+100
Delete+1
DeleteA nice surprise! Didn’t expect Algeria to be so active diplomatically in making this happen.
ReplyDeleteaviation and politics go hand in hand in many cases. Only some commentators here believe it does not happen anywhere else in the world.
DeleteBravo Vinci!
ReplyDeleteSerbia needs more links outside of the Schengen zone. This would be good diversification.
ReplyDeleteCould open up whole new trade corridors too
DeleteIt would be amazing to have Tunis, Algiers, and maybe even Tripoli linked directly to Belgrade. A proper North Africa network.
ReplyDeleteNice! Hope we get more stories from the IATA AGM.
ReplyDeleteYes, there will be more articles in the upcoming days.
Deleteexcellent
DeleteAre there flights between Budapest and Algeirs?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteTunisia I get, Algeria not.
ReplyDeleteWould make sense first to get some interline or codeshare agreements in place to improve connectivity.
DeleteIf these routes work, maybe other African destinations could be considered too like Addis.
ReplyDeleteLet's not get ahead of ourselves.
DeleteActually I think Ethiopian flying something like ADD-BEG-BUD would make more sense than Air Algeria.
DeleteAgree.
DeleteNouvele Air has good partnerships with Serbian travel agencies. Year round could work.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if Air Algérie is reliable enough for long term success. Their record with punctuality and service isn’t great.
ReplyDeleteIt's so obvious that they're interested only in incentives from Vinci, they don't really care about the route.
DeleteSomehow I got the same feeling.
DeleteDon't the incentives come with some conditions? Like you must operate for a few years?
DeleteNo, only subsidies come with such conditions. Incentives can be used for a season, or if it clearly stated for an entire year, although these are usually two different incentives. So they can end flights after a season if they want to.
DeleteAll I can say is "that would be awesome".
ReplyDeleteHope that at least one of these materialises.
ReplyDeleteDoes Air Algeria fly anywhere to Eastern Europe?
ReplyDeleteThey fly to Moscow. Nothing else in Eastern Europe.
DeleteGreat to see Belgrade expanding its long-neglected links with North Africa. Fingers crossed these plans materialize
ReplyDeleteLet’s not get too excited.
DeleteSerbia really needs better connections to Africa
ReplyDeleteNouvelair should just launch Belgrade–Tunis as a regular route too. Monastir isn’t ideal for everyone.
ReplyDeleteTunisair used to fly Tunis-Belgrade
DeleteI dont understand all the politics and decision behind it. Just do it. Its in Serbias interest to have as many connections as possible.Just say yes, yes oh yes!
ReplyDeleteI think it is up to the airline. Don't think anyone on the Serbian side is blocking it.
DeleteNot gonna happen.
ReplyDelete