Air Serbia has received operational permits to commence flights between Belgrade and Beijing, however, the airline is currently in no rush to launch services to the Chinese capital as it looks to increase frequencies to Shanghai and Guangzhou. The carrier’s CEO, Jiri Marek, told “Bloomberg Adria”, “At the moment we are looking at the densification of existing frequencies on the one hand, because we have two weekly flights to each city. However, in Guangzhou, there are also two weekly flights operated by China Southern Airlines and we are talking to them about cooperation”. He added, “The logical next step is adding a third weekly flight. Also, we recently received operational permits for Beijing, and in the near future we might consider adding it as an additional destination, however, it is already covered twice per week by Hainan Airlines, so it is not an imminent step”.
Air Serbia previously operated flights to Tianjin, located approximately 135 kilometres southeast of Beijing and connected to the capital via high-speed rail. The service was launched in 2022 amid strict pandemic-related restrictions in China, which limited access for foreign carriers to major cities. The route was discontinued in November of last year, with the airline citing a shift in demand toward its new services to Guangzhou, introduced in September 2024, and Shanghai, launched this January.
Hainan Airlines currently operates two weekly rotations between Beijing Capital Airport and Belgrade. Beijing is also home to Daxing Airport, which opened in late 2019. Last year, Hainan Airlines handled 49.345 passengers on its flights between the two capital cities with an average cabin load factor of 80.6% for the duration of the year. Almost all flights were maintained with the Airbus A330-300 jet, with the capacity to seat either 281 or 292 passengers due to two different business class configurations on the aircraft type. The airline also deployed its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on seven rotations with the capacity to seat 287 passengers.
Would be great if Hainan added a third weekly flights, it would help them in offering even more connections. This would make sense especially since JU doesn't seem to interested in launching their own flights.
ReplyDeleteI remember two years ago Hainan actually applied for a third weekly but these flights never materialized. I guess they were struggling with a post-covid shortage of planes.
Agree. Third weekly flight to PEK makes sense for Hainan, especially on Thursdays.
DeleteHowever, they are not getting new widebodies, so I don't see it as an option. Therefore, Air Serbia should launch 2-weekly service to PEK and codeshare with Hainan.
Hainan doesn't want to though.
DeleteI remember reading comments here how China Southern also does not want to codeshare with JU and then they concluded a large codeshare agreement. Hainan already codeshares on some JU routes.
DeleteWhere is the code-share? I tried booking some connecting flights to BKK and they didn't offer it with JU flights. Just their own.
DeleteAnon 01.12 and others, why are you spreading lies and disinformation?! I just went to China Southern's site and tried to book BEG-CAN. THERE ARE NO NONSTOP FLIGHTS OPERATED BY AIR SERBIA.
DeleteSo where is this codeshare you are talking about?
Beijing would make sense for JU, but so would increasing frequnecies to CAN and PVG. Let's see.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just that. It makes no sense to boost long-haul flights if they are not doing the same to their European flights. Their LF is already quite high. They need to make sure there is capacity growth on their European network to make room for additional transfer passengers.
DeleteTechnically they can do both at the same time with four A330s.
DeleteCapacity is available, something else is restricting them, probably not enough crew for long haul.
^ or maybe it's just another big investment where you also have to compete against another airline. Opening new long haul routes for an airline with a small long haul footprint is not so simple and is not cheap.
DeleteAnon 09:13
Delete+100
With the restrictions on Russian airspace it makes great sense for JU to launch Beijing and offer connections all over Europe.
As you pointed out they have more than enough spare capacity for this and also increasing frequencies to the rest of the longhaul network.
Agree, that’s why JU intended to sign codeshare with Hainan but failed to make it happen.
DeleteHonestly, I don’t see the point of competing with Hainan in a low-frequency environment. Focus on what’s working.
Delete@9.17 It is highly likely that aircraft insurance companies do not allow them to fly via Russian airspace. I they still don't.
He/she probably meant that JU is in advantage when avoiding Russian airspace than carriers in Central or Western Europe.
DeleteBeijing will definitely happen, it's just a matter of time. I really think that they're struggling with the staffing at the moment and want to grow slowly in every aspect. Marek told in an interview yesterday that they're expanding scholarships for future 10 pilots, making it 20 pilots in total which will be hired by Air Serbia.
If the airline still doesn't have enough long haul crews why was it looking for years to add two extra A330s?
DeleteWhy pay every month hundreds of thousands of $s for aircraft that keeps parked at BEG? Can't figure this out 🤔🔍
I'd rather stay away from Beijing. Why compete with a well-established carrier such as Hainan when you can grow in PVG with no direct competitor? They need to work hard to boost PVG to 4-5 weekly flights. Many European carriers are struggling there so they can be much more competitive.
DeleteI also think JU needs to have a closer look at South Africa. European carriers seem to be doing very well in places such as Cape Town and Johannesburg. Flying via BEG wouldn't be such a major detour. I think BEG-JNB would be around 9.5 hours which isn't too bad.
@ Anonymous 09:46
DeleteMaybe don;t trust every anonymous comment and what they say.
I'm sure you pay @anon 9.46
DeleteFrom what I see all 3 of Air Serbia A330s are fully utilised. One A330 was damaged by a vihecle at BEG and is in maintenance. Had they not had an extra A330, you would be screaming now how they are paying expensive wet lease and asking "why didn't they plan for something like this". Actually I'm certain you would be the first one to complain.
DeleteCrews should not be a problem. Type rating change from A32x to A33x is just about 7 days of training. Most of the pilots may do it quickly
Delete@9:55 Must be some serious damage since the aircraft in question has been out of service for a while. Agree good thing they had a spare and all the critics that said what a waist it would be are sure are not saying anything.
Delete
DeleteIt's not even new type rating @10.06. It's called CCQ (cross crew qualification or crew cross qualification) and it's within the same type rating. Everything else you are right.
Speaking of Russian airspace, is there any difference between the flight time from Belgrade to Guangzhou between China Southern and Air Serbia, considering one uses Russian airspace and the other doesn't?
DeleteBetter to build up Guangzhou and Shanghai first
ReplyDeleteThey have more than enough capacity to both launch PEK and increase flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai.
DeleteBetter to deploy that capacity elsehwere than compete with Hanian with another 2 weekly flight.
DeleteWell, they are competing with CZ at CAN without a problem and many other routes with W6 or EZ. Why would Hainan be an issue?
DeleteBecause the market is just not big enough
DeleteIf it is big enough to cater for two airlines in Guangzhou, then it is definitely big enough for two airlines on Beijing route.
DeleteAir Serbia obviously disagrees with you.
DeleteWould love to see Belgrade-Beijing on the schedule, but I understand the logic. Hainan is already doing a good job on the route.
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteBravo JU
DeleteDo China Southern and Air Serbia have code share on each others flights to/from Guangzhou?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteStop speaking nonsenses. Air Serbia and China Southern have codeshare on BEG-CAN and BEG-PVG.
DeleteI don't see JU flights when looking at connections via CAN!? is it only for point to point trips!?
DeleteI just looked and there are none for point to point flights.
DeleteWhy it took the Chinese so many years to issue permits?
ReplyDeleteWe dont' know when JU applied. Although Chinese administration is notoriously slow.
DeleteJU was sent to Tianjin instead of PEK back in 2022 with BS excuse about not wanting more foreign airlines flying to major airports because of Covid. Which is protectionism pure and simple.
DeleteThe rule was exactly the same for all foregin airlines, not just JU.
DeleteOf course it was, that's what he is saying. To protect Chinese carriers from foreign competition.
DeleteAt the same time foreign airports were open to Chinese carriers.
What are you talking about? Chinese airlines as well as Chinese citizens were banned from most countries. Also this same rule applied for Chinese airlines too. Hainan flew Belgrade-Dalian for the first several months.
Delete^ We are talking about 2022 and 2023, not 2020.
DeleteIn 2022-2023 period almost every country of the planet had opened its airports to all traffic, including China.
I don't know if you are aware that just in November last year China dropped restrictions on flights to/from Canada.
DeleteDaxing could be an interesting option for differentiation if they ever go for it.
ReplyDeleteIt is so far away from the city like many airports in China because they built new airports far away. Is there a train from Daxing to Beijing centre?
DeleteOh no, not China again. Just when we thought North American destinations are next in line, China comes back.
ReplyDeleteYou obviously haven't been reading very carefully. They said 8 months ago that they are looking to increase China frequnecies or add Beijing. it has nothing to do with North America, which will come eaither way.
DeleteTrue, they announced this a while ago
Deletehttps://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/11/air-serbia-considering-beijing-service.html
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/03/air-serbia-plans-china-boost-in-h2.html
True, but they also announced this way before China:
Delete"confirmed plans for the Serbian carrier to operate flights to Chicago and Toronto in 2016"
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2013/10/air-serbia-to-go-long-haul-by-2016.html
And Chicago they launched. Toronto they have said what the issue is numerous times. You know, the aviation industry is constantly changing. The market in 2013 is not the same as the market in 2025. You really should know that. They have revealead their immeadiate long haul plans numerous times over the past year. No need to act dumb.
DeleteHad they launched Toronto in 2016, they would have grounds to increase bilateral to 3-4 weekly by now and Air Serbia would have been established as the best choice for Toronto connections in the region. With less than nine months to 2026 SUTT, what's now stopping Air Serbia from formally announcing Toronto service?
DeleteThe existing bilateral agreement between Canada and Serbia was not in effect in 2016. In fact it was even more restrictive. So your theory holds no ground. Not to mention the airline was financially weaker then with a singificantly smaller network to offer feed.
DeleteYou can click on the Air Serbia tag and read what's stopping them from announcing another long haul service and it is in regards to aircraft.
That lease issue would not affect 2026 summer seasonal service to Toronto at all. It could make impact in Nov 2026 when summer season is over, so nothing is stopping YYZ 2026 summer seasonal announcement.
Delete2026 peak summer season is 11 months away. The airline has already said optimal time to announce new route is 6-8 months in advance.
DeleteChina is currently really lucrative market for them as we see that North America is slowly reaching its limits. There’s no seasonality issue in China, frequencies remain the same throughout the whole year.
ReplyDeleteHonestly PVG with two weekly is far from enough, there’s definitely a room for 4/5 weekly flights. Beijing with a strong codeshare partner such as Hainan or Air China could also do wonders for them.
I feel like Chinese airlines are generally slow when expanding and exploring new opportunities. The connectivity between Chinese cities and major European hubs is still far from perfect.
DeleteActually Chinese carriers have been busy adding new routes to Europe like crazy and benefitig from the fact that so many European airlines have withdrawn from the Chinese market. They dump prices and foreign airlines can't really compete
Delete@anon 09:30 you’re correct they’re very slow in setting up, but when they launch it’s usually very quick. They announce the launch with a couple of weeks notice for the first flight usually. Not sure how they manage to do it but I guess having 10’s of millions in any city it’s easy to find enough to get the ball rolling.
DeleteThey do it through tour operators. They put tickets on sales a week or two before the flight starts but tour operators have actually been selling tickets for a while.
DeleteChinese carriers are wild these days with new routes and connections. They seem to be rushing to position themselves while they have the advantage of overflying Russia. I think I read somewhere that ATH-CAN was inaugurated yesterday by Sichuan Airlines.
DeleteNEMJEE , it is Athens to Chengdu-Tianfu via Istanbul.
DeleteWhat’s the point adding fifth weekly flight to Guangdzhou? Shanghai surely, but then they have to wait approval another 6 months. At the end, why did they ask permission if they don’t start PEK now??
ReplyDeleteThey are obviously thinking about it and with a permit they can start it whenever they want.
DeleteTo me it seems like there’s demand for PEK, but maybe not enough for two carriers just yet.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+2
DeleteHainan is so quiet with 3rd pw flight. Could be just to keep yield high?
They have shortage of aircraft and a lot of competition on other routes which is where their focus most likely is.
DeleteCould be a good idea to start Beijing with a seasonal schedule when there is high demand - peak summer and December-February during Chinese New Year.
ReplyDeleteThat would be pointless
DeleteI wonder why it’s impossible to book SYD-Beg via CAN. Syd-vie via pek is available most days even with almost 24 hour transit and layover hotel included in pek
ReplyDeleteNot sure but maybe they don't won't to fill CAN-SYD-CAN with too many connecting passengers as they can charge higher for point to point
DeleteWondering if there is any competitive advantage of JU vs European Carriers for routes to China, as they are allowed to fly over Russia.
ReplyDeleteThey are allowed but JU does not fly over Russia on flights to/from China. The competative advantage comes from ticket price.
DeleteI’m surprised they’re not prioritizing Beijing more aggressively.
ReplyDeleteWell they just got permits for it.
DeleteWith a wide ranging codeshare with either Hainan or Air China, it could work.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see either Air China or China Eastern in BEG.
ReplyDeleteFor a small Balkan market, two airlines from China is already impressive
Deleteand 3 airlines between the two markets
DeleteHonestly, having flown all the major Chinese airlines, Hainan and China Southern are the best. My experience with China Eastern and Air China on long haul flights were leass impressive than the other two, although I can't say any of them are bad. In terms of actual soft product service, they are all pretty much the same.
DeleteI'm actually surptised Air China has not started flights.
DeleteMe too. Thought they would be the first to start flights. China Southern was the last one on my cards.
DeleteThere are actually some restrictions as to which airlines from China can launch flights to BEG. Only the ones the Chinese government has nominated and I believe they only nominated three of them.
DeleteExcellent news. Wheather they choose to use it or not is irrelveant. At least now they can scheduled PEK flights if they want to.
ReplyDeleteWhy not at least a codeshare with Hainan in the meantime? Seems like a win-win to offer more options to passengers now.
ReplyDeleteFrom a business perspective, I’d focus on Shanghai too. It’s a massive financial hub with strong outbound and inbound demand.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Chinese diaspora in Serbia is mostly from around Shanghai area.
DeleteGlad they’re not rushing into it. Long haul needs careful planning, not just flag-waving.
ReplyDeleteFlag waving?
DeleteBeijing can wait. Focus on solidifying routes that are already working — Shanghai and Guangzhou can still grow a lot.
ReplyDeleteThis is a missed opportunity for tourism if you ask me. Belgrade could capture more of the Chinese market with more flights to PEK.
DeleteAt best how many weekly flights could we see with CAN and PVG?
ReplyDeleteMy guess is they will keep CAN at 2 and increase PVG to 3.
DeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteWhy are they not considering Hong Kong?
ReplyDeleteGuangzhou and Hong Kong are just 170km apart.
DeleteSo? Hong Kong is a major global hub
DeleteThere’s already tough competition from big Asian and Middle Eastern carriers to HK. Air Serbia is focusing on routes where it sees more stable growth potential, like Shanghai and Guangzhou, which already have strong demand and partnership opportunities.
DeleteFocus on solidifying routes that are already working. Shanghai and Guangzhou can still grow a lot.
ReplyDeleteThey flew to Tianjin 1x weekly. Why not fly to Beijing 1x weekly?
ReplyDeleteAnd Tianjin worked out great...
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