NEWS FLASH
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is on the verge of handling over one million passengers in a single month this August. The airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, Miodrag Mirković, said the milestone is within reach and could be surpassed. “We anticipate a record August, which is traditionally our busiest month. We expect to be close and, with a little optimism, surpass the magic million. Four to five years ago this was a distant goal, but we are now very close, maybe even this year”, Mr Mirković told public broadcaster RTS.
However, the recent termination of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s Abu Dhabi - Belgrade service may prevent the airport from crossing the one million threshold. Mr Mirković added that overall load factors on flights to and from Belgrade have increased this year, with routes to Italy and Spain in particular recording strong demand this summer.
Airport operator VINCI will publish Belgrade Airport’s July traffic results on August 28, with preliminary figures suggesting growth of over 6%. Passenger numbers for August will be released on September 16.
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteBravo VINCI!
ReplyDeleteBravo to airlines.
DeleteIf there is little growth in BEG it is because of Vinci, if there is growth it is thanks to the airlines! 🤪
DeleteIn the past week I flew twice from BEG and both times security and passport controls were a breeze despite massive lines. Yesterday morning the passport control line almost stretched to the checkpoint but within 10 minutes we were through heading to the security control.
ReplyDeleteBEG has massively improved their operations this year and delays are minimal compared to the past 2 years. Opening all those shops, cafes and restaurants really makes a difference. Overall experience has considerably improved.
Even though BEG and Menzies have done their share of the work, JU is still struggling.
On Sunday I flew SOF-BEG and their ground handling was a disaster, then again it was each time I flew from Sofia with JU. Flight was almost full (71 passengers), we were kept in a hot bus without air condition for at least 20 minutes. We reached the plane and there were a lot of DAA. Once the cart was full they took it away despite passengers still entering the plane. Boarding was not stopped nor was there someone to collect the remaining DAA luggage. The supervisor was on his phone under the tail with his back turned at us looking at some videos (volume was on). Since there was no cart for passengers to leave their carryon luggage, they just kept on bringing DAA luggage into the cabin. The purser was disinterested and didn't notice passengers bringing in their bags with appropriate luggage and DAA tags. This created a bit of a chaotic situation inside the plane. Mind you, our ATR was burning hot inside which was not the case in BEG since Menzies immediately connects it to the a/c. This was also the case when we landed in Belgrade. It really makes a difference, especially in summer when it's hot and humid outside.
We flew TGD-BEG last night and 2/3 seats in front of us were broken and fully reclined... even during take off and landing. I am surprised JU flew such a plane instead of fixing this issue. I would assume this would be a problem especially in case of an emergency. I just checked and the A319 is flying the whole time: after Podgorica it went to Ankara and then to Alghero this morning. I am surprised crew did not report it especially since they asked passengers to put their seat in the upright position and they saw that it couldn't be done.
Air Serbia crew tends to be hit or miss. TGD-BEG (138 passengers) was such a miss that we ended up in a whole different galaxy. Not a single smile throughout the flight, extremely unpleasant towards the passengers and even during boarding, one of the crew passed through the busy aisle with her bag pushing and shoving passengers without excusing herself. She did have an irritated look on her face though. I guess all those paying customers going to their seat annoyed her. This was a huge difference compared to the lovely crew we had in the morning or on the BEG-SOF a few days before.
Looking at the overall situation, Menzies have improved operations at BEG while BEG has improved the passenger experience inside the terminal. That leaves us with JU which should do a better job training their crew and supervising their handlers outside of BEG. After all, Menzies have shown us what a good handler can do for both the airport and the airline.
When did they open all those shops, cafes and restaurants? They were not yet open just a couple of weeks ago?
Deletegreat response Nemjee. thank you!
DeleteDon't know when exactly they opened them but this summer (compared to last) there is a caffe on the left right after security control. Then once you pass duty free shop there are one or two shops on the right as well as in front, just behind where Tesla square was.
DeleteAlso two shops are about to open towards the C hallway.
Also when I was going to Sofia, Кафетерија was bringing in some equipment in the check-in zone. I guess they should be opening soon as well.
Can confirm that BEG is much better than the past two years and that JU's experience is, at best, the same as the past two years. I think we'll see that in figures too.
DeleteMassively improved is an over exaggeration of the situation at BEG. It has improved but the pace is extremely slow. A plus is they have more staff now handling flights but they still need more, Menzies in particular.
DeleteMonument restaurant at T1 is nowhere near completion for the past 3 years, space for additional food and beverage outlets hasn't changed much over the past year, the Sljiva bar worksite is still closed. Retail outlets such as Victoria Secret has been ready for months and still hasn't open, while another 2 retail outlets towards the C gates has been under preparation for at least 2 months and still isn't open.
Gate space is really tight during the major waves this summer and will become worse next season judging by the pace of work. Bus gates are lacking in BEG which could ease the pressure on the situation, however BEG would need further investments in equipment (busses, stairs etc). Additional stands and/or gates doesn't seem likely in the next 12 months. New air bridges for gates A7-A10 hasn't been mentioned for quite a while.
The transit desk in the transit area is always understaffed and it isn't uncommon to see 1 person handling 150+ pax. 2 Russian arrivals at the same time create chaos.
Work in the arrivals is lagging with a large banner covering half of the arrivals area the past few years. Car rental agencies don't have adequate space while rent for space is extremely high, hence the temporary offices by the car park area becoming more on the permanent side rather than temporary. Stepping out in arrivals is grimy and depressing. Benches for people waiting for public transport is more than needed.
Elimination of both smoking rooms has resulted in an increase in people smoking (almost exclusively e cigarettes) anywhere they deem fit. New smoking facilities doesn't seem to be in the works anytime soon.
Going back to staffing and this is where JU is seriously lagging. The amount of open days the past 2 years shows more of an issue in retaining staff rather than their growth. Higher than normal turn over rates, as this indicates, shows that morale is down and there is alot of disinterest to do their best. Too many inexperienced staff isn't good on all fronts whether in safety or service, with service being the annoyance mentioned above. Training can only do so much, but it's the actual on work experience that counts and where real lessons are learnt.
To sum it up, its all down to organisation, planning and motivation.
Nice reality check. I can add this: two WHSmith still not open (arrivals and departures, not including one open at T1) plus still waiting for Kafeteria, Ambar and Burrito Madre, more shops to the right of the Boss store still under covers etc.
DeleteNo one said it's perfect but that the experience is much better which it is. That's a fact so you need a reality check.
DeleteHey Nemjee what are passengers in this flight to SOF? It's interesting, p2p, business, transfers?
Delete@Anonymous 13:21
DeleteVery good summary of the current situation!
Unless things greatly improve during the winter the airport will be in chaos during EXPO.
The whole point of the original post was that the airport experience has improved which it has, without a single doubt. Is BEG perfect? Far from it.
DeleteHowever we need to be objective when evaluating the overall situation. When it comes to BEG and JU best is to have modest expectations.
That said, what you listed is what needs to be done so that the current situation improves even more.
Right now, BEG is an okay airport which wasn't the case last year.
Anon 14.09
DeleteMost passengers were either Westerners or Bulgarians. I think around 50 passengers were connecting in Belgrade. There was a large group of French people and from what I could hear they were going to GVA via BEG. They were around 15 people.
Our BEG-SOF flight on Thursday had around 50 passengers and there were a lot of Danes and Bulgarians onboard.
@nemjee
DeleteDefinitely there is improvement and that isn't being rejected but it's far from being massive as you initially mentioned. Staffing isn't as bad as previously, it still can be better. Having modest expectations as you say is fair and I don't think anyone sets airports such as DOH and SIN as benchmarks for BEG to be, but the points above are fair and realistic call outs. Just as it is fair to call out the lack of food and beverage outlets for the large, morning wave for example, midnight wave isn't better either. It is also fair to call out the understaffing of transfer desks when peak usage is known.
@13,49
Nowhere is it mentioned that there is an expectation of perfection. Nor is anyone denying that things have improved. Better but not much better. Reality check.
Well, maybe it boils down to what is important to you. For me personally it is a massive improvement that I no longer have to wait an hour at the passport and security controls or that my flight isn't constantly late. Just look at what is happening in Lisbon and what chaos there is over there simply because they didn't plan ahead.
DeleteI have flown 23 times this year and most of those flights were to/from BEG. I do notice that the offer keeps on improving. Given the way Serbian aviation is run we should be happy that we are at least making progress, no matter how modest it is. It could be much worse.
Summer 2025 vs summer 2024 there is a massive improvement in almost all spheres when it comes to the airport. This is something some like Air Serbia can't say about their own business.
Air Serbia as per their CEO is working on improved passenger experience for two years now but without visible tangents as of yet.
DeleteYup, we are used to it now. That is why no one is pay attention to what he says any more.
DeleteHe is big on promises for 4 years now, I give him that. Actually delivering on them, that is the tricky part.
DeleteHe simply does not care about JU, that's why. Yesterday the destruction of YU-AND began. If he had the tiniest interest in JU and its rich history, he would have made sure this plane is moved to the nearby museum and not broken down for spare parts. I mean how much can they actually get for this retired plane? Probably peanuts... but here we are... unfortunately.
Delete+1000 Nemjee
DeleteOver 6% growth in July is very good considering Air Serbia's 1% decline.
ReplyDeleteAnd W5 termination mid month
DeleteFlew this morning at 6 AM from Belgrade.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely ridiculous that nearly no food/coffee places are working before 5 AM, including the BEG business lounge. Only food place that was operating at 4:30 was the obnoxiously expensive In And Out, whose coffee (brewed by a machine) is more expensive than on an airplane and multiple European airports I went to.
Furthermore, they have reduced access to priority queues to only Air Serbia / Etihad card holders, MasterCard is not accepted anymore. I flew from BEG on last December and the priority queue was slower than the regular ones since they were using only one border control booth and one scanner for priority passengers. I hope that they fixed this insult at least.
Their business lounge still has the same minimal offer and it is starting to look outdated, with some seats being ripped.
The toilet next to the business lounge still smells and looks like it belongs on a bus station, and not the first option for business passengers.
Nearly all of these things are present for several years and nobody seems to care. I hope for a prosperous future for BEG though.
I suppose the lounge you visited was the airport one? Yes it's absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. I did hear they got the permit to improve it though I don't know if it means building a new one or renovating the existing one.
DeleteYou can pay 5 euros at the airport to use the priority secutiry/passport lane. They have actually separated the priority security lane completely so others can't just walk in and there are 2 lanes for it.
DeleteExactly just pay €5 so what's the problem?!
DeleteIf one is already paying extra per month for a service/convenience (priority access via MasterCard) which suddenly is removed then whats the point of paying for the upgraded product compared to the cheaper one? For frequent travellers it's not just 5€. A one time expense is no biggie, but for those that travel often (ie business), it adds up.
Delete@Anon 15:01 & 16:25
DeleteExactly as the comment above said, I am already paying a fee to my bank to obtain a card which used to grant me privileged access. When they remove the benefits, they make you pay the same price - shrinkflation. So I am not willing to pay extra and I object.
Credit card benifits change often everywhere in the world.
DeleteWho is to blame for this? The airport or card provider? Maybe Mastercard didn't want to pay for this privilege.
DeleteI understood that JU signed cooperation with Visa for loyality program. Maybe Vinci is going the same way?
DeleteI think there is a problem with Mastercard. Raiffeisen bank is shifting all business cards from Mastercard to Visa by the end of the year.
Delete