TRIP REPORT: Air Serbia, Belgrade - Bari - Belgrade

TRIP REPORT

Written by: Oliver

Aircraft: ATR 72-600

Route: Belgrade (BEG) - Bari (BRI) - Belgrade (BEG)

This summer I spent a good part of my time in Serbia, and I decided to take a short trip to Puglia to visit some friends.

Outbound Flight: JU494 (BEG → BRI)

Check-in & security:

Evening departures at Belgrade are always busy, and this was no exception. Lots of passenger and aircraft movements created a lively atmosphere. Despite the crowds, the e-gates worked perfectly, and I cleared customs and security in less than 10 minutes.

Boarding:

The flight boarded from Gate C10A, one of the usual ATR gates. As with most regional operations, boarding was via bus transfer. Several ATRs were parked nearby, including one bound for Florence.

Load Factor & Passengers:

The flight seemed about 90% full. The mix included Serbian holidaymakers, Italian visitors and business travellers.

Cabin & service:

The ATR 72-600 was in good condition. Service was “traditional”: a small bag of Plazma biscuits and a bottle of water. The crew were professional, friendly and created a warm onboard atmosphere.

Arrival in Bari:

We landed on time. Unfortunately, passport control system at Bari malfunctioned, causing delays. Still, in a way, it felt like a fitting “Welcome to Italy” moment.

Return Flight: JU491 (BRI → BEG)

Check-in & security:

Bari Airport is small and efficient. Security and passport checks were quick, and boarding again required a bus transfer to the aircraft.

Boarding & departure:

Boarding was smooth, and we departed on schedule around 09:30.

Cabin & service:

Same service as the outbound: Plazma biscuits and water. The crew were professional but seemed less enthusiastic than on the outbound, possibly due to the early morning start.

Load factor & passengers:

The cabin was mixed again, this time with a noticeable number of transfer passengers. I overheard Russian, Romanian and Greek speakers connecting onto other Air Serbia flights in Belgrade.

Arrival in Belgrade:

We arrived on time with no issues.

Overall Impressions

Punctuality: Both flights departed and arrived on time.

Service: Minimal but consistent, with friendly crews (outbound warmer than inbound).

Aircraft: ATR 72-600, comfortable enough for the short hop.

Passenger mix: Strong mix of holidaymakers, locals and transfer passengers.

Schedule: Personally, I’d prefer a morning outbound and evening return, but the current setup clearly supports Air Serbia’s transfer network.

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