Low cost carrier Wizz Air will commence a new seasonal winter service between Belgrade and Grenoble in southeastern France. Operations will start on January 3 and run weekly until March 28, on Saturdays. It marks the first time the two cities have been linked with a scheduled air service. Further flight details can be viewed here. Grenoble is known for its location in the French Alps, serving as a base for mountain activities and being called the "Capital of the Alps".
Commenting on the new service, Anastasia Novak, Wizz Air's Corporate and Sustainability Communications Manager, said, "Wizz Air is proud to announce the launch of a new direct route between Belgrade and Grenoble, further strengthening the connection between Serbia and France. This service offers the perfect opportunity for all ski and winter sports enthusiasts to reach the heart of the French Alps quickly and affordably. Whether you’re planning a winter adventure on the slopes, a weekend getaway in nature, or a business trip, the new Belgrade - Grenoble connection provides a smart and comfortable travel option. Our goal is to expand the range of destinations available from Belgrade and make it easier for passengers to discover the beauty of Europe. We are delighted to bring Belgrade and Grenoble closer together and remain committed to providing safe, comfortable and high-quality service in line with Wizz Air’s renowned standards".
Nice addition from JU cut
ReplyDeleteWell, JU flies to Geneva.
DeleteWell, JU flies to many other cities, but that is not the point. As much as Geneva is close, Grenoble is closer to Lyon then Geneva.
DeleteDoes not really make a difference, maybe 15 minutes longer a drive.
DeleteYou can't be serious
Deletewow nice and unexpected
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone saw this coming.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I know many people who go skiing to France and they would usually take a minivan or a bus. Will be interesting to see how this route performs.
Yupp, France is top ski destination.
DeleteAnd I actually know three Serbs living in Grenoble, my friend Bane`s family :)
Well Bane should profit from this relatively short offer!
DeleteThis is something I wrote about a few days ago. As the standard of living improves, airlines will no doubt start to introduce similar routes. Over the past 10 years there was a clear shift away from gasto routes. Many leisure destinations started to become more and more popular which shows that the market has indeed changed.
If Grenoble becomes popular then we might see more frequencies added next year.
Do you think an average Serbian has the money to go skiing in Grenoble? lol
DeleteThis route is not for the average Serb. This is for those with above average incomes. I thought this was logical and didn't need to be specified. lol
DeleteYou know, when you calculate the average income, it includes both those above and below that value.
The “average Serbian” doesn’t have to. The plane can take on about 150 pax out of population of 7 million. So they are not after the average Serbian or average anybody. There just needs to be enough of them to fill this service to a certain degree.
DeleteAnd by the way, if Serbs have the money to fill up Kopaonik to capacity, the sure as hell can afford Grenoble, if you get my point.
The airport is in Belgrade, not "in Serbia" (for there are parts of Serbia closer to Sofia, Skopje or Podgorica airport), and Belgrade is economically au pair with the French province (France minus Paris), check the stats available, so, yes, many of us can afford skiing in France. And actually Kopaonik is quite an expensive ski resort.
Delete@Anonymous11:12
DeleteYou can't be serious...
I am dead serious.
DeleteWell, I am sure Wizz Air did their homework. I doubt they would launch such a route out of nowhere.
Delete@Anonymous13:42
DeleteIf you think France outside of Paris is on a similar income level as Belgrade then you need to travel more...
Listen to this clown @10:59.
DeleteJust shows how well informed you are. Skiing in France is somewhat more expensive than lame and boring Kop. If you book chalet or some woodencabin with outer hottub instead of hotel its even cheaper if you go in group of 5-8. Just ooen skimanijaci or skifun page and you'll see how "expensive" skiing in France is. So yes, this route will not be used by average Serb, but average serbian skier maybe or most probably.
Cantt wait IBZ
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me they have a deal with tour operators. The fares are really expensive.
ReplyDeleteThey were probably high because they just launched them. Now you can get one way fares starting from €50.
DeleteInteresting choice, although Innsbruck has more potential for ski tourists plus diaspora.
ReplyDeleteand alsmost no one fly there
DeleteAnd wait til you see who even flies to Grenoble
DeleteFor those heading to Alpes d'Heuz and Les Deux Alpes it is just perfect airport. You are landing next to the slopes basically.
ReplyDeleteIn winter 24/25, there were literally convoys of buses from Serbia, not Belgrade only (Kragujevac, Nis, Sabac, Novi Sad), heading there.
I was in one of them.
When booking with tourist agency here, bus round trip is 180e, for a ride of 20 to 22 hours!!!
So, yes, there is a really huge interest in skiing in France, and growing, which is a way more affordable than Kopaonik, moneywise.
However, not really sure for March...
March is full on. Last snow dumps are normally first week of May.
DeleteThey should have started Tenerife at least seasonal. This will hardly survive until next season
ReplyDeleteFantastic that you have demand and trend data, costs and everything.
Delete^^^ We are so full of aviation experts here who also have access to unpublished data! 😂
DeleteZamagirl Academy
DeleteNo, I have no data, but I know about average skin demand in Serbia and I think it’s far more popular to go to seaside warm destinations than go skiing. I would love this to be year round destination, but I don’t think it would be successful, unfortunately. Like I wrote, they could start Tenerife, Sevilla, Bilbao, Manchester, Dublin, Bratislava, Bremen, Leipzig or Bergen with better chances
DeleteYou have to take into consideration flight time, whether they can make a rotation with their Belgrade based fleet... judging by the high fares on this route to Grenoble, they most likely did a deal with tour operators.
DeletePlus they can operating this route on a Saturday which, along with Tuesday, are the slowest days in the week.
Delete5th based plane at BEG is long overdue. After closing Vienna and Abu Dhabi and receiving new planes every week, they should do that immediately. And then add 6-7 new routes, eg. some that I mentioned.
DeleteGrenoble?? Who cares. You killd always full line to Abu Dhabi. Why? We want direct flights to UAE.
ReplyDeleteYou have 17 weekly flights to Dubai.
DeleteHahaha what a troll. You want direct flights to the UAE when you already have them.
DeleteI read Wizz Air is on path to fold. What happens if that eventuates?
ReplyDeleteRandom fun facts about Grenoble from Wikipedia:
ReplyDelete1. Grenoble airport is operated by Vinci.
2. After World War I, one street in the centre of Smederevska Palanka (Serbia) was named French street (Francuska ulica) and one street in Grenoble was named Palanka street (Rue de Palanka). The same neighborhood also has a Belgrade Street (Rue de Belgrade).
There's one more:
Delete3. French-born Serbian official and philanthropist Arno Gujon (Arnaud Gouillon) was born in Grenoble.