Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, has said the airline is in the final stages of negotiations to launch flights between Belgrade and Baku next summer, and is also considering introducing a new service to the Middle East, which would mark its return to the region for the first time in three years. “In Europe, we plan to further densify our network while also introducing new destinations. We are additionally exploring opportunities beyond Europe. Following the strong performance of Tbilisi, we are in the final stages of negotiations to add Baku as our next route. A decision will be made shortly, and we may introduce another destination in that region as well. We are also considering one destination in the Middle East”, Mr Marek told the “RTS” public broadcaster.
The flag carrier is also looking to bring more partner airlines to Belgrade, which would feed its network. “We do not intend to pursue everything alone. We are very open to cooperation with other carriers. We are partnering with SCAT Airlines on the Astana - Belgrade service and cooperating with Royal Jordanian Airlines on the planned launch of flights from Amman next April. We are also in discussions with several other airlines”, Mr Marek noted. The CEO previously said the airline is awaiting a decision on its slot request for flights to Ibiza but will pivot to launch a new scheduled service to a Greek island if they are not granted.
Air Serbia had previously scheduled the launch of Toronto for next May. “Demand for Toronto is comparable to, or even stronger than, what we saw when we opened sales for Chicago. It is a very similar market, driven not only by the Serbian diaspora but by travellers from across the wider region. Initial sales indicate significantly higher interest than when we began selling tickets for Chicago, which started at roughly the same time. To put this into perspective, three years ago we operated just one long-haul route, and now we will have five”, the CEO said. He added that Air Serbia has carried 4.2 million passengers so far this year and remains on track for another record-breaking performance.
My guess is similar schedule to Tbilisi and Embraer ops for Baku.
ReplyDeleteI believe that A319 is better for Baku because of greater cargo space. However, E195 can take over in the winter. But keep in mind that E195 was scheduled to take over Tbilisi this winter, but ultimately they put A319 because of demand.
DeleteThere was few times A320 to Tbilisi as well.
DeleteWow. Demand is above all expectations. But surely another one or two destinations in the region will load balance demand
DeleteAny reason why they are not increasing frequencies to Tbilisi?
DeleteThat route is particularly painful for the aviation expert.
Who said they won't.
DeleteAny takers on the new Middle East destination? I’m putting my chips on Riyadh (if they really mean “new”).
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's a new new route. It's probably Tel Aviv resumption.
DeleteOr Cairo probably
DeleteCairo is most likely after RJ announced Amman.
DeleteI think the Israeli leisure carriers have Tel Aviv covered. It’s mainly Israeli tourists that make up the market. I could be wrong of course as Tel Aviv could serve as a good connection for future Miami flights.
DeleteMaybe Beirut.
DeleteNo way
DeleteTLV?
DeleteHopefully, TLV, there are many potential connections to TLV, and it is not as widely served as it was before. Just flew from TLV to BEG and Aegean was the most convenient option as there are no daily flights to BEG
DeleteVery interested to see which these new partner airlines could be that may launch BEG. I think that would be great.
ReplyDeleteWhich airlines could we possibly see enter service to BEG im intrigued to see from which region they'd be coming from
DeleteProbably Etihad from AUH.
DeleteMy money is also on Etihad.
DeleteDon't forget SCAT plans to start Belgrade-Morocco, so this will be another route.
DeleteEtihad would be great to have back. Do you think we will see the A320s back like before or maybe this time demand might be higher and see 321NEOS or maybe even a wide body
DeleteTheir A321LRs are premium with first class (2 seats), I don't think there is such demand for BEG route. More likely to deploy standard A320 and A321neo.
DeleteMy guess is Riyadh Air. They plan to widen network shortly
DeleteI think he forgot to mention Air Baltic as a partner company. It is nice if they can make some interline agreement or better code share
ReplyDeleteGreat to see Baku finally moving forward. The Tbilisi route clearly proved there’s demand in the Caucasus region. I'm guessing the other destination in the region is Yerevan.
ReplyDeleteOf course its Yerevan. No other route in Caucasus region makes sense.
Delete...or MRV.
DeleteSure it is, Beograd - Kiesela Voda.
DeleteOr Batumi/Trabzon.
DeleteThere are many other options.
Oh please stop, Trabzon is not even in Caucasus. Of course it's Yerevan.
DeleteԵրևան!
DeleteQəbələ INT for the win!
Delete
Delete@09:30
Are you sure?
Where is it then?
Oh, sorry, 20km from there. 🤦🤦🤦
It is Yerevan. No need to guess.
DeleteBravo Air Serbia 🇷🇸🇷🇸🇷🇸
ReplyDeleteIdemo dalje...
ReplyDeleteHopefully Air Serbia takes delivery of the aircraft they dry leased. I know N688DR was one of the embraers, but there should be another one and 2 or 3 A320s coming and its near the end of November. Hopefully they start making their way to BG soon especially the embraers
ReplyDeleteOne Embraer is coming by the end of the year and the other by March 2026.
DeleteHow do you know when the second one is coming? I thought bought were getting delivered by the same time frame
DeleteThat one was painted in JU livery last months. Should be delivered any day now.
Deletehttps://www.planespotters.net/photo/1837510/n688dr-air-serbia-embraer-erj-195lr-erj-190-200-lr
Bosko Rupic, the CCO said so in an interview on TV around a month ago.
DeleteWhat about the A320s that were supposedly coming during the winter season any news on them?
DeleteThey said they would come BY NEXT SUMMER. It is well reported here.
DeleteIt says 25/26 winter in this article https://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/05/air-serbia-to-add-more-a320s-to-fleet.html?m=1#:~:text=Air%20Serbia%20is%20negotiating%20the,winter%20season%2C%20as%20recently%20reported. Unless I missed something more recent
DeleteAnd? Winter 25/26 winter lasts until next summer. Some of you people hang onto every word they said, acting as if things can't change in aviation especially when it comes to aircraft delievers.
DeleteNever did i say they will come during a specific period associated to winter time like December or January. I know very well winter season lasts a decent bit of time. But going into summer season....means its summer season... and if that's the case it should be announced. Winter season lasts until March.
Delete"three years ago we operated just one long-haul route, and now we will have five”, I don't like this silence about MIA route last few months. Suddenly Chicago was announced and nobody is even mentioning Miami any more. And there is more than enough capacity available
ReplyDeleteThey announced Toronto, not Chicago and I don't think they are overly concerned what you like or not. They are introducing a fifth long haul service. Some people can never be satisfied.
DeleteSo far, JU introduced one new long haul service each year since 2022. By that logic we will probably have to wait 2027 for MIA.
DeleteYes, I don’t like it. Miami should be announced by the end of the year or early next year, by the last statements. Toronto is only seasonal route and capacity is still idle
Deletehopefully they postpone MIA to winter of 2026. no much point of goping there during summer here.
DeleteMost companies cutting flights to US. CUstoms personal are very strict/mean, plus economic slowdown...
DeleteMiddle East return is long overdue
ReplyDeletePartnership strategy makes sense. JU can’t do everything alone. SCAT and Royal Jordanian are a good start but they need at least one major partner from the Gulf.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBaku is logical, but I’d rather see Cairo or Beirut come back.
ReplyDeleteWith 4.2 million passengers already they will easily break the record again.
ReplyDeleteAs long as they don’t forget to improve frequencies in Europe as well. Network densification is critical for transfers, not just new destinations.
ReplyDelete+1 and a solid long term plan for fleet renewel...which will need longterm financial stability and consolidation.
DeleteBaku + Toronto + a Middle Eastern destination +Ibiza/Greek island and maybe Yerevan. Not bad for one summer.
ReplyDeleteI believe Helsinki will be back again. Long overdue
DeleteWith Baku, Astana, Amman, and Tbilisi, they’re building a nice little corridor between the Balkans and Central Asia.
ReplyDeleteSince when are any of those but Astana in Central Asia?
Delete@11:32 you mean Belgrade Airport not JU i presume? Because JU only flies (so far) to one of those destinations.
DeleteHope they extend Toronto year round.
ReplyDeleteI was flying Baku to Beg and viceversa for more than 20 times during 2022-2023, and my personal observation is that this route won't have good load factor...Very few pax were flying from GYD- BEG, and Azeri who come to west Europe, they go primerily to Germany..Summer vacation they have variety of direct flights to Montenegro...Azeri who go on vacation abroad are wealthy, and the use direct flights, if the is, and not with stopover...Other ones go for medical procedures or to see specialists to Germany or Turkey ( since their doctors are very bad, and the health care system is bad) , and are also wealthy pax P2P...Mid class and lower travel only to visit their immigrant families in Germany...Only if Air Serbia can catch portion of those pax, that's it..But they already have good deals with Lufthansa, LOT, and Wizz via BUD for that..Serbian pax who go to GYD are very few, same like other foreigners..
ReplyDeleteI agree. Its going to be a hard route to make pay. That being said it seems like a useful connection between and with the right aircraft and timings it might pay back. I agree that p2p is an untested market but it might generate some new interest on both ends which makes it worth their while attempting it. If it fails they can just adjust capacity elshwhere.
DeleteIt will surely be a transfer-dependent route. On the other hand, so it Tbilisi with the exception that Baku has a national carrier. Hope it works out for them, Embraer is ideal for testing markets
DeleteBesides that, all land boredrs are closed since Covid, there are no airline direct flights to neighboring countries as well..so, tourist trips would be limited only to Azerbaijan, and that's not touristy country at all..2 days is enough for Baku, and that's it..It would be tough route, if introduced..
DeleteUnlike you, I'm sure at Air Serbia they have actual data on travel between the two countries and passengers flows, which they can have as they have the tools to see such data. They certainly didn't pick up darts and throw it at a map to decide what route to launch and they certainly did more analysis than you did.
DeleteI mean, look...with so many destination already serving, they COULD start the "dart system". They have few big markets missing (Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Ireland...) but in general they covered pretty much good part of destinations
Delete@11:35 you dont know what you are talking about. Baku is well connected with its neighbours by air. Whilst it isnt very well known as a tourist destination for Europeans, it is actually popular with those from the middle east and even India. Its an interesting place and i think JU are very right to test the waters with it. Will it be a huge money maker? Unlikely, but Serbia is well placed geographically to serve such a route and it will be interstesting to see how it matures if launched.
DeleteWho would have thought that Tbilisi is going to be that successful?
DeleteFingers crossed for Baku.
Situation changed a lot since 22/23. Many Russian citizens and companies moved to Serbia and Azerbeijan in the meantime
DeleteI don't agree that GYD wont be a success.
DeleteAzeri cargo carriers are no stranger to BEG to start, we can definitely expect GYD to be a cargo heavy route for JU.
JU have a decent and competitive network where the flights can connect on to, whether to the region or Western Europe. Direct flights doesn't equal demand being fully served or the only option for travellers.
AZAL has quite a number of routes that could be of interest to our market, especially to Russia and Central Asia. I wouldn't be surprised to see an interline agreement between the 3 to facilitate better connections.
Lastly, there is somewhat of an O&D demand between the 2 cities which has potential for growth.
Build it, and they will come...
DeleteBaku, Yerevan, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Cairo, Miami, Addis Ababa (they HAVE to start it), Canary Islands, Chengdu, Beijing, Riyadh and Romanian and Polish secondary airports.
ReplyDeleteAfter that...sky is the limit.
Lol. What have you been smoking for breakfast? 🤡
DeleteManchester, Dublin, Helsinki, Los Angeles a must before Expo
Delete🤡
DeleteDubai
ReplyDeleteMessage at Air Serbia website when purchasing Toronto tickets mentions Subject to government approval. When is that approval for Toronto expected?
ReplyDeleteIt was the same when launching JFK. It took around 3 months if I remember correctly.
Delete