Select airlines scale back operations on EX-YU markets

Several airlines have scaled back planned frequency increases or reduced existing services on routes to the former Yugoslavia based on network revisions implemented this week.

During the peak travel period in July and August next year, Air France will reduce its planned operations between Paris and Zagreb. The carrier now intends on maintaining seven weekly services during this period, down from the initially scheduled fourteen weekly flights. This also represents a year-on-year reduction from eleven weekly operations. Outside the height of the season, the airline will average ten weekly flights on the route.

Turkish Airlines is making further adjustments to its operations between Istanbul and Podgorica, as the imposition of visa requirements on Turkish citizens continues to weigh on demand. From mid-February until mid-March, the airline will reduce frequencies to between sixteen and seventeen weekly flights, depending on the week, down from eighteen rotations. In Pristina, during the same period, the carrier will operate nine weekly services, compared to the ten weekly flights originally planned.

Austrian Airlines has adjusted its planned operations in Dubrovnik and Split. During July and August, the carrier will operate fourteen weekly flights between Vienna and Dubrovnik, down from the originally planned seventeen. This also represents a reduction of three weekly services compared to last year. In Split, only June and September will be affected, with Austrian Airlines maintaining eleven weekly flights during these months, reduced from the initially scheduled fourteen weekly services.

Air Serbia has cancelled three planned flights between Belgrade and Guangzhou from January 19 to January 30, as well as five services to Shanghai between January 13 and January 30. During this period, two of the airline’s widebody aircraft are expected to undergo scheduled maintenance.

LOT Polish Airlines has revised its summer operations to Dubrovnik for next year and will operate three weekly flights from Warsaw throughout the season, down from the five weekly services initially planned.

Air Dolomiti will no longer serve Rijeka under its own flight codes. Last summer, carrier operated a one weekly service between Munich and the coastal city; however, from next year, the frequency will be taken over by Lufthansa. In addition, Transavia will discontinue its two weekly service between Eindhoven and Rijeka.

easyJet will not operate flights on its Paris Charles de Gaulle - Belgrade service from January 9 until February 6, removing a total of seven flights.

Ryanair is delaying the resumption of its seasonal service between London Stansted and Osijek. Flights on the route were initially scheduled to restart on April 2 but will now resume on June 2. The frequency will remain unchanged at two weekly flights.

Finally, Germany’s Condor is discontinuing its seasonal service between Dusseldorf and Split, which operated three times per week the previous summer. Flights from Frankfurt will continue to operate.

Further changes to the network remain possible.