Etihad Airways is expected to resume flights between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade this year, marking the Emirati carrier’s return to the Serbian capital after almost six years. Air Serbia’s CEO, Jiri Marek, told EX-YU Aviation News last month the airline was in discussions with Etihad over its potential comeback. “They are facing some capacity constraints, but there is clear interest on both sides”, Mr Marek noted. Last week, Serbia’s President, during a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, added, “I believe we’ll have a new Belgrade - Abu Dhabi route launched by May. And it won’t be a low cost carrier, but Etihad, which is one of the world’s best airlines”.
Etihad last served Belgrade in October 2020. In 2019, it carried 114.256 passengers on the Abu Dhabi - Belgrade route, achieving an average annual load factor of 87.2%. The strong performance was partly driven by its partnership with Air Serbia, which fed a significant number of Europe-bound passengers through Belgrade. Although Etihad discontinued the service during the pandemic, the two airlines have since reinstated their comprehensive codeshare agreement. In the post-Covid period, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi launched flights between the UAE and Serbian capitals, but the service was discontinued last summer following the closure of the budget carrier’s Emirati unit. Wizz Air is unable to operate flights between the two countries using its European Air Operator’s Certificate.
Etihad Airways has significantly expanded its network over the past year. For 2026, the carrier has scheduled the launch of fourteen new routes, including Bucharest. Last week, Etihad announced it would add Luxembourg to its network from October, becoming the first Gulf carrier to serve the country. However, delays in new aircraft deliveries have forced Etihad to postpone some of its planned new route launches. The airline has also been wet-leasing aircraft from other carriers, including GetJet and Air Seychelles.
Etihad’s return to Belgrade in 2026 would see it re-enter a different market than the one it left almost six years ago. Flydubai now maintains seventeen weekly flights between Dubai and the Serbian capital, while carriers such as China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines also provide long-haul connectivity. Furthermore, Air Serbia has expanded its network to the Far East. Etihad previously carried a notable number of China-bound passengers on its Belgrade service. From April, Royal Jordanian Airlines will add further transfer options to the Middle East, while Qatar Airways now dominates the Australia - Serbia travel market.
Ok, I'm not suprised by their coming back to BEG. It was just about the time...
ReplyDeleteI hope they will more expand their presence in the Balkan. I hope ZAG would be their next destination. But also I would not be suprised if they introduce Tirana.
Would be amazing to see them in BEG again! Daily flights?
ReplyDelete4-5 weekly more likely
DeleteThey used to fly daily
Delete^Belgrade today is a much bigger market than in 2020. More long-haul, more transit traffic, more options. Etihad will return to a totally different airport.
DeleteMissed oportunity for JU.
DeleteExactly. Prime market, high yields, exactly to utilize spare widebody fleet
Delete@anon 13:34
DeleteWell, not exactly. Long rotation, inferior soft & hard product vs Etihad, less transfer options. EY metal in code share with JU is a win-win.
Huh? Two recent A330 was Etihad birds and have exactly the same cabin outfit
DeleteYes, those 2 EXPOs are originaly EY's but JU wouldn't utilize A330 for AUH. The best thing JU could do is to send a BT birds if ever enter the route again.
DeleteIf they return I hope it’s not just 2 weekly rotations. The market can support more, especially with connections.
ReplyDeleteEtihad had excellent load factors before Covid and back then Belgrade wasn’t even as strong as today. Should work well.
ReplyDeleteEtihad won’t have it easy. But competition is good.
ReplyDeleteI’m curious if Etihad would use A320 family or widebody. Probably narrowbody, but still a premium product compared to most.
ReplyDeleteUnless you get Getjet.
DeleteProbably something like A321.
Delete@ anon 09:14
DeleteGod forbid!
I hope not but you never know.
DeleteDon’t forget cargo. UAE–Serbia has a lot of potential for belly cargo, especially with Etihad’s network.
ReplyDeleteImagine Etihad and Royal Jordanian both offering transfer options from BEG… Middle East connectivity is improving slowly.
ReplyDeleteI think first they are planning to launch SKP, then PRN, and last but certainly not least will be BEG
ReplyDeleteLOL
Delete@09:16 cant tell if thats a joke or just made up? Lol
DeleteNo, SKP, OHD, PRN, ZAG and then maybe BEG
DeleteNo it's Brač after ZAG, then BEG.
DeleteTo be honest, next to BEG only SJJ would make sense, at least seasonally.
Delete@09:43 its a Brač-Maribor W-flight i heard..
DeleteActually, idea is AUH-SKP-JFK. Maybe with stop at SYD
Delete@10:28
DeleteI heard it will be Morava - Maribor W-flight
If Etihad comes back, it will be interesting to see pricing. Flydubai isn’t cheap anymore either.
ReplyDeleteQR has become very expensive as well.
DeleteIt would be anther upgrade for BEG connectivity.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteGreat news.
ReplyDeleteMay is way too optimistic. But I think they will come back this year
ReplyDeleteEtihad should return with at least 4 weekly flights.
ReplyDeleteCodeshare is the key. If Air Serbia really supports the flights with feed, it will work.
ReplyDeleteIf they come, they should offer good timings to connect to Asia and Australia. Otherwise it’s pointless.
ReplyDeleteThey will
DeleteThey are starting LUX? Wow that's crazy
ReplyDeleteLUX even has China Southern
DeleteImpressive for such a small market.
DeleteIt's a very rich one.
DeleteIndeed. Its economy is slightly bigger than Serbia's. But with a population the size of Novi Beograd 🫣
DeleteI know there are airports nearby but it's strange we don't have BEG-LUX route.
DeleteLuxair tried and failed. Small diaspora and too many nearby airports served.
DeleteYes, but that's a fact for many markets connecting with Luxembourg. I think back then they served couple of airports in ex-Yu and now 0 (or maybe only LJU, I'm not sure). That calls for JU to reconsider it.
DeleteAnd LJU is served thanks to subsidies. And even on that route they cut flights to symbolic one weekly.
DeleteLuxair is 2x weekly in LJU.
DeleteAnon 10:31. Obviously you dont knpm much about economy. What Luxemburg produce? Only tax heaven for big companies. If you watch GDP PPP of Belgrade, it is probably larger of your country.
Delete@14:19 triggered? The lux economy is larger than Serbia's my friend, like it or not. Btw i'm from the UK so nice try 🤗
DeleteI want Emirates :(
ReplyDeleteEK said last year they are not interested in BEG or ZAG. It was published here. They just announced Helsinki last week.
DeleteI know. I keep hoping they surprise us.
DeleteIf they are not interested its unlieky they'll come anytime soon
DeleteFirst we should hope for flydubai's 787
DeleteLast time when they started ZAG they were claiming 6 months before they were not interested. So, surprises possible...
DeleteYes, but they announced it after the Croatian Minister of tourism held discussions with the Sheikh. And to be honest I'm not so sure it worked for them considering they turned it seasonal and was the only seasonal route in their network and it is the only route they didn't bring back after covid.
DeleteLove that Etihad livery. Looks so good. Hogan sure knew one thing and that was delivering great liveries. Did the same wirh Gulf Air too
ReplyDeleteJU as well.
Deletefunny how Wizz Air Abu Dhabi disappeared overnight
ReplyDeleteThey pushed out by government protectionism of Etihad.
DeleteSarajevo is more realistic!
ReplyDeleteNope. Definitely not.
DeleteThe new Abu Dhabi airport is probably the best hub in the region.
ReplyDeleteYes, the new terminal is amazing
DeleteThis would be 15th new route to BEG this year. Nice
ReplyDelete👌
DeleteSo nice ! Hope they'll deploy the B787-9 on that route and if not, their brand new A321XLR.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not likely to be an XLR, as those are already heavily used. What is more likely is the old 320 product or GetJet
DeleteA320 is a perfect capacity for the route. In time, could be a couple of rotations with A321. Dreamliner's premium cabin is hard to fill. Same for FlyDubai. With 17 pw (could be 21 in the near future) there is no room for a bigger bird.
DeleteAUH and BEG are too close for the XLR's capabilities.
DeleteIt will probably be an A320ceo.
Probably narrowbody in the beginning. If they manage to supress FlyDubai a bit, we can hope for widebody
DeleteWidebody could be used if there is sufficient cargo demand.
DeleteI'd rather have them fly more often and connect to more transfer waves in AUH instead of having fewer flights with a widebody for "prestige" purposes.
DeleteJust my2cents
Keep your change
DeleteAUH is a much nicer transit experience than DXB
ReplyDeleteAbu Dhabi could also be useful for Africa connections, which are still weak from Belgrade overall.
DeleteTurkish provide excellent connectivity to Africa
DeleteJU doesn't provide any connectivity to Africa
DeleteIndeed.
DeleteI suggest launching flights to Addis Ababa and Lagos!
DeleteLucky you are not a route planner then..
DeleteEtihad launching new routes left and right
ReplyDeleteAnd cancelling not too long after
DeleteIf this really launches by May, then tickets should be on sale soon. Otherwise it’s just talk.
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt it's going to be in May and you should not take the president's word for it. But they definitely plan to launch it this year.
DeleteI'm still waiting the imminent launch by ASL of CAI and NRT after the president announced them back in 2024...
DeleteBaku materialized eventually. Hopefully for the others
DeleteFlydubai is basically acting like a full-service airline now with frequencies like that. The competition will be very interesting.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Will be very difficult to compete. Especially since between Abu Dhabi and Dubai most people want to go to Dubai.
DeleteI don't think it's going to be that much competition. Their main competition will be QR for transfers. Flydubai is mostly P2P.
DeleteThe only consequential way for one of the three airlines (Etihad, Qatar, FlyDubai) serving Belgrade to sustainably differentiate is to step up to widebody service, offering better cargo and passenger capacity plus superior service in the front cabin. Other things such as increased frequency, codeshares and sales promotions have been tried before but didn't permanently elevate any airline significantly above others.
ReplyDeleteFZ and QR business offer is off the charts in terms of price right now, for Far East destination - they are probably keeping this capacity to Australia routes which are the most expensive. For example, LH charges just below 2000 EUR for a r/t C ticket to China, just slighly above Chinese competitors out of BEG, while FZ and QR are almost 4000 EUR. This is what could set EY apart, and especially so if it sends a plane with more premium seats at a competitive price.
DeleteQatar Airways will reduce frequencies from daily to five a week soon.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Flydubai will add two other weekly rotations.
Etihad has an aircraft shortage.
Dont think they will fly to Belgrade when they canceled planned flights to Yerevan and Baku.
^Baku seems to happen. But they cancelled or postponed(?) Yerevan and Almaty.
Delete